May 1st, 10.

Dave Rowlands wins over Brent Backhouse in M1 ©RoadCycling.co.nz

The Masters 1 (35-40 years) is always one of the most hotly contested categories at the Club Nationals.  

After listening to conversations around the start line today, it was clear this year had many motivated riders who had focussed their training on taking this national title.

Unfortunately for most, there can only be one victor and today it was Rowlands who came away the champion.

Rowlands, a Wellington based exercise scientist, who turned to road cycling after an injury forced him to retire from duathlons, was thrilled with his victory.

"This is superb. I have been wanting a National Championship win for a couple of decades, and I managed to have a good race today," Rowlands told RoadCycling.co.nz after the event.

"A lot of things just came together today like where we broke away after just coming through after the first lap."

Rowlands is referring to the decisive moment when he joined teammate Backhouse who had ridden off the front of the peloton at the end of lap one of four.

As the peloton relaxed after a big effort to bring back Counties Manukau rider Karl Murray, Backhouse and another rider managed to drift off the front.

Murray was one of the motivated riders in this category.  He won the gold medal in the time trial and wanted to add another gold to make a set.  

"I've got twins," he said pre-race, "I need to take home one for each."

Within a few kilometres the leading pair were joined by Rowlands and the trio set about increasing their lead.

By the time lap two finished Rowlands and Backhouse had dropped the Tasman rider and had put 2min over the chasing peloton, but they weren't sure they could hold on until the finish.

Rowlands and Backhouse climbing to victory ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"I was thinking we needed to save enough energy so that if someone came across we could still go with him, but no one did."

Back in the bunch the other members of the PNP Cycling Club were working well together, riding on the front of the peloton to control the chase and hold back the pace.

By the time the leading pair had ridden the third lap their lead had extended to over three minutes and with only 30km remaining, an almost certain victory.

Behind them a mid race crash on a technical downhill section broke the peloton into tatters.  This further disrupted the chase giving Backhouse and Rowlands an even bigger time gap.

The duo rode the final lap strongly and lined up together for the long sprint to the finish line. With a burst of acceleration Rowlands rode away from Backhouse in the last 200m taking first place and the National Masters 1 title.

Brent Backhouse (2), Dave Rowlands (1), and Karl Murray (3) ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"I thought we would do it man on man, but I was tired. I left it all out on the road which is the best thing, and Dave had all the strength," said Backhouse.

Having now secured the National Championship he has longed for during his 20 years of sport, Rowlands is not sure of his next challenge.

"I will have to have a chat to my partner. I am a warm weather rider so probably won't do too much over winter. I will just build back up again for next spring and summer," he said.

Karl Murray leapt ahead of the peloton to take the bronze medal.  

Luckily his twin boys are only two years old, "They probably won't notice the difference in colour between the two medals," Murray joked.  With the great timing of a top cyclist, Murray's twins were born on the last day of the Tour de France two years ago.

RoadCycling.co.nz wishes all the riders involved in today's crash a speedy recovery.

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• Raboplus National Club Championships results