Paul Baskett has gone from NZ Masters Games triathlon racing to cycling club road race glory after his gutsy performance in blustery conditions at the weekend.
Paul Baskett has gone from NZ Masters Games triathlon racing to cycling club road race glory after his gutsy performance in blustery conditions at the weekend.
Paul Baskett reeled his front running rivals to claim victory with a dogged come-from-behind performance in Saturday's Wanganui Cycling Club road race run in blustery conditions.
Starting at Upokongaro competitors climbed the Gentle Annie on the river road, turning at the top then heading up the Parapara to Aberfeldy Schooland returning to Upokongaro.
Twelve riders split into two groups of six to face the starter before Paul Forrest and Ashley Christie broke away on the Annie with Ross McNeil and Kerry Bennett chasing hard.
Starting six minutes later, the scratch bunch combined well, with Baskett, Hayden Trotter, Rob Gemmell, Darcy Forester, and Adrian Pettit riding away from Andrew Osmond on the Annie. Osmond was on his own for the rest of the ride, but fought fiercely to finish within seconds of the rider in front.
Further up the Parapara, Forrest and Christie were by now well clear with the scratch bunch chasing hard - they had picked up all but Forrest and Christie.
Baskett raced clear of the scratch bunch picking up the two front riders who stayed with him to the finish. Baskett outrode them to the line to take a deserved win with Christie slightly ahead of Forrest in third and Trotter the best of the rest in fourth. Fastest times were Paul Baskett 1hr 1min 30s then Trotter and Forester on 1.20.06.
This Saturday a large contingent of riders from Whanganui will be competing at the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.
