Nov 28th, 09.  Meshy Holt, the New Zealand Road Champion, won Taupo's inaugural WorkoutZone Elite Road Race today with an impressive 1m20s lead on the rest of the field.

Meshy Holt winner of the WorkoutZone Road Race ©RoadCycling.co.nz

In the 60km race from Turangi to Taupo a group of four, including Holt, broke away after 15kms.  Cath Cheatley, the winner of yesterday's street race who had her eye on the double victory, said she was happy to let them go for awhile.

"I know I'm a good climber and having them ahead would give me something to catch," Cheatley told RoadCycling.co.nz.  She did have a good climb picking off three of the riders but she didn't manage to catch Holt.

"I knew if Meshy got over the top before me she'd race down that hill," she said.  And that's what happened.

"I had a good climb up Hatepe and managed to stay away," said Holt.  

Although she finished well in front of the field, the Cambridge rider said she didn't think she had the race won until about 1km to go.

"You never know how hard those girls are working behind you," she said.

According to Cheatley the peloton wasn't working very well together and no one seemed interested in a final chase to catch Holt.  

"That suited me fine, I'm just here to enjoy the weekend," said Cheatley.  

Cheatley won the bunch sprint home to place 2nd ahead of Serena Sheridan of Napier. With her prize money from yesterday added to today, Cheatley said the weekend was quite a good earner.

Coming in 4th today was Australian Jo Hogan.  She and her team of four said they've had a great weekend here in Taupo but they would have liked to have been on the podium today.   

Though they just missed the podium, they were on the stage when Ginger Kidd was honoured as the first Over34 year old home.  Kidd finished 6th just behind Rachel Mercer who was the first Under23 rider home.

The Australians aren't finished with the kiwi girls. They say they'll be back for the Women's Tour in Wellington early next year where they expect to be back on the stage more than once.

Full results...

Other articles on this great weekend of cycling

• Photos: Meshy Holt and the other winners of the WorkoutZone road race
• Photos: Patrick Bevan's win at the Avanti Classic
• RoadCycling.co.nz's ride around the lake
• Local lad wins Avanti Classic
• NZ Road Champion wins WorkoutZone Road Race
• Results: Avanti Classic
• Results: WorkoutZone Women's Road Race
• Photos of the Taupo Elite Street racing
• Bici Vida hunt down the win
• Battle for the Taupo Streets - women
• Results: Taupo Street Race
• When once just isn't enough
• Top tips for tackling Taupo
• Start list for the Elite races
• Small field, big names in Elite Women's race
• Alison Shanks latest Taupo attraction
• Defending champion skips Taupo
• Julian Dean adds to Taupo weekend
• Taupo Cycle Challenge 10,783 and counting
• Street battle looming in Taupo
• Greg Henderson's tips for one day racing

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