Cycling: Cheatley ends with top-notch ride

Riders from the A Grade lined up for their race. Shaun Tucker (left), Bevan Cheatley, Paul Forrest, Darcy Forrester and Ross McNeil. Photo/Supplied

As he has done so often in recent years, Bevan Cheatley proved too strong for the field in Saturday's combined A and B grade handicap, which took in 42km over six laps of the Westmere School-Watt Livingstone Rd circuit.

A field of 20 Wanganui Cycling Club riders lined up at the Westmere School to contest what was the last race of the summer season with the club now taking a decent winter break until August 2.

The nine-strong B-grade group set out with a seven minute advantage over the A-graders and although three of the front group dropped off the pace within the first couple of laps, the remaining core group of six worked well together.

The experience of Murray McDonald showed out, with good support in particular from Rob Manson, Ricky Symes and Wayne McGrail.

Behind them was Cheatley, who is heading to the Waikato next weekend for a crack at the club road nationals, and was regularly stretching out the A-grade bunch as they tore around the relatively flat course in pursuit of the leaders.

Again, three of the group were dropped early, leaving Cheatley supported by Brian Scrimshaw, Richard Stanton, Adrian Pettit, Paul Forrest, Darcy Forrester and Ian Phillips.

With each lap, the gap came down and when the B-grade leaders got the bell they were in front by just under 30 seconds.

Sensing victory, Cheatley and company finally mowed them down halfway along the State Highway 3 leg of the course and turned into Watt-Livingstone Rd with a 10-second advantage.

Not long before the descent to Rapanui Rd, Brian Scrimshaw launched a decent attack and was joined by Darcy Forrester. These two taking the final corner with a slim lead of about 40 metres with 500m left to travel.

As Forrester started to battle slightly, Scrimshaw pushed on strongly until Cheatley launched his winning move on the slight rise, 200m from the finish.

Over the rise he burst clear and scooted away for a narrow but authoritative victory.

Scrimshaw clung on desperately for a well-earned second spot, with Stanton coming home well for third.

In the line-up behind them, coming fourth was Adrian Pettit, fresh from a pre-race 60km training session including 30km of motor-pacing.

Forrest headed off Forrester to take fifth and right behind them was Phillips, who had been strong throughout.

The first four home are all heading to the club nationals next weekend and all appear to have peaked at the right time.

Seventeen seconds behind Phillips, McGrail burnt off his co-markers to take B-grade honours, just ahead of Manson, Symes and McDonald respectively.

Seven C-grade riders raced over two laps (14km) of the same circuit and while Jane Winchcombe and Julie Weir were unhitched after lap one, the remaining five stayed intact for the rest of the race.

In the end, experience triumphed over youth with Steve Carle launching his winning sprint over the same rise that Cheatley had employed earlier, to the same effect.

Teenager Tom Sutherland, having his first race, chased Carle hard all the way to the line to earn a meritorious second placing on debut.

Heather Johnstone wasn't far away in third, with Dean Blackwell and Debbie Cain battling out fourth and fifth respectively.

Winchcombe and Weir appeared a short time later to complete the field.

Results

A&B Grade: 1. Bevan Cheatley (fastest time 1:03.55); 2. Brian Scrimshaw; 3. Richard Stanton.

C Grade: 1. Steve Carle (fastest time 27.07); 2. Tom Sutherland; 3. Heather Johnstone.