Double series success for young Kiwi

Two series victories for NZ's Hamish Elley-Brown   ©Jean-Marie Picard (file photo)

Sep 15th, 11. Earning overall victory in two French series made for a fantastic weekend for 18 year old first year Kiwi international Hamish Elley-Brown.

Over the weekend, the Aucklander secured victory in the eleven race Ronde du Jura series and in the seven race Credit Mutuel series.

"A great weekend for me, thanks to some smart riding, good legs and of course loyal teammates! A really satisfying feeling to win both the series we have done this season," he told RoadCycling.co.nz

Like other Kiwis before him, Elley-Brown joined French team VC Morteau Montbenoit for his first season racing on the international circuit.

It took him five months, a few close finishes, and a few down times, before he climbed to the top step of the podium.

In the four weeks since that first victory, he took another win and earned the leaders' jerseys in the penultimate races of both series.

The overall titles were far from secure though, and Elley-Brown knew he had to race hard and smart last weekend to earn the victories.

Saturday - Ronde du Jura

Saturday's race was the final of the Ronde du Jura. Elley-Brown said he went into it feeling well prepared and confident, but at the same time he was well aware the 2nd and 3rd placed riders could still steal victory from him.

"The race was all pretty flat, five laps of a 22km circuit for 110km," he explained. "My aim for the day was just to follow the second placed rider Benjamin Billot. I was on 136 points and he had 129.

"I was hoping we wouldn't be in the first group because when you win a Ronde du Jura race you get 40 points and 2nd place gets 30, and then after that there are much smaller jumps down in the points. So if he won and I was 2nd, he would win the series by 3 points."

Elley-Brown chose not to take risks, and he never let Billot get too far away from him in the bunch. Both of them ended up in a break, much to Billot's obvious and vocal frustration, but Elley-Brown stayed calm and kept his rival close.

Fortunately the decisive break went on the penultimate lap without either rider, meaning the risk of losing the series was greatly diminished.

"I settled in to a group with five riders and ended up finishing 10th just behind Billot in 9th. So the day was a success and I won the series with 154 points, 6 points in front of Billot.

"I was the first to win the Ronde du Jura for VC Morteau Montbenoit so the manager was a happy man. Our team also won the Teams Classification and Overall KoM for the series."

Sunday - Credit Mutuel

With one series title secured, the young Kiwi was keen to do it again the following day in the final race of the Credit Mutuel series. Again he had to watch out for Billot who was the 2nd placed rider in this series too.

"The race was a strange one, Category 3 riders and Juniors went off first, 2min later Category 2, and then another 2min to the Category 1 riders. It was a shorter distance than normal as well, just 90km, 9 laps of a 10km circuit on rolling roads."

Elley Brown's group, in Cat 2, caught the Cat 3 group after 40km, and was joined by the Cat 1 group another 20km later - that was when the pace stepped up. Knowing what was at stake, Elley-Brown was happy not to fight to be in the decisive break, but instead took a risk free approach.

"Near the end of the penultimate lap we all of a sudden rode into what was virtually a waterfall. I have never experienced such heavy rain in my life. The wind seemed to pick up as well and the sky went really dark, it was like doomsday had come," he explained.

"Several riders pulled out straight away, barely able to ride faster than 10km an hour and see 5m in front. After 5mins or so it calmed down a bit and I found myself in a group of 10 riders without Billot.

"Coming into the finish for the final lap the race organisers decided the conditions were too dangerous to race in so they stopped the race, even though there was only another 10km to go. It was really unexpected and suprising, but pretty understandable based on how dangerous the conditions had become.

"I ended up rolling in for 15th and won the Malliot Bleu for the first Category 2 rider overall."

Two series victories is a pretty good weekend's work! Congratulations Hamish!