Kiwi News

Battle on the streets of Wellington

Mar 1st, 10. Yesterday's final stage of the Women's Tour of NZ began with a curtain raiser event, an Under 8 criterium where an unknown rider won against a well prepared field.

Harrison Wall (2nd from right) eyes up the competition ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Yesterday's race saw the return of Harrison Wall the 5 year old who last month blitzed a small field in the curtain raiser event of the Men's Tour.

Last month's race was held in cold and wet conditions whereas it was hot and dry for this race.

The weather wasn't the only change though, yesterday's race was double the previous length. Two laps of the 600m circuit.

The field was also significantly larger than the Men's Tour race with nine riders lining up to contest for line honours in the hope of taking home the lucrative purse.

Finn Mellsop, a six year old Wellington Pheonix supporter, is one of the new entrants who wanted to stamp his mark on the competition.

Mellsop had prepared well and was spotted on a reconnaissance ride, inspecting each and every corner of the course in preparation for the afternoon's race. His best lap practise time was just over 3min's.

"I have had a good warmup. When we get into the race, I am planning to beat everyone," said a confident Mellsop to RoadCycling.co.nz before the race.

Darcy Mellsop, trainer of Finn, explained the young rider's pre-race preparation had been perfect.

Finn Mellsop eyeing Locky Ross and Harrison Wall early in the race ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"Finn has been training for 12 weeks. He started with some base miles and in the last week he has been tapering it off and doing speed work," said Mellsop.

Amongst the field were newcomers Lochie and Angus Ross. Like the Schleck brothers these siblings were planning on working together for team victory.

Both riders brought significant palmares to the race with notable achievements in the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. They both first rode the iconic race at age two.

Angus Ross, the older of the brothers, last year completed the 40km Hatepe leg on a tandem with speeds of 60km/hr reached on the downhill side of the famous final climb.

His tandem partner said she had to keep asking him to slow down.

On the start line the young riders were eyeing each other up as they compared bike size and kit design, of which there was a huge range.

After a messy start, with riders all over the road as they 'clipped in', the racing began.

Lochie Ross and Harrison Wall jumped to an early lead. Finn Mellsop sat in their slipstream for the early part of the race to ensure the gap didn't get too big.

As the race entered the bell lap, an unknown rider lept ahead and, although Harrison Wall and Angus Ross chased hard and were gaining ground, time ran out, with the still unknown rider taking victory.

Lochie Mellsop on the chase ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Harrison Wall driving into the corner ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Angus Ross pipped by the unknown rider ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Angus Ross came in second place with Harrison Wall following closely behind for third place. Finn Mellsop and Lochie Ross finished in the peloton 20 seconds back.

RoadCycling.co.nz guesses the winner may have been keeping a low profile due to his UCI pro-tour status which would have meant he wasn't able to race this UCI2.2 event.

Hotdog Contest

McCauley talking it up as Wall plays it cool alongside sister Bailey, who used to challenge Sarah Ulmer in her day ©RoadCycling.co.nz

After the completion of the curtain raiser the course was cleared and two lone riders lined up for what was touted as the battle of the day.

RoadCycling.co.nz received a text message earlier in the day notifying of a challenge set down from one rider to another.

The race-off was between Gordon McCauley, current New Zealand Time Trial Champion and five times Road Champion, and his worthy adversary, 5 year old Harrison Wall. The "Peoples Champion" versus the "Wattage Cottage".

In last month's event, McCauley presented Wall his victory prize but he didn't race against the young rider.

Wall wanted to prove he could beat the best.

There was a lot of talking on the line as the outspoken Wall tried to talk down the People's Champion.

Once the gun fired, Wall jumped. He immediately gapped McCauley as they went into the first hard right hander. The crowds ran to the other side of the course to see the pair emerge from Stout Street, with Wall still leading by a small margin.

At the hairpin bend Wall accelerated hard, putting McCauley into difficulty.

As they approached the finish line for the final time Wall deliberately blocked the flying McCauley by crossing in front of his line.

The crowd looked to the officials, but there was no protest flag raised, and Wall crossed the line victorious.

After the race McCauley was shaken by the unexpected loss but extremely complimentary of Wall's riding abilities.

"I think he has got a big future in the Tour of Southland. He put me in the gutter and gave me a big hook in the sprint. He could be the new Mark Cavendish," said McCauley.

Wall was happy with the win where he got to beat his cycling hero.

"I felt fast. The best bit was beating Gordon McCauley in a sprint," he said.