Tour of New Zealand

There is nothing quite like a grand cycling race. That's why thousands every year flock to watch races like the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta de Espana, and of course the most famous one of them all, the Tour de France.

Tour de France is the world's largest spectator sport

Even despite's cycling good name being dragged through the mud in recent times, the Tour de France still attracts the most spectators for any sport with thousands of locals and visitors from overseas lining up the country roads and streets all over France every July. 

And you can see why with scenery like this

The UCI has pushed hard to make cycling a truly global sport as more cycling races are added to the calendar joining historic ones in Belgium, France and Switzerland. Indeed, races in Beijing, California and Adelaide have now earned UCI's seal of approval, becoming official ProTour races - this means points are eligible and UCI ProTour teams like Garmin-Sharp, BMC, Team Sky, etc. would make the effort to participate even if the big names do not necessarily take part. 

The UCI ProTour now takes in the Great Wall of China

This is where New Zealand once again could come in and provide a race that could be the most scenic and challenging outside Europe.

View from Highcliff Road, Dunedin - good spot for a bike race

Crown Range Road between Wanaka and Queenstown

Round Lake Taupo

New Zealand has plenty of country roads and mountain passes that could be as challenging as those in Europe - and equally as beautiful. 

Here is a possible schedule for a future Tour of New Zealand lasting just over two weeks with a week in each island.  

AVANTI TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
Sat, 25/1/14 Palmerston – Dunedin 127 km (via Otago Peninsula)
Sun, 26/1/14 Balclutha – Bluff 195 km (via Catlins Coast)
Mon, 27/1/14 Queenstown – Cromwell 121 km (via Crown Range Road)
Tue, 28/1/14 Wanaka – Lake Tekapo 219 km
Wed, 29/1/14 Geraldine – Christchurch 167 km (via Methven)
Thu, 30/1/14 Christchurch 25 km Team Time Trial (via Dyers Pass Road)
Fri, 31/1/14 Rest Day
Sat, 1/2/14 Wellington 30 km Individual Team Trial 
Sun, 2/2/14 Featherston – Palmerston Nth 179 km (via Martinborough)
Mon, 3/2/14 Palmerston North – Napier 178 km
Tue, 4/2/14 Napier – Taupo 140 km
Wed, 5/2/14 Taupo – Turangi – Taupo 190 km (Round the Lake)
Thu, 6/2/14 Taupo - Mount Maunganui 160 km (via Pyes Pa Road)
Fri, 7/2/14 Rotorua 40 km Individual Team Trial
Sat, 8/2/14 Hamilton – Auckland 180 km

Following this format, the Tour of New Zealand would be longer than most UCI ProTour races except the big 3 races. It would also incorporate some of the country's most famous circuits like the Round the Lake Taupo race that is usually run in November and parts of the Tour of Southland.

Can New Zealand get crowds this big for its grand race?

Cycling's a huge sport in New Zealand and there would definitely be plenty of spectators from here and overseas on the roads in New Zealand - there would also be enough country roads that run the length of the country alongside the main highways to ensure traffic across the country is not disrupted.

So bring it on. A Grand Tour for the New World.