Cycling: Shanks takes advantage of local knowledge to gain win

Alison Shanks rode a perfectly judged race to win the inaugural Cycling Otago 46km Palmerston to Dunedin Brian Wood Handicap Memorial on Saturday.

Riding from the second break mark, Shanks, just back from a national squad training camp, turned on an impressive display of pedalling and smart riding to earn a solo victory on top of Mt Cargill, ahead of 35 other riders.

The race-winning move of the day came on the first steep incline, on the Karitane Hill, when Shanks and Brett McCormack broke clear from the eight-rider second break bunch that included several experienced veterans including pre-race favourites Ross Gamble, Steve Grant and Tony Chapman.

Shanks, who claims the Karitane coast as her favourite training ride, used her knowledge of the winding road to quickly dispose of McCormack and then moved into time trial mode in an attempt to reel in the riders ahead.

On a mostly tailwind course, the backmarkers found it hard to make up time on Shanks, and it was the trio of Murray Garland, Jan Brosnahan and Nikki Shanks who led the challenge for the line.

With almost two minutes still left to make up on this trio at the bottom of the ultimate Mt Cargill climb, Alison Shanks used a low gear and smooth style to overhaul the leaders just before the summit, and win by 42sec.

Counties-Manukau rider Murray Garland rode strongly all day and deserved his second place ahead of Nikki Shanks, Alison's younger sister.

Young Alexandra rider Tom Vessey dominated the scratch mark, using his hill-climbing prowess to split the bunch at every opportunity. Vessey finished with fastest time on the day, ahead of Scott Thomas and Tim Rush.

In the category four race, Carole Evans beat Vivienne Allen-Kelly and Paula Anstey across the line. Bill Allen scored a very respectable fastest time of 34min 18sec for the 20km ride.

The prizegiving was attended by Brian Wood's son, Nerony, and granddaughters Haley and Ruby Poutama, who had all travelled from Wellington.