New Zealand Sportsman of the Year, Aaron Gate said his move to the UCI WorldTour next year is a dream he never thought he would realise.
The 33-year-old will store his track bike in the meantime as he joins Astana Qazaqstan on the UCI WorldTour, replacing the retired Michael Morkov, the Danish lead-out specialist.
After success riding in UCI Pro level initially with Bolton Equities Black Spoke, and now with Spanish team Burgos BH, Gate will get to taste the UCI WorldTour, on the back of a stellar track career.
He is one of six New Zealand riders on the move next year. Olympian Laurence Pithie and Finn Fisher-Black will join forces at Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe WorldTour team next year, coming from Groupama-FDJ and UAE Team Emirates respectively.
On the women’s side, Niamh Fisher-Black moves to Lidl-Trek (from SD Worx) and Ally Wollaston heads to FDJ Suez from AG Insurance Soudal, while MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project rider, Josh Burnett replaces Gate at Burgos-BH on a two-year deal.
Gate said he had been in contact with the Astana team last year but the recent call was unexpected.
“Little me out of Auckland Grammar would not have thought I would ride for a WorldTour team some day,” said Gate from his base in Andorra. “I was talking to Astana last year after Black Spoke stopped but it did not go anywhere.
“It’s no secret that Astana needs UCI points next year and I started quite well with Burgos. Given I had accumulated quite a few points before halfway through the season was a good foot in the door. All my numbers were good. It was right time, right place but I feel it is something I have earned in a way.
“My main job will be sprint lead-out and support for some of the bigger Classics, and then a few opportunities of my own to keep getting those UCI Points where I can.”
Gate said he hopes to make a start at Tour Down Under in Adelaide in the New Year before the chance to defend his New Zealand road championship jersey in Timaru.
“It will still be within the timing to wear my national champs jersey. It will be nice to wear it in a WorldTour race regardless of what happens in Timaru next year.
“Timaru is on my schedule. I have fond memories there so it would be a shame not to go back to defend the title.”
Gate said he has much to thank his career on the track, which while not over, is now on hold.
“For a lot of people, the track has been a pathway to the road, especially for riders in the southern hemisphere because it is difficult to get a foot in the door. It has taken me a fair few years to get to the top level of the sport but I can be thankful of what the track has given me, both opportunity and physically.”
The experience with Bolton Equities Black Spoke was pivotal to his elevation to the WorldTour.
“2022 was one of the most important in my cycling life on the road with the Comm Games road race win and wins at Tour of Hellas in Greece and Tour of Luxembourg which were important parts of my career. I would not be in this position without that experience at Black Spoke.”
Gate has enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, winning four stages and the overall classification at the New Zealand Cycle Classic, the New Zealand National Road Race Championship, the Oceania Time Trial Championships, the overall classification of the Trans-Himalaya Cycling Race and two stages and the general classification of the Tour of Hainan.
With 11 victories, Gate is the most successful rider at the UCI Pro-Continental level and among the top five winningest riders in the world this year.