JULIAN DEAN DEFENDS LION FOUNDATION NZ CYCLING TITLE
Julian Dean scored the first victory for his new Slipstream team in successfully defending his title in the Lion Foundation New Zealand road cycling championships in Hawkes Bay today.
Dean outsprinted Waimate’s Heath Blackgrove to the finish in a repeat of their one-two finish last year, with Wellington’s Scott Lyttle third.
It proved a tough day with temperatures in the mid 30Cdeg, with Dean biding his time before making his move in the final 20kms of the 182km race.
“This course was not as tough as this year and that meant quite a few more riders were prominent in the race,” Dean said. “It meant I had to be a bit more strategic and I had to take up the peleton a few times to ensure the pace stayed on.
“I was probably in better shape than this time last year although a bit uncertain after my knee surgery.”
Dean was delighted to defend his title, and also pick up the New Zealand ride of the year honours.
“It means that I am able to wear the national jersey around the world this year. I had so many comments this past year from kiwis and those in Europe. I gives New Zealand an identity in Europe on the cycling scene and in those big races like the Tour of Italy and Tour de France.”
Four time champion Gordon McCauley (Auckland) went clear from the gun and was joined in a six-strong breakaway including Sam Bewley (Rotorua), Robin Reid (Blenheim), Karl Murray (Auckland), Clinton Avery (Rotorua) and Peter Rennie (Waikato).
They opened a three minute buffer that hovered around the same mark for 80kms. McCauley was then joined by Rennie to open up a slight gap, before Auckland teammates Aaron Strong and Michael Northey joined him on the fifth of seven laps.
The lead came down under the minute mark with Dean driving the 27-strong peleton with the brave front-running tactics swallowed up on the penultimate lap.
Lyttle stretched clear but he was hauled on up the climb for the second to last time as the peleton broke up. Dean and Blackgrove followed Lyttle up the climb for the final time before Dean was able to slip past in the break-neck dash to the finish.
“I didn’t really know how hard to push tings as it was really hot and over the last 30km you have to look after yourself,” Dean said. “I was not too worried about the guys out in front as it is a big ask to go away in conditions like this.”
Dean is happy with his form as he heads away this week to race for his new team where he will be the No 1 sprinter.
There were other encouraging performances with Napier’s Jeremy Yates, the national club champion, racing prominently for fourth place just ahead of time trial winner Logan Hutchings (Papamoa).
It was an Auckland trifecta in the under-23 race with Thomas Hanover out-sprinting fellow Aucklanders Alex Meenhorst and Chris Macic with a photo finish needed to split the three, who were given the same time.
Results, Lion Foundation NZ Road Race Championships, men 182km:
Elite:
Julian Dean (Rotorua) 4hr 51m 49s, 1;
Heath Blackgrove (Waimate) at 7sec, 2;
Scott Lyttle (Wellington) at 10sec, 3;
Jeremy Yates (Napier) at 50sec, 4;
Logan Hutchings (Papamoa) at 1m6s, 5;
Jeremy Vennell (Napier) at 1m 19s, 6;
Justin Kerr (Waikato) at 2m33s, 7;
Tim Gudsell (Waikato) at 2m49s, 8;
Glen Chadwick (Hawkes Bay) at 2m49s, 9;
Paul Odlin (Nelson Marlborough) at 5m56s, 10.
Under-23:
Thomas Hanover (Auckland) 4:58.08, 1;
Alex Meenhorst (Auckland) at 00.00s, 2;
Chris Macic (Auckland) at 00.00, 3;
Ryan Wills (Waikato BOP) at 1sec, 4;
Brad Carter (Waikato BOP) at 3sec, 5.
Full results: www.bikenz.org.nz |
