It was a worthwhile trip over from Taupo as the race favourite Patrick Bevan would lift the John Bull Cup in fairly comfortable style around the Kai Iwi course at the Cycling Wanganui Grand Prix yesterday.
Bevan was one of 17 riders, including some New Zealand representatives, that left theBason Reserve at 12.30pm for the first of five 22km laps heading up Rapanui Rd and then looping back around to State Highway 3 for the return.
Bevan was in the lead breakaway group of seven, where Wellington's Andy Hagan and Whakatane's Ryan Wills were leading on the climb up the hill at Peat Ave, past the Kai Iwi beach turnoff on lap one.
By 3.13pm back at the gardens, Bevan would emerge and raise his hand as he crossed in 2h 44m 20.01s.
Just over two seconds behind was Hawke's Bay's Regan Gough, a member of the New Zealand Under-19 team, while Hagan chased them both home another 12 seconds back.
After the time trial on Saturday "which thoroughly hurt", Bevan said not a lot of dig in the leading pack made it "probably the toughest 110km road race I've ever done".
"Everyone just looked at each other."
It made it the type of training you cannot replicate for the United States-based Bissell pro team member, who had been on a break from the end of the Northern Hemisphere season.
"I'm just building up some fitness and days like that are pretty important."
The four-lap race for the B-graders was won by Wanganui's Bevan Cheatley in 2h 25m 8.18s in a tight sprint to the end with Hastings rider Scott Estcourt, just 0.81s behind.
Toshiaki Yamauchi at the start of the B-Grade. PHOTO/ 220913WCBRCBIKE02
"I've been sprinting pretty good all year."
Wanganui's Patrick Johnstone was third a further 23 seconds back.
