CYCLING

Odlin wins final Benchmark Series race and team takes three titles

Paul Odlin from the SUBWAY® Pro Cycling team won the final race in the Benchmark Homes Elite Tour series, and the team secured three series titles after the fourth and final round held in North Canterbury yesterday.

Odlin rode aggressively from the start of yesterday’s 142 kilometre CFO and SWG 7th Oxford Grand Prix race, making the first break of five riders that managed to stay away from the chasing bunches.

“I rode within myself knowing that the finishing circuit would be critical in deciding the race,” Odlin said.

With two laps to go of the final finishing circuit Odlin attacked hard in the gutter at the start of the finishing straight and held a gap of 250 metres for the last two laps to win in three hours, 18 minutes and 41 seconds, 14 seconds ahead of Chris Nicholson (Tasman Wheelers) and Jason Christie (Scotty Browns – Vision Systems).

“I was stoked to get the win for the Subway team and for myself, it was a good day out.”

The SUBWAY® Pro Cycling team dominated the series winning the teams classification, and Sam Horgan won the series individual riders classification and his teammate Tom Hubbard won the under 23 series competition. Both Horgan and Hubbard finished comfortably in the main chasing bunch yesterday.

“After starting the series five years ago as a novice rider with lots to learn winning the Benchmark series this year means so much to me,” Horgan said.

“It’s the result of some hard work and great support from my SUBWAY® Pro Cycling team mates, management and support staff.”

The team’s General Manager Hayden Godfrey said he was very satisfied with the results from the series that saw three wins and the team consistently featuring during racing.

Godfrey said the team’s focus now turns to the Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge next weekend, then the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling in Canterbury followed by the RaboDirect BikeNZ Criterium Champs on 9 December.