Taupo teenager wins national series cycle race in Taranaki

Taupo teenager Patrick Bevin grabbed the best win of his young career when he took out the Yarrows Taranaki Cycle Challenge today, the eighth round of the BikeNZ Lion Foundation National Points Series.

Bevin outsprinted Counties Manukau rider Karl Murray to win the 151-km race around the mountain, the eighth round of the national series.

Wanganui’s Brei Gudsell outsprinted Te Awamutu’s Emma Petersen to win the women’s honours, with Olympian Catherine Cheatley deciding not to race as she recovers from a crash at last week’s World Cup track meet in Beijing.

Murray’s second placing was sufficient for him to move up to second overall in the series, led by Jeremy Yates who was riding in the Tour of Wellington.

A group of eight riders went clear at the 30km mark and remained together for most of the journey until well over the biggest climbs, clearing out by three minutes from the peloton.

A series of attacks in the final 5km, initially by Bevin and then Murray before the pair settled for a sprint finish. Bevin proved too strong, which is an excellent result for the young rider in his first year out of high school. He heads to Belgium shortly where he will ride for the DCM junior development team.

Bevin has moved to a share of third place in the under-23 points table and was pleased to have Torpedo 7 team-mate Peter Rennie (Taupo) in the lead bunch with him in the battle with Kiwi Velo riders Matt Gilbert and Mike Northey, with both teams managing to close the gap on leaders Kiwi Velo in the national series.

“I thought I had blown it when I went on my own but got caught but I was really happy to hold on for the win,” Bevin said.

Gudsell, in her first ride in the national series, was pleased with her performance in edging Petersen, who was fourth in the national road championships recently.
The pair rode strongly to hold on to the men’s peloton for most of the way.

Results, Yarrow Taranaki Cycle Challenge, 151km::
Men: Patrick Bevin (Torpedo 7) 3:41:43,1; Karl Murray (Auckland) 3:41:43, 2; Mike Northey (Kiwi Velo) 3:41:44, 3; Peter Rennie (Torpedo 7) 3:41:44, 4; Alexandra Ray (Auckland) 3:41:45. 5. 

Women: Brei Gudsell (Wanganui) 3:48:35, 1; Emma Petersen (Te Awamutu) 3:48:35, 2; Rachel Bartells (Auckland) 4:17:27, 3; Yvette Hill-Willis (Auckland) 4:17:30, 4; Anna Stevenson (New Plymouth) 4:25:13, 5.

Team: Torpedo 7 1, Kiwi Velo 2, Pro Velo 3.

Points after eight rounds:
Women: Serena Sheridan (Nelson) 490, Catherine Cheatley (Wanganui) 200, Jeannie Kuhajek (Star & Garter Tasman) 175, Emma Crum (Kapiti) 165, Tara Allerton (Stratford) 160.
Teams: Kiwi Velo 405, Torpedo 7 350, Pro Velo 335, Team Velo Sport 190, Full Cycle Merida 175.