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Results and Reports for January 31, 2002

New Zealand

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Cyco Criterium Series II Race 3

Auckland, January 31, 2002

By Keiran Turner

A Grade

There were thrills and spills aplenty in this extremely fast race with the average speed again hitting 44kph. The field seems to keep growing each week which is good, and there are more riders hungry to win.

Ric Reid decided to dust off his road bike and give the legs a tune up and duly took the first sprint which would have to rate as one of the fastest yet. The attacks as usual kept coming thick and fast but on a night where the speed was regularly over 50kph on both straights, it was going to take some extraordinary riding to stay clear.

The second sprint went to Aaron Strong who had been absent from the first two races but showed he had not lost any of the previous seasons form. Several small breaks were allowed to dangle, but just as it looked like it was going to be a huge bunch sprint, Rusty Smith Jumped clear with 3/4 of a lap to ride.

The sprinters sat up and looked at each other and Rusty put the hammer down. The bunch reacted and everybody charged for position into the second to last corner. This led to the first crash of the Cyco (indeed all Cyco Series races for the last year and a half) with the honour befittingly going to Mike Heyden, who is normally seen lurking about the confines of the Cyco store serving customers. Also hitting the deck was Jonathan Atkinson, stage winner in last years tour of Southland.

As the bunch entered the home straight the jostling started and Ric Reid decided to take a flyer. Only he did so by grabbing a none too happy Karl Murray. Karl has a good reach and duly managed to snare Ric and the pair crossed the line holding hands.

Race director, Darren Murray has issued a waring to Ric Reid who is now on probation and will be banned should he try any similar stunts in the future. Rusty Smith held on to win and the smile said it all as he crossed the line a good 100m clear of the charging bunch. The bunch gallop was taken by Ryan Hoogenberg who is obviously hitting his straps showing a formidable turn of speed to beat the ever consistent Eric McKenzie.

B grade

The B grade field topped the 50 mark and looked a formidable sight as it surged around the course. In a turn up for the books, a small break of 4 riders got clear early, but couldn't sustain the pace and were caught prior to the first sprint. Adam Gaskill continued his good showing winning the first sprint as the bunch stretched out well over 200m.

The bunch stayed that way until the finish in what was one of the most spread out sprints yet testifying to the toll the 42kph average took on the field. In the finale it was David Wyman (ex running sprinter) who took it by 15m to shouts of A-Grade from the crowd. In second place was Christian Pulley followed by Gareth Summers who found it easy this week by keeping both feet in his pedals.

Results

A Grade

1 Rusty Smith
2 Ryan Hoogenberg
3 Eric McKenzie
4 Gordon Bearman
5 Aaron Strong
6 Mike Metz
7 Karl Murray
8 Steven Wallis
9 Kieran Turner
10 Matt Gilbert

B Grade

1 David Wyman
2 Christian Pulley
3 Gareth Summers
4 Steve McKernon
5 Dean Griffen
6 Adam Gaskill
7 Richard Henry
8 Richard Speer
9 Tim Struthers
10 Matthew Biggs

Courtesy of Kieran Turner

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