Welcome to the New Zealand National Championships! There’s a reasonably large startlist today although no team has a large cast of riders, so it’ll be unlikely that any team takes authority over the race. Bennett is easily the best climber and it’s unlikely to see him falter in the mountains should it be decided by the peloton, but the race will be open to everybody if the break should win.
Gough, McCormick and Bauer. The former isn’t a great climber, while the latter two are quite accomplished climbers and should be well matched if they do get to decide the race.
Atkins and Gough #2 decide they aren’t happy with this arrangement and they accelerate up to the front.
Another rider feels that he’s missing out on the move, the worst climber in the race Scully attacks as well.
Scully’s ordeal in the break lasted about 5km before his companions drop him. He might still stay ahead of the pack though, with 34km left the break already has 11 minutes on the pack.
Next up on the attacking front is Vink, he’s got a 14 minute gap to close in 30km but he is one of the better climbers on the startlist.
10km left as the break tops the climb for the second last time with the snow falling, Atkins is struggling but holding on for now. Scully hilariously is still within 30 seconds and has been for 20km now, always just not getting back on the descents. Vink is still 6’30 down so looks out of it.
With 3km left Atkins is completely gone and now Gough launches an attack and despite being one of the weaker climbers in the group he gets a small gap!
1km left! Gough still has the same small gap as before, while McCormick leads Bauer and Gough!
400 metres left, 11% gradient! Gough is suffering as Bauer is closing the gap with Gough and McCormick biting at his heels!
Gough is so close he can taste victory but with every metre Bauer gets closer to snatching away the win! Gough and McCormick seem to not have the acceleration to contest it now!
200 metres and Bauer reaches Gough but still has to get past him as the gradient begins to get slightly shallower!
There’s only a wheel in it but he does it, Gough’s surprise late attack is successful and he wins the National Championships! Bauer mistimed it and probably underestimated the winner too as he has to settle for second, While McCormick beats the other Gough to the final podium spot.
Next up is the ITT, reigning champion Sergent seems pretty likely to win the jersey for another season but he’ll have to contend with Atkins, Archbold, Bauer and Oram amongst others.
After a few non-contenders, Archbold races through the course to take the lead pretty securely with a time of 1h18’25”.
Oram never really finds his rhythm and despite a good final section falls 9 seconds off the pace.
Starting out when the rain was bucketing hasn’t helped Bauer, he also tries to come back in the final sector but it’s too little, too late and he takes 2nd place 7 seconds down.
Nobody can touch Sergent though! He shows a class performance through the course, catching Atkins mid-course and taking the lead by 2’25! Meaning he will be the Time Trial Champion of New Zealand once again!
Atkins, caught by Sergent but still second place, 2’10 behind his compatriot.
So once again big congrats to the new New Zealand time trial champion Jesse Sergent!
