Cycling: Cousins keep A grade battle in the family

The Ramblers Cycling Summer race series continued on Saturday with a graded 17.5km out and back individual time trial based at Puketapu School. The time trial started on Dartmoor Rd and went out to the bridge at the base of the first hill and return.

Sixty-three competitors rocked up for the start in a blistering 30 degree heat.

The Gough cousins, Olympic medallist Westly, semi-pro Fraser and New Zealand junior rep Regan cleaned up the first 3 places in the Hub Cycle Centre A grade.

Westly came home first with a 48.09km/h average, Fraser was second (46.84km/h) and Regan 45.59km/h.Local mechanic Andrew Townsend came in fourth ahead of America based Bissel Professional Jeremy Vennel.

In the Langley Twigg Roy Van Panhuys B Grade Brett Harte was first at 42.68km/h, Ian Seddon was next with Dean Hepburn rounding out the top 3. The field in the B grade was the biggest on the day.

The first woman home, Kerri-Anne Page, broke the 40km/h average spead with 40.96 kim/h and 40.20 km/h respectively.

In the Grant White Autobody C Grade, 13 riders trundled out with Richard Grey grinding his way to victory with a impressive ride averaging 38.91km/h, with Clarke Curtis and Craig Hill coming in close on his heels with 38.18 and 38.09km/h.

The Avanti Plus Hastings D Grade had only 3 riders crazy enough to relish a half hour of exquisite torture, with the tandem winning comfortably with a 35.73km/h average, although Derek Ward was not too far behind with a good 35.14km/h blast, and Gemma Newland rounding out the podium.

Thirteen riders in the Pedal Power E Grade braved the heatwave. National gold medallist Ingrid Perols (who has only recently recovered from surgery) rolled the weekend warriors with 35.51km/h average, however Peter McArdle and Mike Lucinsky were the first to roll into the finish following her epic ride with a 34.3kmph and 33.96kmph average speed respectively.