New Irish pro team Aqua Blue Sport takes first ever victory

The new Aqua Blue Sport team - the first Irish squad ever at ProContinental level - has scored its first road race victory. Above, Aaron Gate powering his way to win in New Zealand.

Ireland's new pro team Aqua Blue Sport has enjoyed a major boost ahead of its debut as a full team, with Aaron Gate taking the SRAM Tour de Ranges in New Zealand earlier today.

The former An Post-Chainreaction rider and former omnium world champion and London Olympics bronze medallist team pursuiter, pulled clear in a breakaway of five in the short but hilly event.

With just 110km for the field to cover, the escape went just after the opening half-hour of racing. And when it hit the main ascent of the day Gate piled the pressure on.

The new Aqua Blue Sport rider reduced the lead group from five to two before pressing on alone after the decisive passage of Snake Hill.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

Gate takes the applause of the crowd out on his own and with plenty of time to celebrate.

He powered into the finish to take an impressive solo victory some 2:11 ahead of the next three home with another group a further three seconds back.

“It was a great race, conditions were perfect, and as per usual at the Tour de Ranges the race was full gas for the first half with seemingly endless attacks and chases,” Gate told RoadCycling.co.nz.

“Eventually five of us finally forced our way off the front, and when I pushed the tempo a bit on the last long climb up Snake Hill I was able to get a gap on the others and then time trialled my way through the last 25km to the finish.”

Gate, who is from New Zealand and is soon to be married there, took the victory just two weeks away from Aqua Blue Sport making its debut as a full team at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race across the Tasman Sea in Australia.