CYCLING

Media Report race two North Island Series

By NZ Cycle Classic

Luke Mudgway, a 2015 World Junior Champion, took the number one podium spot in race two of the Trust House North Island Road Cycling Series held in the Wairarapa on Sunday.
 
Mudgway, from Palmerston North, took line honours in the elite men’s criterium race held for the first time at the Masterton Motorplex, a venue usually home to the fastest drag racing cars in the country. Craig Domigan from Gisborne took out the Masters criterium while Wellington’s Matt Sharland was second. The Masters Two grade was won by Wellington’s Adam Rigby with cycling legend Gary Anderson home in second place.



 
Series race director Jorge Sandoval said using the Masterton Motorplex circuit for a major cycle race was very successful with spectators able to view riders on the circuit from many vantage points.
 
The second race of the day was a 95km road race from Masterton to Martinborough return via Gladstone and held in perfect weather conditions. It also proved to be the perfect course for Napier’s Josh Page who won the race following a sprint finish with Alex West from Palmerston North and Wellington’s David Weaver. The trio had formed a break-away with 5km to go after previously being part of a group of five riders who broke clear of the peloton at 43km.
 
“I’ve been trying for years to win one of Jorge’s races and I’ve finally done it today,” said a delighted Page. “It was a hard race and I was stoked to be in the break mixing it up with some top riders. It shows that I am in good form.”
 
West eventually finished second and Weaver in third place with the bunch a further three minutes behind.
 
Christchurch’s Scott McDonnell won the Masters One grade with Gisborne’s Craig Domigan second and Wellington’s Steve Bale third.
 
The Masters Two grade featured a large field of 67 riders with Hastings rider Chis Clark surprising everyone by attacking the bunch and riding on his own for the last 12 kilometers to win the race one minute in front of the main bunch of approximately 40 riders.
 
Race Three of the North Island Series will be held in the Wairarapa on Sunday 30^th October. Riders will complete seven laps of the Carrington circuit near Carterton. Interestingly says Mr Sandoval, the 17km circuit includes two kilometers of gravel road, something that is very popular in European international cycling events.