Sam Gaze Explained

Sam Gaze
Fullname:Samuel William Gaze
Birth Date:1995 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Tokoroa, New Zealand[1]
Height:1.89 m
Weight:78 kg
Role:Rider
Ridertype:Cross-country
Proyears1:2015–2019
Proteam1:Specialized Racing (MTB)
Proyears2:2019
Proyears3:2020
Proteam3:[2]
Proyears4:2021
Proteam4:[3]
Proyears5:2022–
Majorwins:
Mountain bike
  • World Marathon Championships (2022)
  • XC World Cup
  • 1 individual win (2018)
  • Show-Medals:no

    Samuel William Gaze (born 12 December 1995) is a New Zealand cross-country and road cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam .[4] He won the under-23 Cross-Country at the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships and the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. He also competes on occasion in road racing events, winning the National Criterium Championships in 2017 and 2018.

    Career

    At the Men's cross-country event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Gaze won the silver medal behind fellow New Zealand rider Anton Cooper.[5] [6] Gaze was selected ahead of Cooper, who had medical conditions during 2016, to represent New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He had two punctures in the Olympic race and his gears failed, and he pulled out when he got lapped.[7]

    In March 2018, Gaze became the first New Zealander to win an elite UCI Mountain Bike World Cup title, when he claimed the cross country event in the first round of the season in Stellenbosch, South Africa.[8] In April 2018, Gaze won the gold medal in the cross country event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[9] Despite his win, Gaze came under significant media attention for his perceived unsportsmanlike behaviour towards his compatriot and silver place winner Cooper. Gaze was fined CHF200 by the International Cycling Union for showing Cooper the finger during the race.[10] [11]

    In August 2019, Gaze joined UCI WorldTeam as a stagiaire for the second half of the season.[12] For 2020, Gaze joined the team to contest road and mountain biking events.[2]

    Personal life

    Of Māori descent, Gaze affiliates to the Te Āti Awa iwi.[13]

    Major results

    Mountain bike

    2014
  • 2nd Cross-country, Commonwealth Games
    2015
  • 2nd Eliminator, UCI Urban World Championships
    2016
  • 1st Cross-country, National Championships
  • 1st Cross-country, UCI World Under-23 Championships
  • UCI Under-23 XCO World Cup
  • 1st Cairns
  • 1st Albstadt
  • 3rd La Bresse
  • 3rd Lenzerheide
    2017
  • 1st Cross-country, UCI World Under-23 Championships
    2018
  • 1st Cross-country, Commonwealth Games
  • UCI XCO World Cup
  • 1st Stellenbosch
  • UCI XCC World Cup
  • 1st Nové Město
  • 1st Mont-Sainte-Anne
  • 2nd Albstadt
  • Copa Catalana Internacional
  • 1st Girona
  • 2nd Cross-country, Oceania Championships
    2021
  • Swiss Bike Cup
  • 1st Basel
  • Copa Catalana Internacional
  • 1st Girona
  • 1st Sittard
    2022
  • UCI World Championships
  • 1st Marathon
  • 1st Short track
  • 1st Cross-country, Commonwealth Games
  • UCI XCC World Cup
  • 1st Albstadt
  • 1st Wijster
  • Copa Catalana Internacional
  • 2nd Vallnord
    2023
  • UCI World Championships
  • 1st Short track
  • 2nd Cross-country
  • XCO French Cup
  • 1st Guéret
  • 2nd Marseille–Luminy
  • Shimano Super Cup
  • 1st La Nucia
  • XCC French Cup
  • 1st Guéret
  • UCI XCC World Cup
  • 2nd Nové Město
    2024
  • UCI XCC World Cup
  • 1st Mairiporã
  • 1st Val di Sole
  • 3rd Les Gets

    Road

    2017
  • 1st National Criterium Championships
  • 4th Time trial, National Under-23 Championships
    2018
  • 1st National Criterium Championships
  • 10th Road race, Commonwealth Games

    Grand Tour general classification results timeline

    Grand Tour2023
    Giro d'Italia
    Tour de France
    Vuelta a EspañaDNF

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Samuel Gaze. Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games . 30 July 2014.
    2. News: De nieuwe speelkameraadjes van MVDP: "Er zal meer naar ons gekeken worden". nl. The new playmates for MVDP: "We will be looked at more". Sporza. Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie. 2 January 2020. 3 January 2020.
    3. Web site: Alpecin-Fenix Development Team. UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. 29 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210129221958/https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/15290/2003526/276. 29 January 2021.
    4. Web site: Alpecin–Fenix. UCI. 11 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220111195625/https://www.uci.org/team-details/17212. 11 January 2022.
    5. Web site: Gold and silver for NZ mountain bikers . 30 July 2014 . Radio NZ . 30 July 2014.
    6. News: Richens . Matt . Anton Cooper wins with mountainbike gold . 24 April 2016 . . 30 July 2014.
    7. News: Rio Olympics 2016: Sam Gaze finishes lap down in men's mountain biking . 22 August 2016 . . 22 August 2016.
    8. News: Kiwi Sam Gaze stuns to win opening round of UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season . 18 March 2018 . Stuff.co.nz . 11 March 2018.
    9. News: Kiwi 1–2: Gaze and Cooper claim gold and silver in Commonwealth Games mountain biking . 12 April 2018 . The New Zealand Herald . 12 April 2018.
    10. News: Kiwi mountainbiker Sam Gaze fined for flipping the bird at team-mate . Stuff . 16 April 2018.
    11. News: Comment: Sam Gaze becomes one of NZ's most ungracious victors with spiteful aftermath . Alderson . Andrew . 12 April 2018 . . 16 April 2018. 1170-0777.
    12. News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step sign Steimle and Gaze as stagiaires. . Decolef Lux SARL. 2 August 2019. 3 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190803145616/https://www.deceuninck-quickstep.com/en/news/4059/deceuninck-quick-step-sign-steimle-and-gaze-as-stagiaires. 3 August 2019.
    13. News: 43 Māori athletes to head to Rio Olympics . 5 August 2016 . Te Karere . 6 August 2016.