Archbold Gets Biggest NZ Result Around Brunner

Archbold Gets Biggest New Zealand Result With Around Brunner Win

Shane Archbold had his biggest win on New Zealand soil winning round five of the elite RaboPlus National Points series race at Around Brunner today.

The Timaru rider proved to be the fastest over 400 metres winning a tight bunch sprint of 50 riders to smash the course record by 15 minutes to win in three hours one minute and 17 seconds.

“I fought for a good position over the last few kilometres, making sure I was in the front 10 riders,” he said.

“I hit the front with 400 metres to go to avoid getting swamped by the teams and just went for it and got the result, which would be my biggest win in New Zealand.”

Archbold is part of the New Zealand endurance track programme, and with a view to selection on the track for The Commonwealth Games, and then a professional road contract, has been based in Europe racing with the track team racing on the track and road. Around Brunner was his first road race in New Zealand for 18 months.

“I had no team support so tried to look after myself, so to win is a great result.”

In a very fast race several breakaways were reeled back in, including one that featured the leader of the National Points Series, Gordon McCauley from the Subway – Avanti Pro Cycling Team, Tom Findlay (Mico-All About Plumbing) and Hamish Presbury (H and J Smith Southland).

Without a rider in the break the Benchmark Homes and Bici Vida teams worked hard to pull it back in, and once done the majority of the field stayed together for the sprint finish.

Matt Gorter (Subway-Avanti) got up for second to collect 70 National Points Series points which ties him as joint leader in the series with team mate McCauley, who received 15 points for his seventh placed finish.

“It was a really fast race,” Gorter said. “And the finish was tight and a bit messy and wasn’t very organised meaning it was everyone for themselves so I was happy to get second.”

Seventeen year old Southland Peter Bulling was third followed by National Under 23 Champion and National Points Series Under 23 leader Tom Findlay.

Karen Fulton from Nelson (Fresh Choice/Toxic Cycle team) edged out team mate Jeannie Kuhajek and Sia Svendsen (Team Thule) in the sprint finish win the woman’s race, finishing five seconds behind Archbold.

“I knew I had to be near the front and after the last hill sprinted and gave it everything.”

Fulton’s win see moves her up to first equal with Female National Points Series with leader Catherine Cheatley did not race at Around Brunner.

Geoff Searle from Christchurch won the recreational event in three hours and 24 minutes from Symon Mitchell and Tom Littlejohn.

First female home was former national representative Tamara Boyd, also from Christchurch.

ENDS

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