Whangarei cyclist Ben Evans wrapped up the National Road Series in fifth place after a solid year's racing - despite the odd mishap. "I've come out fifth overall, despite crashing off the podium in the K2, and being ill at Taupo," he said. The inaugural BikeNZ national points series incorporated points gainedat major, general and club bike events around the country during the 2008/09 season. The series concluded on Saturday with the Around Brunner 130km race. The points series took riders' six top finishes - competitors were allocated 100 points for first, 60 for second and 50 for third and so on - from the 11 series races including Auckland 1000, Taupo Napier Classic, Round the Mountain, K2, Taupo Classic, Harbour Ride-Long Bays Classic, Rice Mountain Classic, Taranaki Cycle Challenge, Rev Cycle Classic, Graperide and Around Brunner. Evans, who rides for Marsden Club, totalled 110 points, claimed at the Auckland 1000, K2, Taupo Napier Classic, Rice Mountain, Rev Cycle Classic and the Graperide, for finishing in the top 12 at each event. Hawke's Bay's Jeremy Yates won the national series overall. Karl Murray of Counties Manukau was second, Morrinsville's Elliot Crowther was third and Palmerston North's Tom Findlay, who was third in Northland's recent Twin Coast Cycle Challenge, was fourth overall. In the women's stakes, Yates' partner Serena Sheridan of Nelson was first. Jeannie Kuhajek, also of Nelson, was second and New Plymouth's Tara Allerton was third. The 2009/2010 series starts in August.
