Haden stands with elite company

Glenn Haden, on right, made the podium with elite performers Michael Torckler and Hamish Bond in Cambridge on Friday.

While the spotlight might have been on Olympic gold medallist rower Hamish Bond is his successful transition to competitive cycling, a Whanganui stalwart still got to share the podium with him in Cambridge on Friday.

Glenn Haden came third in the 25.4km Time Trial senior race at the National Age Group Champs, behind Bond and runnerup Michael Torckler, the US-based professional.

Bond was riding a custom-made TT bike which Velo Ronny's Gary Anderson and Ron Cheatley had fit to his exact height and weight specifications.

Haden also wanted to thank Cheatley and his Whanganui store team, as well as Trek bicycles and Shaun Hogan "for keeping my body in check".

"[Thank] Gary Anderson for all his tech help, Cherie Prince and Cycling Wanganui for looking after the Wanganui squad, Courtney Haden and family for letting me clock up the hours on the bike and Bryn Hudson at Settlers Honey."

Other Whanganui riders also did well in their respective age groups.

Veteran Alan Luff won the gold in both his TT and the road race.

Catherine McMurray took silver in her women's road race, while Jason Sturzaker got bronze.

Tonia Nesbitt was fifth and seventh respectively in the TT and road race, while Brendon Sharratt was fifth in the road race.

Glenn Haden also earned a seventh in the Elite road race.

The championships attracted large fields with over 800 riders competing.