Sam Gaze

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Sam Gaze

| image = Sam Gaze 38642.jpg

| caption = Gaze at the National Championships in 2015 in Rotorua

| fullname = Samuel William Gaze

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|12|12}}

| birth_place = Tokoroa, New Zealand{{cite web |url= http://results.glasgow2014.com/athlete/cycling_mountain_bike/1032501/s_gaze.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140802153914/http://results.glasgow2014.com/athlete/cycling_mountain_bike/1032501/s_gaze.html |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 2 August 2014 |title= Samuel Gaze|publisher= Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games |access-date= 30 July 2014}}

| height = 1.89 m

| weight = 78 kg

| currentteam = {{UCI team code|ADC}}

| disciplines = {{ubl|Mountain biking|Road}}

| role = Rider

| ridertype = Cross-country

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 =

| proyears1 = 2015–2019

| proteam1 = Specialized Racing (MTB)

| proyears2 = 2019

| proteam2 = {{allow wrap|{{UCI team code|QST|2019}} (road; stagiaire)}}

| proyears3 = 2020

| proteam3 = {{UCI team code|ADC|2020}}{{cite news|url=https://sporza.be/nl/2020/01/02/alpecin-fenix-selectie/|title=De nieuwe speelkameraadjes van MVDP: "Er zal meer naar ons gekeken worden"|language=nl|trans-title=The new playmates for MVDP: "We will be looked at more"|work=Sporza|publisher=Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|date=2 January 2020|access-date=3 January 2020}}

| proyears4 = 2021

| proteam4 = {{UCI team code|AFD|2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/15290/2003526/276|title=Alpecin-Fenix Development Team|work=UCI.org|publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale|access-date=29 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129221958/https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/15290/2003526/276|archive-date=29 January 2021}}

| proyears5 = 2022–

| proteam5 = {{UCI team code|ADC|2024}}

| majorwins = ;Mountain bike

:World Marathon Championships (2022)

:XC World Cup

::1 individual win (2018)

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country| {{NZL}} }}

| 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 {{UCI team code|AFC}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/team-details/17212|title=Alpecin–Fenix|publisher=UCI|access-date=11 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111195625/https://www.uci.org/team-details/17212|archive-date=11 January 2022}} 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.{{cite web |url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/250919/gold-and-silver-for-nz-mountain-bikers|title= Gold and silver for NZ mountain bikers |date= 30 July 2014 |publisher= Radio NZ |access-date= 30 July 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Richens |first1=Matt |title=Anton Cooper wins with mountainbike gold |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/commonwealth-games/10327351/Anton-Cooper-wins-with-mountainbike-gold |access-date=24 April 2016 |work=The Press |date=30 July 2014}} 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.{{cite news |title=Rio Olympics 2016: Sam Gaze finishes lap down in men's mountain biking |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/olympics/news/article.cfm?c_id=502&objectid=11698539 |access-date=22 August 2016 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=22 August 2016}}

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.{{cite news |title=Kiwi Sam Gaze stuns to win opening round of UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/102162506/kiwi-sam-gaze-stuns-to-win-opening-round-of-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup-season |access-date=18 March 2018 |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=11 March 2018}} In April 2018, Gaze won the gold medal in the cross country event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.{{cite news |title=Kiwi 1–2: Gaze and Cooper claim gold and silver in Commonwealth Games mountain biking |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12031361 |access-date=12 April 2018 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=12 April 2018}} 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.{{Cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/commonwealth-games/103088850/kiwi-mountainbiker-sam-gaze-fined-for-flipping-the-bird-at-teammate |title=Kiwi mountainbiker Sam Gaze fined for flipping the bird at team-mate | work=Stuff |access-date=16 April 2018}}{{Cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12031568 |title= Comment: Sam Gaze becomes one of NZ's most ungracious victors with spiteful aftermath |last=Alderson |first=Andrew |date=12 April 2018 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=16 April 2018| issn=1170-0777}}

In August 2019, Gaze joined UCI WorldTeam {{UCI team code|QST|2019}} as a stagiaire for the second half of the season.{{cite news|url=https://www.deceuninck-quickstep.com/en/news/4059/deceuninck-quick-step-sign-steimle-and-gaze-as-stagiaires|title=Deceuninck – Quick-Step sign Steimle and Gaze as stagiaires|work={{UCI team code|QST|2019}}|publisher=Decolef Lux SARL|date=2 August 2019|access-date=3 August 2019|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803145616/https://www.deceuninck-quickstep.com/en/news/4059/deceuninck-quick-step-sign-steimle-and-gaze-as-stagiaires|archive-date=3 August 2019}} For 2020, Gaze joined the {{UCI team code|ADC|2020}} team to contest road and mountain biking events.

Personal life

Of Māori descent, Gaze affiliates to the Te Āti Awa iwi.{{cite news | url=http://tvnz.co.nz/te-karere-news/43-m-ori-athletes-head-rio-olympics-6485449 | title=43 Māori athletes to head to Rio Olympics | date=5 August 2016 | work=Te Karere | access-date=6 August 2016}}

Major results

=Mountain bike=

;2014

: 2nd 15px Cross-country, Commonwealth Games

;2015

: 2nd 15px Eliminator, UCI Urban World Championships

;2016

: 1st 20px Cross-country, National Championships

: 1st 20px Cross-country, UCI World Under-23 Championships

: UCI Under-23 XCO World Cup

::1st Cairns

::1st Albstadt

::3rd La Bresse

::3rd Lenzerheide

;2017

: 1st 20px Cross-country, UCI World Under-23 Championships

;2018

: 1st 15px 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 20px Marathon

::1st 20px Short track

: 1st 15px Cross-country, Commonwealth Games

: UCI XCC World Cup

::1st Albstadt

: 1st Wijster

: Copa Catalana Internacional

::2nd Vallnord

;2023

: UCI World Championships

::1st 20px Short track

::2nd 15px 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 20px National Criterium Championships

: 4th Time trial, National Under-23 Championships

;2018

: 1st 20px National Criterium Championships

: 10th Road race, Commonwealth Games

==Grand Tour general classification results timeline==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Grand Tour ! scope="col" \| 2023
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey pink.svg Giro d'Italia \|—
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey yellow.svg Tour de France \|—
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey red.svg Vuelta a España \|DNF

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Grand Tour

! scope="col" | 2023

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row" | File:Jersey pink.svg Giro d'Italia

|—

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row" | File:Jersey yellow.svg Tour de France

|—

style="text-align:center;"

! scope="row" | File:Jersey red.svg Vuelta a España

|DNF