The second climb proved to be the deciding factor in the Rev100 cycle classic with seasoned pro Jeremy Vennell breaking away from the chase pack to bridge a two minute gap to the leaders which included James Oram, the Junior Silver Medal winner in the recent world road cycling championships.
Experience won out with Vennell proving too strong for Oram in the final sprint and Vennell taking the title by half a second. His time was 3:51:34. This now becomes the benchmark for the race.
The men's elite race covered a 142km course taking in French Pass and Scotsman's Valley followed by a gruelling second ascent of the infamous French Pass.
It was Vennell's first time at the race and he was reported as saying how people forget how beautiful the roads are around here. "Good fun and hard work all the way. When I saw Oram on one of the bends, that gave me inspiration to move ahead."
In the women's event, a 100km circuit also taking in the French Pass and Scotsman's Valley, Emma Crum, the defending 2011 REV champion, along with Corrinne Smit and Toni Bradshaw broke away from the rest of the field early in the race and held the lead all the way to the finish. Crum held off challengers in the final sprint to win in a time of 2:38:41.
Other categories in the REV included a 100km REV 100 for recreational riders, the 55km REV Midi from Matamata to Cambridge and the 18km REV Intro, as well as a 2km children's circuit.
