Evans wins elite cycling series opener

Otago University student Brad Evans had his best win on the road in the opening round of the Benchmark Homes Elite Cycling series in Oxford, winning a sprint finish from Bradley Tuhi and Joseph Chapman.

Evan’s, who is fresh from an intensive race programme on the track, including the elite track nationals three weeks ago, paid tribute to his Fitlab team for playing a major role chasing down the break and keeping him sheltered in the peloton during the 159 kilometre elite race he won in three hours and forty six minutes.

“I was a little unsure about my form after so much time on the track,” Evans, who won the series under 23 competition last year, said. “But the boys rode so well on the front, taking a lot of major turns to keep the break in check; I had to make sure I paid them back. Although I won the Nelson round last year, it was a top end field today so I was really pleased to get up for the win which is definitely my best result on the road.”

Evans is still in the under 23 category so the under 23 series jersey for the next round in Nelson will be worn by Tuhi. Chapman will wear the elite leader’s jersey.

The break of Robin Reid (Scotty Browns-Vision Systems), Sam Steele (L & M Group), Matt Zenovich (H & J Outdoor World) and Kyle Wood (Calder Stewart) was caught with 30 kilometres to go. There was then a series of attacks which were shut down by several teams with the bunch all coming back together over the last 10 kilometres.

“It was a really fast and uneven over the last 20 kilometres once the break was caught,” Evans said. “I was pleased we managed to shut attacks down and by the time we reached the top of German Road it was all back together.”

Benchmark Homes Sharlotte Lucas also picked up the best result of her career outsprinting Samantha Michael (Soul Star Racing) to win the 117 kilometre women’s race in three hours and twenty seven minutes. The two riders managed to slip away from the women’s field with 20 kilometres to go and worked well to slowly extend their lead to finish almost four minutes clear of Olympian Lauren Ellis (Benchmark Homes) who won the bunch sprint to claim third ahead of Karen Fulton (Soul Star Racing).

Lee Johnstone (Warmup Cycling) won a large frantic bunch sprint to win the 117 kilometre masters race, holding off Justin Sims (Armitage Williams) and Glen Rewi (Kiwi Style Bike Tours), winning in two hours and fifty five minutes.

Dunedin’s Mark Spessot (Cycle World) came across the line sixth just behind Johnstone, but was the first over 45 master so claimed the series leader’s jersey for that masters age group.

Johnstone said he went a little earlier than he intended but that it had gone exactly as he hoped it would. “It was exactly as I had visualized it,” he said “I had hoped it would come down to a bunch sprint, and it did, but only after a few of my team mates and a few others drove things really hard on the front to bring a dangerous break back.”
 
Results
Elite men
1,Brad Evans, Fitlab, Under 23, 3:46:42
2, Bradley Tuhi, Benchmark Homes, Under 23, 3:46:42
3, Joseph Chapman, L&M Group Racing, Elite, 3:46:42
4, Tim Chapman ,L&M Group Racing, Elite, 3:46:42
5, Cameron Karwowski, H&J's Outdoor World Avanti+, under 23, 3:46:42
6, George Bennett, Scotty Browns Vision Systems, Elite, 3:46:42
7, Mitchell Podmore, Homestyle, Under 23, 3:46:42
8, Sam Horgan, Benchmark Homes, Elite, 3:46:42
9, Jacob Grieve, Fitlab, Elite, 3:46:43
10, Jason Christie, Team Calder Stewart Road, Under 23, 3:46:43

Masters
1, Lee Johnstone , Warmup Cycling Team, Master 35-44, 2:55:11
2, Justin Sims, Armitage Williams Team, Master 35-44, 2:55:11
3,Glen Rewi, Kiwi Style Bike Tours, Master 35-44, 2:55:11
4, Brendon Mathews, Team Tineli Masters, Master 35-44, 2:55:11
5, Phil Turnwald, Cycling Otago, Master 35-44, 2:55:11
6, Mark Spessot, Cycle World, Master 45+, 2:55:12
7, Michael Ferigo, Team Thule Cycling, Master 45+, 2:55:12
8, Jeff Keogh, Cycling Otago, Master 45+,2:55:12
9, Blair Stuthridge, Team Thule Cycling, Master 45+, 2:55:13
10, Craig Lawn, Team Tineli Masters, Master 35-44, 2:55:13

Women
1, Sharlotte Lucas, Benchmark Homes, 3:27:31
2, Samantha Michael,  Soul Star Racing, Women, 3:27:31
3, Lauren Ellis, Benchmark Homes, 3:31:27

Team winners
Women
1, Soul Star Racing.
2, Pegasus Thule
3, Benchmark Homes

Masters
1, Otago
2, Thule
3, Tineli

Elite
1, Scotty Browns-Vision Systems
2, L & M Group Racing
3, Benchmark Homes