Glenn Haden was this year's winner from a field of 25 determined riders for Wanganui Cycling Club's annual 'Sharrock Family Cup' race from the outskirts of Whanganui to Waverley and back.
Leaving from St Oswalds Church on the Western Line, the Cup race is considered the most prestigious, and arduous,club event as it takes in an 80km round trip going into an increasing head wind.
As Haden and fellow scratch rider Brendon Sharratt were giving a 36 minute head start to the the first riders - Marty Hewson, Laurence Sunde, Charlie Bilby, Martin Hogan and Eion Fredrickson - it was thought they couldn't catch them.
This first group quickly split up with Bilby having a handy lead from the chasing pace of Brian Hayward, Allan Luff, Johnny Black, Ross McNeill and Rob Manson.
Meanwhile the next group of ten riders, spearheaded by Phillip Groves and Stephen Brandon, were also making up ground.
The pair passed Luff and company just before reaching Goat Valley, and with only Bilby left to dispatch they caught him there.
Bilby was now trying to hang onto third with Black and Manson passing him on Goat Valley also.
Haden and Sharratt worked their way out to a three minute gap, with Haden getting the line honours, before Bilby caught back up with Black and Manson and won a great sprint to the finish to stay on the podium.
The rest of the field quickly came in, with Johnstone having a fantastic ride to finish with third fastest time.
Three riders were unable to finish after succumbing to the strong westerly wind.
The Paddy O'Brien Cup, which is a race out to Maxwell and return over 30km, was easily won by an ever-improving Tonia Nesbitt, with Heather Johnston second and Pat Carroll third.
