1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:16,387 Speaker 2: A New Zealand professional cyclist, Neve Fisher Black has made history. 4 00:00:16,787 --> 00:00:22,227 Speaker 3: Rainbow Bun's going to Canada absolutely superb Shapo to her 5 00:00:22,787 --> 00:00:25,907 Speaker 3: amazing right. Fisher Black is just going to cry in 6 00:00:25,907 --> 00:00:29,267 Speaker 3: this one home the three medals for the three bravest riders. 7 00:00:29,267 --> 00:00:31,707 Speaker 3: It seems out there, but let's wait and see. Fisher 8 00:00:31,747 --> 00:00:34,707 Speaker 3: Black coming home for silver. Garcia is going to take 9 00:00:34,747 --> 00:00:38,867 Speaker 3: a bronzon. So well fought for they most certainly have been. 10 00:00:39,547 --> 00:00:41,747 Speaker 3: That's your medals done and dust it so. 11 00:00:41,867 --> 00:00:43,987 Speaker 2: Nee Fisher Black, the twenty five year old from Nelson, 12 00:00:44,027 --> 00:00:46,987 Speaker 2: becoming the first New Zealand rider male or female to 13 00:00:47,027 --> 00:00:49,747 Speaker 2: make the podium in the Elite road race at the 14 00:00:49,827 --> 00:00:52,867 Speaker 2: UCI World Champs. Second, as you heard there, in the 15 00:00:52,907 --> 00:00:56,267 Speaker 2: Elite women's race at the UCI Road World Champs in Rwanda. 16 00:00:56,547 --> 00:00:59,387 Speaker 2: The win acrossed in four hours thirty four point four 17 00:00:59,467 --> 00:01:02,547 Speaker 2: eight seconds thirty four minutes forty eight seconds. Rather, Nee 18 00:01:02,547 --> 00:01:07,547 Speaker 2: Fisher Black was twenty three seconds behind. Cycling expert Dell 19 00:01:07,627 --> 00:01:09,627 Speaker 2: Woodford is with us, Dell, can you put this into 20 00:01:09,667 --> 00:01:12,947 Speaker 2: context for us? How significant achievement and achievement is this 21 00:01:12,987 --> 00:01:14,227 Speaker 2: from Nie Fisher Black. 22 00:01:14,747 --> 00:01:19,947 Speaker 4: Yeah, Jason, it's absolutely outstanding, an amazing performance, just proves 23 00:01:19,987 --> 00:01:22,467 Speaker 4: their quality and backs up the years she's had. You 24 00:01:22,507 --> 00:01:24,987 Speaker 4: know she would have gone into the race as one 25 00:01:25,027 --> 00:01:27,067 Speaker 4: of the riders to keep an eye on for sure, 26 00:01:27,067 --> 00:01:29,507 Speaker 4: because everyone knows how good she is on a tough circuit. 27 00:01:29,547 --> 00:01:32,627 Speaker 4: You know, under twenty three World champion in twenty twenty 28 00:01:32,627 --> 00:01:35,867 Speaker 4: two in Australia, that was a pretty tough course as well. 29 00:01:37,347 --> 00:01:39,627 Speaker 4: Preparation for a wanders a little bit different. You know, 30 00:01:39,667 --> 00:01:41,947 Speaker 4: it's hot, it's humid, it's the altitude and it's a 31 00:01:42,027 --> 00:01:45,427 Speaker 4: really tough, gnally grinding little circuit. The club will climb. 32 00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:48,427 Speaker 4: It looks like a Belgian Classic. So and then you've 33 00:01:48,427 --> 00:01:52,587 Speaker 4: got the big powerhouse teams, the Italians, the Netherlands, the 34 00:01:52,667 --> 00:01:55,667 Speaker 4: Swiss expected to control the race big time, but as 35 00:01:55,707 --> 00:01:58,227 Speaker 4: you heard in that commentary, the three bravest riders in 36 00:01:58,227 --> 00:01:59,867 Speaker 4: the race, they took it to the rest of the 37 00:01:59,867 --> 00:02:02,147 Speaker 4: field and came out with the medals and you know, 38 00:02:02,307 --> 00:02:04,667 Speaker 4: absolutely superb performance. If you had a set at the 39 00:02:04,707 --> 00:02:08,067 Speaker 4: start that it would be dominating by Canada in New Zealand, 40 00:02:08,107 --> 00:02:10,227 Speaker 4: you know, everyone to look sideways at you, But that's 41 00:02:10,267 --> 00:02:11,227 Speaker 4: what happened. 42 00:02:11,307 --> 00:02:13,547 Speaker 2: Some big climbs on this course, as I understand at 43 00:02:13,587 --> 00:02:17,987 Speaker 2: del So would that have favored Neve and her particular strengths. 44 00:02:19,147 --> 00:02:21,067 Speaker 4: Yeah, she's a very good climber. If we look at 45 00:02:21,067 --> 00:02:23,827 Speaker 4: her season Jason fifth in the Tour de France fourth 46 00:02:23,867 --> 00:02:27,107 Speaker 4: and the Tour to Swiss sixth, and the Welfa seventh, 47 00:02:27,187 --> 00:02:30,427 Speaker 4: the age best on the age eighth Straighta, the Yankee 48 00:02:30,427 --> 00:02:32,387 Speaker 4: and ninth Flesh for Lane. They are all racist with 49 00:02:32,467 --> 00:02:35,907 Speaker 4: brutal climbs. So she's certainly one of the world's best climbers, 50 00:02:35,947 --> 00:02:38,547 Speaker 4: and it is getting better. Only twenty five years of age, 51 00:02:38,547 --> 00:02:41,587 Speaker 4: and she's got a couple I think, you know, really 52 00:02:41,587 --> 00:02:44,387 Speaker 4: good chances of years coming up to climb onto the 53 00:02:44,427 --> 00:02:47,507 Speaker 4: top step next year in Montreal, but then in twenty 54 00:02:47,547 --> 00:02:50,467 Speaker 4: seven in France. It's on one of the most brutal courses. 55 00:02:51,387 --> 00:02:53,307 Speaker 4: You know that the world chances have ever been held 56 00:02:53,387 --> 00:02:55,347 Speaker 4: on as well, So you know she'll be looking her 57 00:02:55,347 --> 00:02:58,107 Speaker 4: lips for the next few years, looking at the courses 58 00:02:58,147 --> 00:03:00,227 Speaker 4: ahead and trying to go on that top step, because 59 00:03:00,227 --> 00:03:03,187 Speaker 4: she certainly proved today she's well capable. 60 00:03:03,307 --> 00:03:06,067 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you talked about her trajectory. Del You know, 61 00:03:06,147 --> 00:03:08,387 Speaker 2: she has been a name that we've been aware of 62 00:03:08,467 --> 00:03:10,667 Speaker 2: for a while. But do you believe that her best 63 00:03:10,747 --> 00:03:12,827 Speaker 2: years are still to come? What is she now twenty five? 64 00:03:13,947 --> 00:03:17,747 Speaker 4: At twenty five years Jason? Absolutely, you know, if she 65 00:03:17,827 --> 00:03:21,227 Speaker 4: stays injury free, keeps loving the sport, you know, she's 66 00:03:21,267 --> 00:03:23,587 Speaker 4: got another five to five plus years as long as 67 00:03:23,587 --> 00:03:24,987 Speaker 4: she wants to do it, really, you know, so it's 68 00:03:24,987 --> 00:03:27,987 Speaker 4: certainly the next fight. She'll get better and stronger. She 69 00:03:28,107 --> 00:03:31,227 Speaker 4: she's a tiny, tiny little lady and she can climb 70 00:03:32,387 --> 00:03:35,107 Speaker 4: with the absolute best in the world. And it's proving 71 00:03:35,147 --> 00:03:37,907 Speaker 4: all the time. She's just getting better. And she's one 72 00:03:37,947 --> 00:03:40,907 Speaker 4: that they have to really watch and mark. And you know, 73 00:03:41,387 --> 00:03:43,547 Speaker 4: she's on a great professional team and I think they'll 74 00:03:43,547 --> 00:03:46,187 Speaker 4: be backing her for junior classification and some of those 75 00:03:46,427 --> 00:03:49,987 Speaker 4: big races, the big tours I mentioned in the years 76 00:03:49,987 --> 00:03:52,147 Speaker 4: to come, so a lot more to come from from them. 77 00:03:52,147 --> 00:03:53,307 Speaker 4: Forshare Black for sure. 78 00:03:53,187 --> 00:03:54,747 Speaker 2: And there was another key we Ella Wiley and the 79 00:03:54,827 --> 00:03:57,387 Speaker 2: race as well from Auckland. She was with the peloton 80 00:03:57,467 --> 00:03:59,827 Speaker 2: I think until the final lap and finished a pretty 81 00:03:59,867 --> 00:04:01,587 Speaker 2: credible and hard for twenty fourth. 82 00:04:02,547 --> 00:04:05,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, road fantastic. Jason was struggling a little bit in 83 00:04:05,947 --> 00:04:07,947 Speaker 4: the latest. They just came back to the main group, 84 00:04:07,987 --> 00:04:09,867 Speaker 4: went off off the front of that main group and 85 00:04:09,867 --> 00:04:13,187 Speaker 4: at one stage was about thirty odd seconds behind before 86 00:04:13,227 --> 00:04:18,227 Speaker 4: the paloton and the powerhouses nations sort of finally, particularly Switzerland, 87 00:04:18,227 --> 00:04:21,147 Speaker 4: decided to chase. But she put in a great ride 88 00:04:21,227 --> 00:04:23,907 Speaker 4: and certainly played a role in You know, with only 89 00:04:23,907 --> 00:04:25,867 Speaker 4: two riders in the race, they've got to support each 90 00:04:25,907 --> 00:04:27,827 Speaker 4: other a little bit. They would be getting bottles and 91 00:04:28,227 --> 00:04:31,627 Speaker 4: sharing drinks. It's tough out there when there's only two years, 92 00:04:31,827 --> 00:04:34,787 Speaker 4: so you know, put for me having that support in 93 00:04:34,867 --> 00:04:36,947 Speaker 4: the palaton, even just that one rider, and that one 94 00:04:36,987 --> 00:04:39,907 Speaker 4: rider being there certainly gives you some confidence and takes 95 00:04:39,907 --> 00:04:41,347 Speaker 4: a little bit of pressure of you as well. And 96 00:04:41,787 --> 00:04:44,787 Speaker 4: all road and outstanding race. And yeah, should we be 97 00:04:44,787 --> 00:04:46,027 Speaker 4: really rapped with her performance. 98 00:04:46,187 --> 00:04:47,947 Speaker 2: I guess when I heard that it was in Rwanda, 99 00:04:48,027 --> 00:04:50,147 Speaker 2: I almost did a bit of a double take. The 100 00:04:50,267 --> 00:04:52,667 Speaker 2: first time it's been held in Africa. Is there something 101 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:56,907 Speaker 2: that is you know, I guess an intent that the 102 00:04:57,067 --> 00:04:58,907 Speaker 2: race be shared around I guess you just assume that 103 00:04:58,947 --> 00:05:00,907 Speaker 2: it'll be in Europe most of the time. 104 00:05:01,667 --> 00:05:04,707 Speaker 4: Yes, it was quite controversial taking it to to Africa 105 00:05:04,747 --> 00:05:09,147 Speaker 4: to Rwanda. A lot of talk around it was more 106 00:05:09,147 --> 00:05:12,307 Speaker 4: political with the president of the u C I trying 107 00:05:12,347 --> 00:05:14,347 Speaker 4: to get votes from Africa to get the top job 108 00:05:14,387 --> 00:05:18,747 Speaker 4: at the you know, with the Olympics. But you know 109 00:05:18,827 --> 00:05:22,067 Speaker 4: that didn't pay off. But I think taking cycling Africa 110 00:05:22,107 --> 00:05:25,147 Speaker 4: and cyclingers grow and we're seeing more and more of 111 00:05:25,187 --> 00:05:27,707 Speaker 4: their riders racing in Europe, racing on the World Tour, 112 00:05:27,827 --> 00:05:31,667 Speaker 4: racing at the UCI Cycling Center, and it's a big 113 00:05:31,707 --> 00:05:34,907 Speaker 4: growth area. And I think that the enthusiasm of the 114 00:05:34,947 --> 00:05:37,987 Speaker 4: fans and taking it. Yeah, it's kept a lot of 115 00:05:38,067 --> 00:05:39,947 Speaker 4: riders out of it because of you know, the challenging 116 00:05:40,067 --> 00:05:42,587 Speaker 4: of the course and hasn't suited everybody, but that's the 117 00:05:42,667 --> 00:05:45,307 Speaker 4: nature of sport, isn't it. You know, it's not for everyone. 118 00:05:45,707 --> 00:05:47,507 Speaker 4: The best riders in the world are there and you 119 00:05:47,587 --> 00:05:51,107 Speaker 4: can't take anything away from the UCI taken it to Africa, 120 00:05:51,187 --> 00:05:53,187 Speaker 4: I think, you know, listening to the comments, listen to 121 00:05:53,187 --> 00:05:55,867 Speaker 4: what the riders they've had to say, it's been been challenging, 122 00:05:55,907 --> 00:05:58,467 Speaker 4: but very successful and a great experience for them. 123 00:05:58,547 --> 00:06:01,787 Speaker 2: Yeah, and a great result for the Fisher Black as well. 124 00:06:01,867 --> 00:06:04,147 Speaker 2: Will keep us on. It's It's good as't I mean, 125 00:06:04,507 --> 00:06:07,227 Speaker 2: I mean it's it's quite regular now that a key 126 00:06:07,267 --> 00:06:10,467 Speaker 2: we is in the headlines, you know, on these on 127 00:06:10,507 --> 00:06:12,827 Speaker 2: these Grand tours and on in these world champs and 128 00:06:12,907 --> 00:06:15,107 Speaker 2: just you know, you it seems that not a week 129 00:06:15,187 --> 00:06:19,227 Speaker 2: goes by without a New Zealand cyclist somewhere doing something significant. 130 00:06:20,147 --> 00:06:22,547 Speaker 4: It's fantastic, you know when you think about it, Jason, 131 00:06:22,587 --> 00:06:25,067 Speaker 4: that they don't get really on the road, no support 132 00:06:25,107 --> 00:06:27,547 Speaker 4: from a fight in New Zealand. In terms of funding, 133 00:06:27,587 --> 00:06:29,747 Speaker 4: it's all these trips with the road are self funded 134 00:06:30,947 --> 00:06:34,187 Speaker 4: or HP you know, ETHNZ Sport goes to Metals which 135 00:06:34,227 --> 00:06:36,667 Speaker 4: is on the track at the moment, so you know, yeah, 136 00:06:36,707 --> 00:06:40,827 Speaker 4: to see our riders, you know, performing on the world stage, 137 00:06:41,467 --> 00:06:44,107 Speaker 4: doing it the hard way to get there and battling 138 00:06:44,427 --> 00:06:47,667 Speaker 4: and being up there is absolutely amazing. And just before 139 00:06:47,707 --> 00:06:50,267 Speaker 4: we go, Nate Pringle a young man from Canterbury. He 140 00:06:50,307 --> 00:06:52,947 Speaker 4: also got second in the under twenty three time trial, 141 00:06:52,947 --> 00:06:55,587 Speaker 4: which was an amazing performance and that shocked a lot 142 00:06:55,587 --> 00:06:58,027 Speaker 4: of the big stars around the world. He rides for 143 00:06:58,067 --> 00:07:02,147 Speaker 4: the Red Bull Rockies development team, but prior to that 144 00:07:02,267 --> 00:07:04,227 Speaker 4: he was with the oxyd Jigs team in christ Church 145 00:07:04,227 --> 00:07:06,027 Speaker 4: and everyone's going, who is this kid, where does he 146 00:07:06,147 --> 00:07:08,227 Speaker 4: come from? The take second of the World Championships in 147 00:07:08,227 --> 00:07:11,027 Speaker 4: the under twenty three time trials, So now two silvers 148 00:07:11,027 --> 00:07:13,507 Speaker 4: at these were road World Champs for New Zealand. Jason's 149 00:07:13,547 --> 00:07:15,507 Speaker 4: just absolutely outstanding. 150 00:07:15,027 --> 00:07:17,987 Speaker 2: And another name to add to the list. Always appreciate 151 00:07:17,987 --> 00:07:19,227 Speaker 2: your time and your analysis. 152 00:07:19,267 --> 00:07:19,387 Speaker 4: Dell. 153 00:07:19,427 --> 00:07:20,827 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us this afternoon. 154 00:07:21,747 --> 00:07:23,187 Speaker 4: Pleasure Jason, thank you all the best. 155 00:07:23,227 --> 00:07:26,307 Speaker 2: Mate. Del Woodford there breaking down knee Fisher Black's history 156 00:07:26,307 --> 00:07:30,107 Speaker 2: making ride at the UCI World Champs in Rwanda, first 157 00:07:30,187 --> 00:07:32,187 Speaker 2: key we ever to get on the on the podium 158 00:07:32,267 --> 00:07:36,707 Speaker 2: at a UCI World Championship Elite road race. 159 00:07:37,507 --> 00:07:40,707 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 160 00:07:40,787 --> 00:07:44,107 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 161 00:07:44,107 --> 00:07:45,747 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio