It proved to be Chris Hargest's day as a depleted field of riders turned up at Mosgiel on Saturday to battle the elements in the Chris Tudor Memorial race.
With the temperature on the start line about 6degC, the riders were in for a long day in the saddle.
The handicap race consisted of three groups, and off on the limit mark were Hargest, Tom Campbell and, in her first senior race after having a baby, Tracy Havard.
With head winds all the way to Outram the going was tough, and by Huntley Rd Havard was finding the strength of the other riders too much.
By the turn at Millar Rd they were nowhere to be seen.
Behind them, the middle group had four riders working well together, with newcomer Glen Morris sharing the workload with Fenton Lambert, Mike Lormans and Steve Havard.
By Outram, they had taken back three and a-half minutes from the lead group's 15min head start.
Behind them, the scratch group were battling the elements to close the gap.
After the first lap of Sam's Circuit, the middle group riders were 8min behind the leaders.
Heading back towards Outram, they caught Tracy Havard, who was still battling the course on her own.
Back into Outram the leaders had a four and a-half minute lead to the next bunch, with the scratch group still not able to get a glimpse of the middle group.
Tired and cold legs started to take their toll on the riders and, as the turning for Tiohongo Rd came, Steve Havard was dropped from the bunch, with Morris driving the pace towards the finish.
As they approached Mt Allen, the scratch group got closer, and at the turn Hargest and Campbell had started the climb up to the finish.
Morris made his move, knowing the rest were behind him and would be targeting him up the climb, and his pace was too much for them.
Hargest took the win from Campbell, who held on comfortably for second.
The race for third was between Morris and scratch rider Mark Spessot, but the head start up the climb was too much for Spessot to close.
- Steve Havard
