Matt Goode dominated Wanganui Cycling Club's A grade road race over six laps of 66km on the Brunswick Hall-Western Line circuit, to score an impressive victory on Saturday.
The course geography, including the difficult Western Line descent and climb, was made more challenging by a stiff westerly breeze facing the17 starters. The wind took its toll on the Brunswick Rd leg of the course and led to several defections as the race progressed several riders electing not to carry on after being dropped.
The limit group of Alan Luff, Brian Scrimshaw, Michael Wright, Martin Hogan, Ross McNeil, Ian Thompson, Rob Gemmell and Zeb Walker rotated steadily but struggled with cohesion in the cross and head winds on Brunswick Rd.
Behind them, the scratch group of Darcy Forrester, Goode, Jason Sturzaker, Paul Forrest, Boaz Darby, Lewis Bunker, Steve Cowan and Adrian Pettit combined well and steadily eroded the gap to the front group.
Goode looked strong all day and predictably attacked up the Western Line climb on lap four, to create a winning gap of several hundred metres.
Showing his class, he was able to maintain the lead alone in the wind right to the finish. The following bunch sprint for second money saw Sturzaker powering home ahead of Forrester, who put in a great ride for third placing.
In the 44km B-grade event, a field of six raced over four laps of the same circuit as the A-graders.
Gareth Wright went clear for a solo 45-second victory ahead of Craig Bright.
