Cycling Race 2 - Lees Pakaraka Circuit

Tonights race was a 20.37km dash around the Lees Pakaraka circuit. The weather was perfect for the second race of ACM’s road racing season with warm temperatures and a light nor’easterly breeze.

Turnout was good with 22 riders lining up for the mass start race including two ebikes.

The Lees Pakaraka circuit is essentially flat with two modest inclines. The first as the riders turn right off Te Whiti road and the second near the end as the road goes up past the woolshed. The nor’ easterly presented little headwind around the course but the riders did have to be cautious of patches of loose gravel on some of the corners.

As is usual the race started on Watsons road and was neutralised along Te Ore Ore road, Colombo road and into Johnsons road. The flag dropped before the tip and the pace immediately ramped up. By the time the group turned left into Lees Pakaraka road the peleton had split into a leading group with a strung out second group some distance behind.

By all accounts the young rider Ivan Abele took a lead going up the Woolshed climb and was able to maintain this crossing the finish line in Watsons road some 29 seconds ahead of the bunch. Richard Van Lent came in second with Simon Butler rounding out the podium. Interestingly, this years winning time was around two minutes slower than the same race last season.

Results                                           Race Time                      

1^st          Ivan Abele                                 00:34:02                                        

2^nd         Richard van Lent                     00:34:31                                        

3^rd         Simon Butler                                00:34:38

eBikes

1^st          Karen Blade                                  00:38:16

2^nd         Anil Raman                                   00:39:43

Many thanks to the volunteers for supporting the race, driving the truck, setting up the signage and the marshals for keeping riders safe. And big thanks to Andy Osmond for putting on the after match at his place.

Next week’s race on Tuesday 27 October will be the 2 Mile ITT on Watsons road followed by another GRR around the Lees Pakaraka circuit.