Yates is the best pure puncheur for the hilly course but his finishing and climbing are in question. Lots of better finishers on the start list ready to try and take advantage, if he can’t get a gap.
Startlist
Spoiler
Last name
First name
2023 Team
Gough
Regan
Binance
Smith
Dion
DK Zalgiris
Thompson
Reuben
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Fisher-Black
Finn
Fastned
Kennett
Dylan
Glanbia
Oram
James
Glanbia
Atkins
Josh
Moser - Sygic
McCormick
Hayden
Spark-BNZ Racing
Yates
Joel
Spark-BNZ Racing
Bevin
Patrick
Spark-BNZ Racing
Mudgway
Luke
Spark-BNZ Racing
Marryatt
Jake
Spark-BNZ Racing
Watts
Kiaan
Spark-BNZ Racing
Currie
Logan
Tryg - Gobik
Bennett
George
Xero Racing
Fouche
James
Xero Racing
Strong
Corbin
Xero Racing
Duyvesteyn
Kees
Xero Racing
The break is shut down by Spark as they crest the top of the penultimate climb.
Smith and Oram launch an attack on the flat with 5k to go.
Spark closes that down as well as a dig from Thompson. As they turn on to the final climb across the front it is Watts, Bevin, Thompson and Strong.
Under the 1k banner Bevin leads, McCormick to his left, Fouche to his right.
600 meters. McCormick to the front, Bennett coming up just to his right, Yates behind him.
Bennett bursts past McCormick but then Kennett bursts past him.
But Kennett can’t hold his pace and Bennett is the new national champion. Smith second ahead of Kennett.
Results
1
George Bennett
Xero Racing
1h15'40
2
Dion Smith
DK Zalgiris
s.t.
3
Dylan Kennett
Glanbia
s.t.
4
James Fouche
Xero Racing
s.t.
5
Patrick Bevin
Spark-BNZ Racing
s.t.
6
Hayden McCormick
Spark-BNZ Racing
s.t.
7
Corbin Strong
Xero Racing
s.t.
8
Joel Yates
Spark-BNZ Racing
s.t.
9
Josh Atkins
Moser - Sygic
+ 17
10
Reuben Thompson
Ekoi - Le Creuset
+ 23
11
Regan Gough
Binance
s.t.
12
Jake Marryatt
Spark-BNZ Racing
+ 36
13
James Oram
Glanbia
s.t.
14
Logan Currie
Tryg - Gobyk
+ 48
15
Finn Fisher-Black
Fastned
+ 58
16
Kiaan Watts
Spark-BNZ Racing
+ 1'18
17
Luke Mudgway
Spark-BNZ Racing
+ 1'29
18
Kees Duyvesteyn
Xero Racing
s.t.
Time Trial
The TT should be contested between Atkins, Marryatt, Oram, and Bevin.
Bevin sets the early marker at 1’02’58. Marryatt falls 1 second short of that time.
Defending Champion Oram is the next man on the course. He takes the hot seat by 3 seconds.
Atkins is the last man. He powers home with 20 seconds to spare and wins the national title.
New Zealand National Championships]
