Christchurch junior cyclist Sam Horgan upset his more senior rivals to score the fastest time in the 40km time trial on the first day of the New Zealand Club Championships near Nelson today. The Subway Avanti rider took out the under-23 honours with an impressive 51:49 minutes for the 40km time trial, with testing winds and a undulating course near Upper Moutere.
He was nearly a minute faster than the winner of the senior men’s division, former Olympian Robin Reid (Star & Garter Tasman) who gained a good win for the host club.
Horgan said the conditions had improved by the time the under-23 and senior riders began. “The conditions got easier for us later on because the wind calmed down. The winds were swirling a bit earlier on and there seemed to be a head wind for most of the way,” said Horgan. “I had ridden the course a few times in the Benchmark series and I am now looking forward to the road race. I hope Subway Avanti will dominate again.”
Horgan finished clear of the talented Otago rider Alex McGregor who clocked 52:24 minutes, also under Reid’s winning time in the senior event where he was timed at 52:45 minutes.
It was a closely fought affair in the senior men with Hamilton City’s Justin Kerr only eight second back with double Olympian Chris Nicholson (Star & Garter) third. The local club grabbed the senior double when Bronwen Frazer successfully defended her title in the women’s race over 25km.
It proved a major battle with Frazer only five seconds faster than second placed Gabrielle Vermunt (Cycling Southland) with Nicola Bowden (Te Awamutu) a further 24 seconds back in third.
Christchurch rider Michael Vink (Pegasus) won the under-19 men’s honours in a super-talented field. He clocked 32:06 minutes to finished clear of his fellow world championship team members Patrick Bevin (Taupo) in 32:50 minutes and Josh Atkins (Pegasus) 33:17 minutes for the 25km time trial.
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Former international Stu Imrie was the fastest of the Masters riders. The Counties Manukau cyclist, riding in the 40-44 years age group, was timed at 33:28 minutes for the 25km distance, faster than riders 10 years his junior.
Two-time stage winner Julius Johansen among six riders who finished outside the time limit, which was calculated differently from what was stated in the roadbook – but was communicated in advance
