BAY HOPE: Sam Thorpe-Loversuch on his way to fifth place in last night's 6.7km individual time trial. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
BAY HOPE: Sam Thorpe-Loversuch on his way to fifth place in last night's 6.7km individual time trial. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
Hawke's Bay's multiple world champion track cyclist Regan Gough has wasted little time in making up for the disappointment of last weekend's withdrawal in the national road race championship in Napier.
The Bay's 2015 Sportsperson of the Year opened The Hub Three Day Tour with a 10-second victory in lastnight's Puketapu-based 6.7km time trial. Gough withdrew during last weekend's road race with a throat infection and was still on antibiotics as he recorded last night's win over Melbourne visitor Morgan Smith.
The Ivar Hopman-coached Gough is using the tour as part of his quest to gain selection in the Kiwi team for the March world track championships.
"The road work provides the ideal base for track cyclists and another tough two days will be ideal for Regan who is one of seven riders chasing four berths for the March team," Hopman said.
Wellington master Andy Hagan took third in the elite time trial 21s behind Gough while Bay riders Shamus Christison, a son of Hawke's Bay multisport legend George Christison, and Sam Thorpe-Loversuch were fourth and fifth respectively.
Hagan rode in the masters section last weekend and could easily have won the masters title this weekend but opted for the elite division. During recent weeks he has been scoping the courses which will be used today and tomorrow and his younger rivals will have a tough job knocking him off the podium.
Less than a week after winning the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman Hawke's Bay triathlete Amelia Watkinson won the elite women's time trial by 24 seconds from Waikato's Jessica Read. Hawke's Bay's Hannah van Kampen was a further two seconds back in third place and on her 25th birthday Hawke's Bay's Natalie Kerwin was fourth, 49 seconds behind Watkinson.
Hopman is predicting Watkinson to do well on the tour.
"Melanie has performed well at B grade level with the Ramblers and is a good climber ... there will be plenty of climbs for her during the weekend."
The tour which has attracted 164 riders across seven divisions will continue today with 99km and 84km road races for the elite men starting from Pukehamoamoa School. A 104km road race for the elite men from Puketapu School tomorrow will end the tour.
Riders in the elite women's division will have 66km and 56km road races today. Their tour will end with a 78km stage tomorrow.
Under-17 girls have 33km and 28km races today while under-17 boys cover 66km and 56km.
