Goode holds off chasing group to capture victory

Wanganui Cycling Club's Matt Goode continued his fine recent form with both line and time honours in Saturday's 45km A and B grade race around five laps of the Eastown circuit.

A field of 21 contested the handicapped event in near-perfect conditions.

The five limit group riders Laurence Sunde, Brian Scott, Carl Rusden, Craig Bright and Glen Willacy enjoyed the conditions and combined well in the lead, until they were reeled in early on lap four.

The seven break riders who caught them had also worked together evenly club national medallist Alan Luff was looking strong, as were women's club champion Cherie Prince, Palmerston North visitor Toshi Yamamuchi and local rider Dave Collins.

However, a couple of kilometres later, the newly-formed lead group was in turn captured with the arrival of the scratch bunch.

Goode was amongst them with strong support from Phil Groves, Pat Johnstone, Adrian Pettit and men's club champion Jason Sturzaker.

Also doing well was the rapidly improving teenager Boaz Darby.

While the pace quickened appreciably as the scratch men stepped on the gas, the majority of the field was able to hang on despite stretching out on each corner, as the stronger riders powered out of the turns.

With the scratch riders confident of their ability to dominate the finish and conditions not conducive to a successful breakaway, there was not too much action until the big bunch entered the long finishing straight on Eastown Rd for the final time.

In the dash to the line it was Goode who kicked clear early and had enough in hand to hold off a strong challenge from Sturzaker, who had beaten him narrowly in the club championships a month prior.

Also in the money was Steve Cowan, who finished off with his usual sharp sprint to take third spot.

Collins turned in a great effort to claim fourth in front of a big line up in which Pettit, Groves and Darby were all prominent.

The win was further confirmation of the steady progress that the 19-year-old Goode is making his next major aim being the Taranaki Tour over the Queen's Birthday weekend.

Nine C-graders did battle over three laps (27km) of the same course and it was returning rider Steve Carle, on the comeback trail after several years off the racing scene, who made an impressive winning return.

Chasing hard from further back in the handicap was Dean Blackwell, who raced into second and clocked the day's fastest time (49.06) in the process.

New club sponsor Steve Brandon, who is about to open a Pita Pit franchise locally, did well to nail down third spot.

Fourth was Ian MacArthur, ahead of Paul Darby in fifth with Alistair Ross rounding out the top six.

Results

A & B grade: 1. Matt Goode (fastest time 1.09:08); 2. Jason Sturzaker; 3. Steve Cowan.

C grade: 1. Steve Carle; 2. Dean Blackwell (fastest time 49.06); 3. Steve Brandon.