Club Nationals - solo, duo and bunch sprint wins

May 1st, 10. Day three of the NZ Club Nationals proved just as exciting as the previous days of racing with ten new riders crowned National Champions.

The day's racing included Masters 1-5 women, Masters 1-3 men plus Senior Women and U19 Women. Here are some of the stories from the day.

Masters 3 Men - 87km,  3 laps

Darryl Strachan 2, Jim McMurray 1, Kerry Hartford 3 ©RoadCycling.co.nz

McMurray considered any result in today's race to be a bonus after the time trial win, but he made sure he was going to be in contention - after only 20km he formed a small group which attacked the peloton.

The breakaway group were soon caught but McMurray attacked again, this time only Darryl Strachan from Ramblers Cycling was able to follow his wheel.

"I know he [Strachan] is really strong, and he knew of me. We just put our heads down and knew if we could get around the back and into the hills we could get a bit 'out of sight out of mind'," said McMurray.

"And it worked out."

McMurray and Strachan finished 1m ahead of Kerry Hartford (Ramblers) who won the bunch sprint for 3rd.

Masters 2 Men - 104km, 3.5 laps

Lee Johnstone Marsden Wheelers takes the sprint ©RoadCycling.co.nz

With two laps down a lead break of four riders, including eventual winner Lee Johnstone, proved the carrot for the peloton chase.

The break was soon caught and stayed together until the finish, despite further attack attempts.

As the peloton rode onto the final stretch the pace was high with riders spread across the road jostling for position.

With the growing tail wind on the finishing straight the first bunch sprint of the championship decided the winner.

Lee Johnstone (Marsden Wheeler), silver medal winner in Thursday's M2 time trial won the sprint in a time of 2.48.57.

"It was really fast and we were all bunched up in the last km, and then somebody went and it was pretty much all on. I jumped about 300m to go and won by 5 or 6 lengths," Johnstone told RoadCycling.co.nz.

Johnstone was the defending M2 champion, and recently won the Wellington to Auckland race.  He was satisfied with his win today, but still has unfinished business at the Club Nationals.

"I want to come back next year and win the time trial," he said.

Rachel Larner waiting at the finish line for the rest of the peloton to arrive ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Master 2 Women - 87km, 3 laps

This is an appropriate description for how Rachel Larner (Counties Manukau) rode away from her competitors to take the victory by an astonishing 5min.

Mereille Sitters (North Harbour) was 2nd, with Margy Weston (Cycling New Plymouth) 3rd..

Larner, who also won the Masters 2 women's time trial on Thursday explained how it happened.

"I heard a lot of heavy breathing going on, and I was going to wait until the last lap, but I just went and thought I would see what happened," she told RoadCycling.co.nz after the race.

"It was a war of attrition. The wind was really tough, but it was the same for everybody. If you are suffering, then everyone else is suffering just as much," she said.

Senior Women - 116km, 4 laps

Mel Burke takes victory over the chasing peloton ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Each time a rider or small group attacked, the peloton organised to bring them back again.

Chubby Hale (Marsden Wheelers) and Sonia Waddell (Te Awamutu) were the only riders to stay out in a solo break for any length of time, but the peloton worked hard to ensure they were all back together on the final lap.

With just under half a lap to go, Mel Burke (Counties Manukau) made the decisive break.

"About 15km to go I went just as we were catching up to Emma Crum (Cyclosport)," said Burke.

"I managed to stay away somehow. I was surprised that no one went with me, I must have gone at the right time," she said.

Burke was happy with her race and happy she had improved on her fourth place last year.

"I didn't quite make it last year, and this makes up for it. A win is always good," she said.

Next weekend Burke, who has been a top class rower, marathon runner and duathlete, is competing in a duathlon and hoping to gain selection for the World Championships.   

"Cycling is really my thing now, although I am competing in a national duathlon selection race next weekend for the World Championships.  This result is great. I want to go as far as I can in cycling and hopefully get to compete overseas in the future."

Related article

• Raboplus National Club Championships results