New Zealand’s longest-running road cycling event will be linked with the newest of the national road cycling titles in Southland in January 2025.

Cycling Southland will host its traditional ILT Carnival in January with a new twist, combining two nights of the Summer Track Carnival before hosting the New Zealand Criterium Championships for the first time. The Carnival will be completed with the staging of New Zealand’s longest-running road classic, the Gore to Invercargill road race.

The evening track programme will run at the ILT Velodrome on Thursday 16 January and Friday 17 January, with the National Criterium Championships set for an inner-city circuit on Saturday 18 January.

The carnival concludes with the 70km road race from Gore to Invercargill, sponsored by Custom Canvas-Watson Saddlery Ltd. It was first staged in 1930 and is still an annual part of cycling calendar in Southland.

Cycling Southland General Manager, Nic Keast said the cycling fraternity are excited at hosting the Criterium Nationals.

“The ILT Summer Track Carnival remains a popular and important part of our cycling development programme and of course we are proud to continue the legacy of staging the longest-running road event in New Zealand with the Gore to Invercargill Road Classic,” said Keast.

“The winners are a who’s who of New Zealand and annSouthland cycling over many decades and we are proud to continue to stage this event.

“To now add the Criterium Nationals is wonderful. The fit is ideal. The event is always popular and is exceptionally exciting, not just for cycling fans, but the wider sporting public.

“It fits ideally into our Carnival programme and we look forward to hosting some of the leading riders in the country, not just for the Criterium, but also the Track Carnival for our younger riders and the Gore to Invercargill Classic.”

The Gore to Invercargill Classic has been historically run on a handicap basis which makes for an exciting outcome, and while it was originally staged along SH1, more recently is has been modified to travel through Seaward Downs and Mokotua to Invercargill.

Famous names on the trophy include Trevor McLeay, who won the title three times, and is father of Commonwealth Gold medallist Glenn McLeay.

Other family connections include Vicki Giles, who was the first female winner in 1986, while her father Ron took out the race in 1967.

Well-known riders who have won the race include Commonwealth Games gold medallist Craig Adair, who won in 1981, former track world champion and road professional Greg Henderson, along with Olympic track medallist Marc Ryan and Commonwealth medallist Dylan Kennett.

Course details and entry information will be announced as soon as possible.