President shows class to take race

Stu Bruce relaxes after winning the C-grade race on Saturday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Club president Jason Sturzaker proved too strong for the opposition in a sprint finish to the main event on Saturday's Wanganui Cycling Club's programme.

The race was a 42km mass start race over seven laps of the flat and fast Westmere Station Road circuit. A total of 18 A and B graders lined up for the race in perfect conditions.

Early on, Sturzaker and the four other A-graders went clear of the field after youngster Lewis Bunker decided to stretch his legs and create the breakaway.

With fellow teenager Jacob Sievwright getting involved and Boaz Darby and Adam Gosney in attendance, the front five steadily built a lead that ultimately got out to two minutes on the chasing pack.

Behind them, the B-grade contingent settled into a steady rhythm - disrupted on the second lap when Richard Stanton caught the worst end of a skirmish in the pack and ended up on the deck. It was bad luck for Stanton who was having his first race back after several months working in China.

Fortunately, he was physically unscathed, but badly damaged a carbon race wheel. Steve Cowan was also involved and he too was forced out as a result.

As the leaders lined up for the finish on the final lap, a confident Sturzaker went early and in the end simply had a bit too much class for his rivals.

Boaz Darby finished strongly for second place and Jacob Sievwright was rewarded for his hard work with third. After his early enthusiasm, Lewis Bunker did well to hang on for fourth, just ahead of Adam Gosney.

The chasers appeared a couple of minutes later and it was the powerful figure of Darcy Forrester who burst clear of the pack to take B-grade honours.

Ross McNeil, who is starting to show some decent form, took second B-grade spot with Paul Forrest a good third. Hayley Giddens - back from another season of racing in the US was close behind in fourth place.

The nine C-graders raced over four laps (24km) of the same circuit. Again there was a decisive move early on, with Stu Bruce, Craig Bright and Brian Hayward slipping away to a decent lead. The trio built a three minute advantage and contested the finish - Bruce finally wearing down his rivals.

Bright fought on strongly for second, with Hayward a couple of seconds back in third. Scott Francis was best of the rest in fourth after a gap, with Damien Hussey fifth and Heather Johnston rounding out the top six.