Fraser Gough soloes to final stage victory at Battle on the Border

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Fraser Gough (Data#3) soloed to final stage honours at the Battle on the Border after a daring solo attack inside the final 10km. Budget Forklifts' Myron Simpson claimed the sprint for second place ahead of James Mowatt (African Wildlife Safaris). Joe Cooper secured the overall win while Mark O’Brien and Jack Haig completed the Avanti clean sweep of the podium.

"It's my first NRS win so I'm buzzing," said Gough. "It was a Budget and Avanti battle and that left an opportunity for the smaller teams to get away and that's what I capitalized on in the final 10 kilometres.

"The bunch sat up and I rolled off the front, I got about 30 seconds which was quite a gap because the bunch was charging me down like raging bulls," said Gough.
Cooper’s advantage to O’Brien was 12 seconds with Haig 17 off the former New Zealand time trial champion. Avanti won three out of the give stages at the race with Cooper, O’Brien and Scott Law all claiming victories.

"I'm pretty wrapped to take this title," said Cooper. "Last year I came into the race leading the NRS after [Tour de] Perth but I didn't have the best time up Mt Warning. This year I've worked on my climbing a bit and managed to get myself up Mt Warning within a stone’s throw of the overall title before the time trial yesterday.

On 39 points, Cooper remains the leader of the NRS ahead of Tim Roe (Budget Forklifts) on 26 points with Haig in thirds place on 17 points).

"I have got to thank the guys, they rode all day for me and they probably would have ridden all night too if they had to," said Cooper. "They absolutely turned themselves inside out to make sure I was always in the perfect place."

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