AEVOLO FIGHTS FOR BEST YOUNG RIDER
HONORS AT INTERNATIONAL TOUR OF RHODES UCI 2.2
Mar 24th, 2023
Kalispera Yahsoo!
The majestic island of Rhodes, Greece played host to the 4- Day International Tour of Rhodes, ranked as a 2.2 on the UCI Europe Tour.
The Aevolo lads stepped up to the occasion and put their front foot forwards, inspired by the presence of an image of the Colossus of Rhodes* on the Jersey given to the Best Young Rider on each stage.
Xander White put his hand up early for the honors, with 6th fastest time on the 3.6km Prologue deep into proceedings until an unseasonal torrential downpour and lightning forced the Chief Commissaire to cancel the remainder of the stage.
This meant that the results were nullified and gave every rider an opportunity to claim the jerseys heading into Stage 1. Brody McDonald claimed a 2 second time bonus out on the road and after a hectic run into the line Brody threw down for a fine 2nd place in the Sprint Finish giving him the Best Young Rider jersey as well as 2nd Place on General Classification.
The team were determined to move up the order for Stage 2 and after covering moves all day positioned Brody in the front heading into the final kilometer. Utilizing their skills, Brody and Toby came into the final, acute and unswept 700m from the line corner in 2nd and 3rd but wiped out after the rider leading high sided in the dirt. Even though they managed to be given "same time" due to the UCI 3km rule, the winning rider gained a 10second time bonus and leapfrogged Brody into the White Jersey.
The stage was set for a massive Queen Stage 3, & Kiwi powerhouse Xander White latched on to a concerted, all stage attack instigated by Team Voralberg that decimated the field, sprinting to 8th on the day & moving into 6th on Final General Classification. Xander also claimed 2nd in the Best Young Rider Jersey, a fine effort considering the winner was young Portugese sensation Antonio Morgado who also won the Overall GC.
Special mention to Leo Gullickson & Brooks Wienke who rode a brave final day, with Leo finishing up in the top 30 on GC.
*From Wiki: The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek sun-god Helios, erected in battling the city of Rhodes, on the Greek island of the same name, by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was constructed to celebrate the successful defence of Rhodes city against an attack by Demetrius Poliorcetes, who had besieged it for a year with a large army and navy. According to most contemporary descriptions, the Colossus stood approximately 70 cubits, or 33 metres (108 feet) high – approximately the height of the modern Statue of Liberty from feet to crown – making it the tallest statue in the ancient world. It collapsed during the earthquake of 226 BC, although parts of it were preserved. In accordance with a certain oracle, the Rhodians did not build it again
