CYCLING: Atkins in form for world champs

Canterbury cyclist Josh Atkins showed he is on form for the upcoming world junior track championships when he won the under-19 road title at the RaboPlus New Zealand Club Championships in Hawke's Bay yesterday.
Atkins broke clear on the final lap of four on a tough circuit near Taradale to take the honours after he won the time trial yesterday.
It was good reward for Atkins, who missed the national championships earlier in the summer following surgery.
``I had a problem with the blood flow through the artery into my leg,'' Atkins said.
``I needed to get the operation done but I was a bit gutted to miss the nationals.
``I've made the team for the world junior track championships and this has given me some confidence that I have a good base for it.
``We had a group of three of us get away and then some others bridged up. I was a pretty tough course especially out the back with the hills and some strong winds,'' he said ``Fraser Gough and I went clear with two laps to go and we put a minute on them quickly. Then I went on the hills on the last lap and stayed clear.
``It's great and now I am really focussed on the world track championships.
``I want to win medals there and I think we have a great team that can do well.''
Atkins finished the 113km race in 2h 54m 19s with Gough, from the Hawke's Bay Ramblers club, 37 seconds back in second and a minute clear of Stratford's Nick Sutton.
Te Awamutu's Hayden McCormick won the under-17 boys race over 75km while Alexandra's Sophie Williamson won the girls' honours in a sprint finish.
The Ulmer name continued to shine with Gary Ulmer, father of Sarah, retaining the men's 65 years and over title.
The senior women's race is today and senior men tomorrow.
* Subway-Avanti Pro Cycling Team's Matt Gorter feels confident he can perform well in elite road race, being held near Hastings, after strong recent results.
Gorter is the current co-leader in the RaboPlus National Points series and recorded the fastest time at last weekend's Gallipoli Cup handicap race near Ardmore.
The 85km race has been held annually on Anzac day afternoon since 1950 and covered four laps in the Ardmore, Clevedon and Alfriston area and included four ascents of the Twilight Road hill.
``It was a good result,'' Gorter said. ``It's the first time I've had the fastest time and it was a good hard hit out before nationals this weekend.''
Starting off the scratch mark with 12 riders Gorter's group worked well and caught several bunches and dropped a number of riders leaving eight from his original group left to sprint for the fastest time.
``We had a group of about 40 at one stage but managed to shed a few going up the climb for the final time. The race leaves me feeling confident about nationals this weekend.''
Defending elite senior men's National Club Champion, and Subway-Avanti team mate Hayden Godfrey, is not racing this weekend and has high hopes Gorter can keep the title in the team.
``He's be going well and the rolling course should suit him - he has a really good chance of a result,'' Godfrey said.
Teammates Nick Lovegrove and Joe Cooper join Gorter on the start line this weekend for the 170km race being held near Hastings.
Subway-Avanti's Ryan Wills won the national under 23 time trial yesterday and lines up in the under 23 road race that race with the elite men tomorrow.