Source: Radio New Zealand
Nelson cyclist George Bennett salutes as he wins the New Zealand Elite Road Cycling Championship near Cambridge, on Saturday. Russell Jones
Veteran George Bennett has won his second men’s national road cycling championship near Cambridge, with a strong attacking ride.
The 35-year-old Nelson cyclist with an impressive international CV was in tears after his victory.
“This win means a lot. I have had a really rough 18 months so this means the world. To finally win a race again – with my friends, my family, my team-mates and Bewls all here.”
Bewls is former pro cyclist Sam Bewley, director of Bennett’s NSN Cycling World Tour team, which has sprung from the controversy involving the former Israel Premier Tech team. It was the subject of pro-Palestinian protests which disrupted some major races last year. These championships were the first victory for the new team.
It was Bewley who encouraged Bennett to attack strongly. Part of a small lead group, he pushed hard with three of the 20 laps remaining and was never in danger from that point.
“I think I rode a really smart race. I picked the initial move and we rode well. It was a strong group with some really under-rated guys. We just stayed really smart,” Bennett said.
“I got the call from Bewls to open up the race early and went with 30kms to go. It is always a race within a race when you go early like that and I just had really good legs.
“Most of the time that move doesn’t work, but at least next time it doesn’t work out I can remember this one.”
Bennett won the elite men title by 41 seconds from recent Tour of Southland winner Josh Burnett, with Matthew Wilson four seconds back in third, and James Gardner close up and easily taking the under-23 crown.
It was Bennett’s second national title after he won in Cambridge five years ago.
“I am really proud to win this and take the jersey back to wear on the World Tour,” he said.
“My big target is the Tour de France this year so to be able to wear the jersey in something like that would be special. It hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s awesome.”
It was a tough race with 28 of the 71 starters failing to finish.
Ally Wollaston won the women’s road race on Friday.
Results:
Elite men, 188kms: George Bennett (NSN Cycling, Nelson) 4:09.45, 1; Josh Burnett (Burgos Burpellet BH, Invercargill) at 41s, 2; Matthew Wilson (Advanced Personnel Cycling, Auckland) at 45s, 3.
Under-23: 188kms: James Gardner (Whoosh-NZ Cycling Project, Dunedin) 4:10.43, 1; Josh Heissenbuttel (Counties Manukau) at 3:27, 2; Lewis Bower (Groupama FDJ, Auckland) at 3:40, 3.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
