July 4, 2025 • 6 mins
The French are busy this weekend, with the Tour de France kicking off tonight in Lille.
21 stages, 3,338 kilometres, it’s a gruelling test of endurance.
Christchurch’s Laurence Pithie has been selected to compete by German team Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe – competing for the first time.
The 22 year old is set to become just the 19th New Zealander to compete since the event began in 1903, and he joined Nick Bewley for a chat ahead of the race.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Time to chatter bit of cycling now and it doesn't
get much better than this with the Tour de France
starting tonight in Lial twenty one stages three, three hundred
and thirty eight kilometers, just a crueling test of endurance
and we have a keyw to follow. Christ Church's Lawrence
Pithy has been selected in the Red Bull bore A
(00:32):
hands grow a team. It'll be as made in Latour
aged twenty two, he said, to become just the nineteenth
key we to compete in the event since it began
in nineteen o three. Lawrence joins me, now, thanks so
much for taking the time, mate, Just to rewind the
clock a little bit to begin with, when did you
get the news that you would be going to be
(00:52):
writing in your first tour to France.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I found out during the Criterion de d'orphine. So it
was a race, Yeah, there's a race not too long ago. Now,
halfway through that and got the call that or got
told by the stuff that I'd be racing the tour.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And how was it to receive that news? I mean
I'm sure there would have been a fair amount of
hope or expectation that you would get that news, but
just to hear it. What was your reaction to have
that confirmation you were going to be taking part in
your first ever Tour de France.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, it's pretty stoked day. I was super excited to
get the call. You know, It's something you dream since
I started cycling, and that's the biggest race in the
world and there's nothing like it, So just super excited.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Is it fair to say, even when you're growing up
in christ Church, this is one of the ones you
wanted to make sure you never mersed when you're at school.
Did you stay up late during the night in all hours.
Were you want to religiously follow the Tour de France
each and every year?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, for sure. I wouldn't say religiously, but there were
some stages where a few of our yeah, our mates
would stay up laid and go around to someone's house
and watch one of the stages if it was one
of the big ones. I mean, it's probably the only
race you do it for besides some classics, But yeah,
I mean the sort of France is something worth getting
(02:20):
up in the middle of the night or staying up
till four am to watch.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Lawrence Bibby with us here on the All Sports Breakfast.
What are you looking forward to the most about your
debut Sword of France.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Probably just the atmosphere. I mean, I've been there on
the side of the road back in twenty twenty two.
I went and watched the Altdouez stage. That was awesome.
I mean where the fans and the crowds on the
started mountain with me was absolutely incredible. And yeah, now
to just picture myself riding through those crowds, yeah, it's
(02:53):
pretty surreal.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Actually, I can only imagine Lawrence Billy. What about your
role within your team Red Bull or a Handscroll. Is
there something you've been tasked with specifically.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I'll be in a support role mainly, so yeah, protecting
our GC riders, keeping them out of trouble. We have
primals Rosleck who's quite a big name in cycling and
has a great Palmyra's behind him when it comes to
the Grand Tours, so mang goal will be to protect
him and that'll be my big job. And then we
also have a sprinter Jordie Mass who's been in fine
(03:29):
form recently, so getting amongst it in the leadouts in
the sprint stages. For him, that'll also be one of
my tasks.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
And what about your time's the team thus far? Lawrence,
it's been your first season with Red Bull more hands, gir,
how's it been.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
It's been awesome. Yeah, it's been a pretty smooth transition,
to be honest. I really found my place within the
team and yeah, I love it. It's a great environment
and they were super welcoming when I joined. And the
results haven't been perfect this year. I had a bit
of bad luck in the classics, but yeah, the team's
been great. They've been super supportive and really understanding. So yeah,
(04:08):
it's been good. I can't complain at all.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
No, it certainly feels like the right move for your career,
and Lawrence, you probably don't look at it like this,
but going through the one hundred and eighty odd riders
who are set to line up tonight in New Zealand
time and Latour, you are the only one from New Zealand.
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, it's definitely a bit of an honor. I mean,
I would love to have some some Kiwi compatriots in
the race with me, but I have to fly the
flag for us and put in some good performances. We've
got a great contingent of Kiwi professional cyclists now, so
to be the only one there, it's yeah. I mean,
I would have loved to have more Kiwis there, but
(04:50):
I'll try and do my best for the nation and
do everyone proud.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Before I let you go, Lawrence Perty and I really
appreciate your time here on the All Sports Breakfast. I'm
sure there are numerous people who have been pivotal in
your journey to get to this point where you're about
to line up and you made in Tour de France.
Is there anyone specifically you'd like to think back home?
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, I guess everyone back home. There's so many people
that have helped me on my journey, and too many
to name. I guess the most important ones are my parents,
parents and big brother. They really help facilitate me to
get here. And yeah, I had a lot of sacrifices,
so if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be on
(05:33):
this stage. So yeah, it's as much their success and
me getting to this sort of France as it is
my own, so I have to thank them.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Awesome well, shaid All the very best and make sure
you enjoy it too, you know, I imagine you know it'll
be hit down and a lot of hard work, but
I hope it sinks. And what you're about to what
you're about to do, So go really well and we'll
be watching back home.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Mat.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
It's a lot of suffering coming.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Up, a lot of suffering and Lawrence, the head of
the Suitta France, is starting tonight.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk set B on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Time to chatter bit of cycling now and it doesn't
get much better than this with the Tour de France
starting tonight in Lial twenty one stages three, three hundred
and thirty eight kilometers, just a crueling test of endurance
and we have a keyw to follow. Christ Church's Lawrence
Pithy has been selected in the Red Bull bore A
(00:32):
hands grow a team. It'll be as made in Latour
aged twenty two, he said, to become just the nineteenth
key we to compete in the event since it began
in nineteen o three. Lawrence joins me, now, thanks so
much for taking the time, mate, Just to rewind the
clock a little bit to begin with, when did you
get the news that you would be going to be
(00:52):
writing in your first tour to France.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I found out during the Criterion de d'orphine. So it
was a race, Yeah, there's a race not too long ago. Now,
halfway through that and got the call that or got
told by the stuff that I'd be racing the tour.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And how was it to receive that news? I mean
I'm sure there would have been a fair amount of
hope or expectation that you would get that news, but
just to hear it. What was your reaction to have
that confirmation you were going to be taking part in
your first ever Tour de France.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, it's pretty stoked day. I was super excited to
get the call. You know, It's something you dream since
I started cycling, and that's the biggest race in the
world and there's nothing like it, So just super excited.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Is it fair to say, even when you're growing up
in christ Church, this is one of the ones you
wanted to make sure you never mersed when you're at school.
Did you stay up late during the night in all hours.
Were you want to religiously follow the Tour de France
each and every year?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, for sure. I wouldn't say religiously, but there were
some stages where a few of our yeah, our mates
would stay up laid and go around to someone's house
and watch one of the stages if it was one
of the big ones. I mean, it's probably the only
race you do it for besides some classics, But yeah,
I mean the sort of France is something worth getting
(02:20):
up in the middle of the night or staying up
till four am to watch.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Lawrence Bibby with us here on the All Sports Breakfast.
What are you looking forward to the most about your
debut Sword of France.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Probably just the atmosphere. I mean, I've been there on
the side of the road back in twenty twenty two.
I went and watched the Altdouez stage. That was awesome.
I mean where the fans and the crowds on the
started mountain with me was absolutely incredible. And yeah, now
to just picture myself riding through those crowds, yeah, it's
(02:53):
pretty surreal.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Actually, I can only imagine Lawrence Billy. What about your
role within your team Red Bull or a Handscroll. Is
there something you've been tasked with specifically.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I'll be in a support role mainly, so yeah, protecting
our GC riders, keeping them out of trouble. We have
primals Rosleck who's quite a big name in cycling and
has a great Palmyra's behind him when it comes to
the Grand Tours, so mang goal will be to protect
him and that'll be my big job. And then we
also have a sprinter Jordie Mass who's been in fine
(03:29):
form recently, so getting amongst it in the leadouts in
the sprint stages. For him, that'll also be one of
my tasks.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
And what about your time's the team thus far? Lawrence,
it's been your first season with Red Bull more hands, gir,
how's it been.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
It's been awesome. Yeah, it's been a pretty smooth transition,
to be honest. I really found my place within the
team and yeah, I love it. It's a great environment
and they were super welcoming when I joined. And the
results haven't been perfect this year. I had a bit
of bad luck in the classics, but yeah, the team's
been great. They've been super supportive and really understanding. So yeah,
(04:08):
it's been good. I can't complain at all.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
No, it certainly feels like the right move for your career,
and Lawrence, you probably don't look at it like this,
but going through the one hundred and eighty odd riders
who are set to line up tonight in New Zealand
time and Latour, you are the only one from New Zealand.
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, it's definitely a bit of an honor. I mean,
I would love to have some some Kiwi compatriots in
the race with me, but I have to fly the
flag for us and put in some good performances. We've
got a great contingent of Kiwi professional cyclists now, so
to be the only one there, it's yeah. I mean,
I would have loved to have more Kiwis there, but
(04:50):
I'll try and do my best for the nation and
do everyone proud.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Before I let you go, Lawrence Perty and I really
appreciate your time here on the All Sports Breakfast. I'm
sure there are numerous people who have been pivotal in
your journey to get to this point where you're about
to line up and you made in Tour de France.
Is there anyone specifically you'd like to think back home?
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, I guess everyone back home. There's so many people
that have helped me on my journey, and too many
to name. I guess the most important ones are my parents,
parents and big brother. They really help facilitate me to
get here. And yeah, I had a lot of sacrifices,
so if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be on
(05:33):
this stage. So yeah, it's as much their success and
me getting to this sort of France as it is
my own, so I have to thank them.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Awesome well, shaid All the very best and make sure
you enjoy it too, you know, I imagine you know it'll
be hit down and a lot of hard work, but
I hope it sinks. And what you're about to what
you're about to do, So go really well and we'll
be watching back home.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Mat.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
It's a lot of suffering coming.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Up, a lot of suffering and Lawrence, the head of
the Suitta France, is starting tonight.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk set B on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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