Alexandra's Alex McGregor (18) is the new Bannockburn Gutbuster champion, winning by a good 6sec from Tony Hogg, of Dunedin.
International rider and previous winner Marcus Roy could only manage third.
Olympian Kashi Leuchs was not able to race due to illness.
This was McGregor's fourth time contesting the gruelling 75.4km race from Garston to Bannockburn and he swore it was his last as he crossed the finish line in a lather of sweat.
He had been with a bunch of four at the top of the hill but managed to pull away to cross the line in 3hr 6min.
Hogg (33) followed him 6min later on 3hr 12min and Roy crossed in third place on 3hr 14min.
Roy (24) still holds the record for the Bannockburn race of 2hr 55min, which he set two years ago.
The fastest woman was Erin Greene, finishing in 3hr 47min.
Geoff Blance was the winning veteran male on 3hr 21min and Ivonne McDonnell-Grant the best veteran female on 4hr 23min.
A field of 299 competed in five classes.
