CYCLING

Ryan wins final round of Benchmark Homes series Horgan takes overall honours

By enthuse



Sam Horgan (Benchmark Homes) out sprinted Joe Chapman (L & M Group Racing) in a tight finish to win the overall Benchmark Homes Elite Cycling series elite men's title today near Christchurch — Rickoshay Photos

Olympian Marc Ryan from Scotty Browns Vision Systems rode away from his breakaway companions to win the final round of the Benchmark Homes Elite Cycling Series on the iconic 127 kilometre Hell of the South circuit in the Selwyn District near Christchurch today.

Making his first appearance in the six race series Ryan was part of a 10 rider break and with 10 kilometres remaining and the pressure mounting after several unsuccessful attacks he managed to break free to win the race in two hours and fifty three minutes, 19 seconds ahead of Dylan Kennett (Breads of Europe All About Plumbing) who won the bunch sprint from Scotty Brown’s Jason Allen, Hamish Schreurs (Benchmark Homes) and Cameron Karwowski (H & J’s Outdoor World Avanti Plus).

Sam Horgan (Benchmark Homes) beat Joe Chapman (L & M Group Racing) in a tight sprint to claim sixth to secure the overall series win.

Racing featured two gravel sections which played defining roles on the flat course, named the ‘Hell of the South’ as a nod to Paris-Roubaix,  one of cycling’s oldest and best known one day races, called the ‘Hell of the North’ due to its rough terrain and cobblestones.

“We always expected the gravel to play a decisive role and it certainly was absolutely brutal and made all the difference to the day’s results,” Horgan said. “It just split the bunch up into lots of smaller groups and I was just pleased to be at the front where the action was happening.”

World Tour professional Hayden Roulston used the race as a hard training day for his participation in the Tour of Beijing that starts on Friday next week, rolling in tenth with his Team Calder Stewart team mate Shane Archbold, almost four minutes behind Ryan.

Glen Gould (Calder Stewart Masters) beat Thule’s Scott McDonnell in a sprint finish to win the masters race in three hours and eighteen minutes after the two riders broke away in the first 20 kilometres of racing. Brad McFarlane (Team Thule Racing) finished eleventh which was enough to claim the overall master’s classification title ahead of Kiwi Style Bike Tour’s Glenn Rewi. Dunedin’s Mark Spessot (Cycle World) was eighth and won the masters over 45 classification for the series.

Olympic track cyclist Lauren Ellis held out her Benchmark Homes team mate Sharlotte Lucas to win the 99 kilometre women’s race and claim overall series honours. “It was just such a great series,” Ellis said. “The team rode really well together and it’s great to get the overall series win. The gravel certainly made it tough today.” 

Sophie Williamson (H&J's Outdoor World), finished third ahead of Laura Fairweather and Racquel Sheath of Altherm Window Systems.  

H & J Outdoor World Avanti Plus was an impressive winner in the days opening Faringdon eight kilometre Team Time Trial, being the only team to go under ten minutes, recording nine minutes and fifty eight seconds. The fastest master’s team was Calder Stewart masters while Altherm Window Systems won the women’s team time trial. 

Results; Faringdon Team Time Trial + Hell of the South presented by Benchmark Homes; round 6 of the Benchmark Homes Cycling Series
Elite Men/Under 23
1 Marc Ryan Scotty Browns Vision Systems Elite 2:53:51 
2 Dylan Kennett Breads of Europe All About Plumbing  Under 23 +00:19 
3 Jason Allen Scotty Browns Vision Systems Elite +00:20 
4 Hamish Schreurs Benchmark Homes Under 23 ST 
5 Cameron Karwowski H&J's Outdoor World Avanti +  Under 23 +00:21 
6 Sam Horgan Benchmark Homes Elite +00:44 
7 Joseph Chapman L&M Group Racing Elite ST 
8 Jacob Grieve Fitlab Elite +00:46 
9 James Williamson H&J's Outdoor World Avanti + Elite +00:48 
10 Hayden Roulston Team Calder Stewart Road Elite +04:13 

Masters Men
1  Glenn Gould Team Calder Stewart Road Masters Master 45+ 3:18:37 
2 Scott McDonnell Team Thule Cycling Master 35-44 +00:01 
3 Warrick Spence Team Tineli Masters Master 35-44 +00:27 
4 Steve Scott High 5 CFO Master 35-44 +00:28 
5 Tim McClurg Armitage Williams Team Master 35-44 +00:29 
6 Justin Sims Armitage Williams Team Master 35-44 +00:39 
7 Lee Johnstone Warmup Cycling Team Master 35-44 ST 
8 Reon Park Team Calder Stewart Road Masters Master 35-44 ST 
9 Mark Spessot Cycle World Master 45+ +00:40 
10 Glenn Rewi Kiwi Style Bike Tours Master 35-44 ST    

Women
1 Lauren Ellis Benchmark Homes  2:49:48 
2 Sharlotte Lucas Benchmark Homes ST 
3 Sophie Williamson H&J's Outdoor World Avanti + ST 
4 Laura Fairweather Altherm Window Systems +00:01 
5 Racquel Sheath  Altherm Window Systems ST 

Team Time Trial
Elite Men
1 H&J'sOutdoor World Avanti + 0:09:58 av speed 48.16kmh
2 L&M Group Racing 0:10:14
3 Benchmark Homes 0:10:17

Masters
1 Team Calder Stewart Road Masters 0:11:04 av speed 43.37kmh
2 Velocity 0:11:13
3 Team Tineli Masters 0:11:18

Women
1 Altherm Window Systems 0:11:51
2 Benchmark Homes 0:11:59
3 H&J's Outdoor World Avanti + 0:13:38

Overall series results
Elite men and under 23
1 Sam Horgan Benchmark Homes Elite 79
2 Joseph Chapman L&M Group Racing 76
3 Tom Hubbard Homestyle  Under 23 65
4 Brad Evans Fitlab Under 23 59
5 Cameron Karwowski H&J's Outdoor World Avanti+ Under 23  52

Masters
1 Brad McFarlane Team Thule Cycling Master 35-44 83
2 Glen Rewi Kiwi Style Bike Tours Master 35-44 82
3 Mark Spessot Cycle World Master 45+ 71
4 Scott McDonnell Team Thule Cycling Master 35-44 69
5 Justin Sims Armitage Williams Team Master 35-44 67

Women
1 Lauren Ellis Benchmark Homes 135
2 Sharlotte Lucas Benchmark Homes Women 125
3 Haley Mercer Benchmark Homes 81
4 Laura Fairweather Altherm Window Systems 78
5 Sophie Williamson H&J's Outdoor World Avanti+ 55

Teams
Elite mens and under 23
1 Homestyle 66
2 L&M Group Racing 58
3 Benchmark Homes 48

Masters
1 Team Thule Cycling 88
3 Team Tineli Masters 48
4 Team Calder Stewart Road Masters 38

Womens
1 Benchmark Homes 126
2 Altherm Window Systems 74
3 Soul Star Racing 32