Cycling: Maffey rides away with Chris Tudor Memorial

Andrew Maffey won the 68km Chris Tudor Memorial race on Saturday in a time of 2hr 4min 55sec.

Maffey was one of the six break riders who set off five minutes behind limit.

Maffey, Maaike Duncan, Jan Brosnahan, Graeme Glidden, Rangi Wharepapa and Tom Campbell worked well and caught the limit group halfway round the first lap of the Sam's circuit.

Duncan broke away for a short time but was quickly reeled in again before reaching McLeod Rd.

By the time the group went through Outram, Maffey started testing the bunch a bit until the turnoff to Tirohanga Rd.

Realising that some of the other riders were tiring, he decided he needed to get away from the bunch, as the steep Mount Allen Hill was looming a couple of kilometres down the road.

Wharepapa went as well but was unable to stay with Maffey.

The remaining group were unable to catch Maffey and, with assistance from the slight westerly tail wind, he knew he had the race in the bag.

Maffey has competed in several multisport events but this was his first road cycling handicap race.

His other placing was his win in the Octagon criterium C grade in 2008.

Mark Spessot, from the scratch group that started 30min behind limit, was hot on the heels of this group and finished 10th in 2hr 8min 32sec.

Limit rider Richard Redmond was second in 2hr 5min 46sec, and Brosnahan was third in 2hr 6min.