Leaders head strong field for Taupo-Napier Classic

All three first round winners are back to chase further honours in the second round of the Lion Foundation National Road Race Points series on Saturday.

First round senior winner Karl Murray (Counties Manukau), women’s winner Melissa Holt (Cambridge) and under-23 winner Elliott Crowther (Counties Manukau) are among the 100-strong field for the Taupo to Napier Classic.

BikeNZ have established the series that incorporates 11 major cycling road events throughout the country, culminating at the Around Brunner cycle ride in April next year.
Murray took out the first round at the weather-delayed Pro-Velo Auckland 1000 from Eric Drower (Hamilton) and Gordon McCauley (Counties Manukau) third.

Murray is back for the second round along with Drower in a strong and classy field that includes favourite and former world junior champion Jeremy Yates (Hawkes Bay), who was eighth in the first round and won this race back in 2000.

Others to watch for include Auckland’s Aaron Strong, an aggressive rider, who was ninth in the Pro-Velo and whow on this race in 2006, Eddie Rosser (Auckland), Brett Dawber (Christchurch), talented Waikato track rider Shem Rodgers, Around Brunner winner Sam Horgan (Christchurch), strong climber Sam King-Turner (Wellington) and former mountainbike national champion Stu Houltham (Taupo).

Outstanding Counties Manukau prospect Elliott Crowther, fifth overall in the first round, will take the blue jersey into the Taupo-Napier Classic, as leader in the under-23 competition.

Current national road and time trial champion, Melissa Holt (Cambridge) will wear the leader’s red jersey in the women’s race on Saturday after dominating the first round.

Holt, building up for next month’s Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, will have some strong competition from the likes of national representative Serena Sheridan (Nelson), back from competing in Europe and outstanding mountain biker Fiona McDermid (Palmerston North).

The 140km race includes three climbs with the major efforts required at Te Haroto and Titiokura before the long descent into Napier.

The race, sponsored by Cranked Cycles and Bluewater Hotel, is run by the Ramblers Cycling Club in the Hawkes Bay. Many big names in the sport have won this race since its inception in 1971 including Jack Swart, Stephen Cox, Brendan Cameron, Dave Mann and three-time winner Vern Hanaray.