Subway Avanti breaks Benchmark Homes streak

Aug 15th, 10. Subway Avanti's James Williamson won today's Round 4 of the Benchmark Homes Series ending the Benchmark Homes team's monopoly on wins to date.

James Williamson ©Subway Avanti

It was a race many riders were targeting, and no one would have guessed the win would come from a move made in the first 3km of the 140km course.

Williamson was one of six riders who broke free very early in the race commonly referred to as the “Hell of the South”, and he held off a great chase by Paul Odlin (Bici Vida) to stay ahead and take the win.

The Subway Avanti rider's victory broke the series leaderboard where Benchmark Homes riders had won the three previous rounds.   Benchmark, however, retained the overall lead with James McCoy at the top of table.

Williamson's breakaway group worked up a maximum lead of 4m50s and were still well ahead of the chasing bunch as they approached the first of the five much feared gravel sections in the last 60km.

It was on the final gravel section where Williamson launched his attacked. He was then forced to battle the headwind alone as he soloed to victory.

“The gravel wasn’t too bad actually, it was relatively smooth and was sheltered. It was the headwind in the final stages that made it really difficult,” Williamson said.

Williamson only arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday after a season of racing in the US and most recently in China.  

In the grueling tour in China, Williamson battled hard to stay in the race, finishing as the Lanterne Rouge, the final rider in the tour.  Today he was on his own again, but at the front of the pack rather than the back.

"I did struggle a bit in China but have recovered well. The team was very keen to get a result here so I'm really pleased to have got my first Benchmark win, not only for myself but for the team."

His first attack attempt, on a gravel section, only managed to shake off Robin Reid (Tasman Wheelers). On his second try he was successful, quickly taking a few hundred meters from Anthony Chapman (Ultimo Jamis) and Mark Spessot (Cycle Surgery), the last remaining members of the original break.

"I knew I had the legs today and once I got out on my own it was a matter of holding them off into the head wind in the last 10km - I am stoked with the win. I knew the boys would be covering any moves back in the bunch so it was a matter of holding on," he said.

As expected, the gravel splintered the chasing peloton, giving thirty or so riders the chance to hunt down the lead group.

Bici Vida’s Paul Odlin rode off the front in pursuit of the leaders. From three minutes back he managed to slowly reel in first Reid, and then Chapman and Spessot. Odlin had Williamson in his sights in the home straight but couldn’t bridge the final gap. His phenomenal effort saw him take second five seconds behind Williamson.

Under 23 rider James McCoy, (Benchmark Homes) who placed 5th today, is now the current leader of the Tour, bypassing former leader and teammate Josh Atkins.

“It is nice to have Benchmark Homes leading the series. The next few races are hillier and they suit me a bit better. We will take the rest of the series as it comes - by targeting each race individually the overall series should take care of itself, but we are in a good position to win it,” said McCoy.

Spessot, 3rd today, won the master’s category. Sarah Smallman (Team Thule Racing) was the first female home.

While the weather was kind, alleviating some of the Hell of the South, it was still a tough day for most of the peloton and several crashes saw many riders hit the deck.

The next round of the series is on the 11^th of September.

Related

• Benchmark Homes Series results