McCauley wins Elite Men's Hamilton Classic

Feb 21, '09, Hamilton. Gordon McCauley, who won the national road title in Te Awamutu recently, cleared out from the breakaway pack 8kms from the finish to win the Hamilton Classic, part of the Perry Foundation Rev 120 Cycling Festival.

The win elevates McCauley to third in the Lion Foundation National Points Series, his first won of the series. Jeremy Yates is the current overall leader with two rounds to race. Jeremy missed this event as he is overseas after competing in the recent Tour of Langkawi.
Approximately 2000 people participated in the Rev 120 Cycling Festival as individuals and teams in the Rev 120 that started and finished in Hamilton and took in the towns of Cambridge, Matamata and Morrinsville competing as individuals and teams as well as a range of other shorter races for all ages.

McCauley (Avanti Subway) said he was uncertain of success after a slow start in the inclement weather.

"It was pretty hard with the strong winds and rain for most of the day. For the first 40km I did not feel too flash at all," McCauley said.
"Gradually I started to feel better and better and we managed to work our way up to the leaders. I just tried to lift the tempo with 8km to go and no-one came with me."

A group of four riders went clear early and were not caught by a further group of four including McCauley until the 100km mark. The group that included Roman Van Uden (Team Pro Velo) and Mark Langlands (Ultimo Cycling) worked together until McCauley made his move 8km from the finish and held off the chasers to win in 3:02.50.

Van Uden (Counties Manukau club) held off Te Awamutu's Langlands in the bunch sprint for second place, 27 seconds behind the winner to secure his best finish of the series.

Morinsville's Eliot Crowther retains his lead in the under-23 points despite failing to finish today.

The penultimate round of the series is the Graperide in Marlborough on 11 April.

Results, Perry Foundation Rev 120

• 1st Gordon McCauley (Subway Avanti) 3:02.50
  
• 2nd Roman Van Uden (Team Velo) 3:03:17
  
• 3rd Mark Langlands (Ultimo cycling) same time
  

Photo (c) RoadCycling.co.nz Archive

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