The Star: March 21, 2019

DANIEL Whitehouse is
brimming with confidence about
the prospect of defending his Le
Race title on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Christchurch
rider dominated the 100km
classic from Cathedral Square to
Akaroa last year, leading from
the top of the first climb to the
finish line, and now he has his
eyes on the record books.
“I really want that course record,”
said Whitehouse, referring
to Michael Vink’s 2010 record
time of 2hr 31min 50sec.
The lightweight climber won
Le Race last year in spite of a
nightmare preparation when his
appendix was removed only four
weeks before the start.
After winning in Akaroa, the
British-born rider had a frustrating
season, even though he was
named king of the mountains in
the Spanish stage race, Vuelta a
Castillia y Leon, and surprised
himself by finishing second
overall in the Tour de Beauce, a
second-tier stage race in Canada.
Whitehouse moved to new
Irish pro-team EvoPro Racing
this season, which also has fellow
Kiwis Shane Archbold, Aaron
Gate and Luke Mudgway under
contract.
He has been impressed with
the new team’s professionalism
and will next month join the
rest of his teammates in Girona,
Spain.
Whitehouse said Le Race will
provide him with good, hard
racing, which will help him to
tackle some of the big mountains
that are waiting for him in
Europe.
news online at www.star.kiwi
SPORT 35
Whitehouse set to defend Le Race title
FOCUSED: Daniel Whitehouse has his eyes on a new
course record at Le Race on Saturday.
In spite of his confidence,
the 24-year-old knows he will
not have it all his own way and
points at the blistering form that
second-ranked Jason Christie
has displayed in recent weeks.
After winning the New Zealand
road titles in 2017 and 2018,
Christie recently took silver in
the time-trial and the road race
at the Oceania championships.
“And he’s a great sprinter, so I
do not want to arrive in Akaroa
with him,” said Whitehouse.
The other major threat will be
race record-holder Michael Vink,
who is always among the leading
riders and is able to use his
power on the Port Hills climbs to
compete with Whitehouse.
The 2017 winner Brad Evans
will also be rating his chances to
win his second title after finishing
third last year.
Another rider to keep an
eye on is Jake Marryatt, who is
regarded as one of the big Kiwi
talents after grabbing national
medals as an under-23 rider in
recent years and finishing in the
top-10 at this year’s elite race.
With his strong time-trial skills
and climbing ability, the young
Christchurch rider has the potential
to become an outstanding
all-rounder and could give the
more seasoned riders a run for
their money on Saturday.
If Christie manages to grab
top honours, the 2019 Le Race
could become a family affair
– his wife Georgia Christie
is the top-ranked rider in the
women’s field. She claimed the
national elite title in January and
performed well at the Oceania
The Star Thursday March 21 2019
championships.
The New Zealand champion
will be challenged by Kate McIlroy,
who was pipped at the post
in last year’s Le Race by Ella
Harris and also finished second
in 2017, so has some unfinished
business on Saturday.
McIlroy, who will be the
second-ranked rider in the
women’s field, has shown
great early season form and is
currently leading the Calder-
Stewart series.
Georgia has been ranked
ahead of namesake Henrietta
Christie, who is not related, and
finished third in last year’s race
at only 16. Henrietta recently
claimed bronze in the junior
Oceania time trial, is second in
the Calder-Stewart series and is
regarded as one of the brightest
female prospects in New Zealand
cycling.
The elite riders will be followed
by more than 700 riders of
all ages, shapes and sizes
testing themselves against the
tough course on cutting-edge
technology, as well as vintage
bikes and tandems. A large
group of weekend warriors will
take on the shorter version Le
Race Petite, which finishes in
Little River after 53km.
Rams sign former top
US college basketballer
THE CANTERBURY Rams
have signed a defensive stud in
the form of United States import
Isaiah Wilkins ahead of the NBL
season.
The 23-year-old is currently
playing for the Greensboro
Swarm, the Charlotte Hornetsaffiliated
NBA G-League team.
Last year he was named the
ACC defensive player of the year
while in his senior year at the
University of Virginia.
As a senior, Wilkins averaged 6
points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists,
1.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per
game, making him one of only 12
players in all of college basketball
to average at least 1.1 steals per
game and 1.3 blocks throughout
the 2017/18 campaign.
A year earlier, the 203cm
forward led the university in
rebounding, blocked shots and
steals as a junior. He was also
named in the ACC defensive
team of the year.
Said Rams head coach Mick
Downer: “We are really excited
to have Isaiah join our group. He
is a high-character guy, who was
a great defender on one of the
country’s most successful college
programmes out of the ACC in
his senior year, a team captain
and conference defensive player
of the year, who lead his team to
the NCAA tournament game.
It’s these qualities that have us
excited about the impact Isaiah
IMPORT: Isaiah Wilkins (right) will arrive in Christchurch next
month with an impressive defensive record. ​
can have on our community and
team.”
“He will really help us on
the glass and at the defensive
end. Isaiah is a very efficient
scorer, which is suited to the
international game, but the roles
he has accepted in the NBA G
League this season and at college
has seen him play part of a team
focused system, which will suit
the Rams style of play.”
Following college, Wilkins
joined the Houston Rockets for
the NBA Summer League and
then received a training camp
deal at the Charlotte Hornets.
Out of his training camp deal
with the Hornets, he was signed
to the Swarm roster.
The signing of Wilkins is
Downer’s 11th addition to
the team and third and final
import.
“We can’t wait to have him join
the team here in Christchurch
and help inspire us like he has
done with so many of his coaches
and teammates. The guy is first
class,” said Downer.
•The Rams begin their NBL
campaign on the road when they
play the Southland Sharks on
April 14.
Canterbury United
face tough football
semi-final in wake
of terror attack
• By Gordon Findlater
THE CANTERBURY United
Dragons chances of making
their first national league
grand-final appearance in nine
years have been heavily affected
by last week’s terror attack.
Canterbury’s final roundrobin
match against Tasman
United was
cancelled due to
the attack. It was
agreed the points
would be shared
in a scoreless
draw, meaning
Canterbury
finished third
on 34 points due
to their superior
head-to-head
record over
Wellington.
They will now
play Eastern
Suburbs in
the semi-final on Saturday.
However, for many in the
squad their thoughts have been
elsewhere.
Atta Elayyan, 33, Tariq
Omar, 24, and Sayyad Milne,
14, all lost their lives in last
week’s terror attack. They
were all playing members
Willy Gerdsen
of the Christchurch football
community.
“We have many players
affected by it,” said Canterbury
coach Willy Gerdsen.
“We’re doing everything we
can to prepare best as possible
for the match, but if there’s
anyone who feels unable to play
this weekend I understand.”
Canterbury have
played Eastern
Suburbs twice this
season, losing on
both occasions.
In November,
Canterbury were
defeated 1-3 at
English Park and in
January they were
hammered 1-5 in
Auckland.
The cancellation
of the Nelson
match also means
Canterbury will go
into the semi-final
having played just two matches
in the last month.
•The semi-final will kick off
at 2.35pm at Trusts Arena in
Auckland. The winner will
meet the victor of the other
semi-final between Auckland
City and Team Wellington.