Sprint jersey success for Brett Tivers

Brett Tivers ©Garneau Club Chaussures

Sep 18th, 11. Brett Tivers has amassed more than ten victories this season, but today the Kiwi earned a different type of prize - the sprint jersey at the UCI1.2 Univest Grand Prix in the USA.

In the one day NRC event, Tivers (Garneau Club Chaussures) broke away on the first few kilometres of the 160km demanding course in Pennsylvania. He joined a fellow Quebec rider Francois Parisian (Spider-tech).

"We worked pretty well together as we both know each other fairly well," Tivers told RoadCycling.co.nz

The pair held a 30sec gap for the first few laps while behind them many riders tried in vain to catch them. By the time they were in the fourth of the twelve 10km laps they had extended the gap to 2m30s.  

"KOM and Sprint points were on offer and we worked well to split the awards to make sure we both won a jersey.  He took the KOM points and myself the Sprint Points."

After 120km, and still with six 6km finishing circuits remaining, Tivers said he had severe cramps - a new experience for him.  

Parisien left Tivers behind, but he too was caught by the chasing peloton before the finish line where his SpiderTech teammate Ryan Roth took the win in a three up sprint.

While Tivers could not contest the end of the race, he was happy to have walked away with the Sprint jersey.

"Tomorrow is a criterium, but even though it is still the Univest race, today's results do not contribute to any results tomorrow so the sprint jersey I won today is safe," he explained.

The criterium ends a hugely successful international season for the Taranaki 29 year old who has won criteriums, timetrials, hill climbs and classic type races across the USA and Canada. He is bringing his great form back to New Zealand for the Tour of Southland before taking a well earned rest.

Sep 19th Update: Tivers joined a late four rider break in the super fast 36 lap criterium. His group was eventually caught by a dozen chasers before the finish. Without teammates, Tivers found himself isolated but still managed 6th place and was awarded the title of Most Aggressive Rider - a fitting finale to his great season.

"I am more than happy to finish the season here on a good note," he said today.