One week out from the national road championships, Cycling Otago's top riders came out to play in the annual Shiel Hill Classic handicap on Saturday.
The 51km course started at the Vauxhall Yacht Club, followed the flat road out to Harington Point and returned as far as Portobello where it turned left and up over Highcliff Rd to the finish on Shiel Hill.
Young Lachie MacGregor took line honours after a stunning display of climbing. Brad Evans had a meteoric ride over the hill to come second and claim fastest-man honours, completing the 51km in 1hr 10min 48sec.
The in-form Reta Trotman was fastest woman in a swift 1hr 14min.
Sixty-two riders set off in seven bunches at various time intervals. They were assisted on their way by a gentle tail breeze out to Harington Point.
The bunches remained largely intact on the outward leg but quickly broke up on the sharp climb out of Portobello.
From there, it was every rider for themselves as the climbers asserted their dominance.
Riding off a 20min handicap, MacGregor quickly settled into his work. With 28 riders on the hill in front of him and 33 of the club's best chasing him, there was no time for enjoying the scenery.
Riding on the restricted gearing of his age-group worked against him on the descent, but he had put enough distance between himself and the fast-approaching Evans to hold on for the win.
Phil Turnwald put in an impressive ride from his 22min handicap mark to finish third.
The big man's powerful climbing style was reminiscent of the great Jan Ullrich.
He was followed over the line by Murray Gray, showing daughter Mary (17th) and son Michael (27th) that Dad is still the boss on the road.
This may not last long, however, as both Mary and Michael rode exceptionally well.
Finishing within 1min of Evans were Jo Chapman (scratch), Glen McSkimming (22min handicap), Nick Beekhuis (20min handicap), Scott Thomas (scratch), Graeme Gliddon (limit) and Mark Spessot (scratch).
This week, Cycling Otago will send a 14-strong team to the national club road championships in Napier. The team includes several medal contenders.
The team is: Mary Gray, Alysha Keith (under-19 women), Elyse Fraser, Alison Shanks, Reta Trotman (senior women), Jan Brosnahan, Therese Duncan (masters women), Lachie MacGregor (under-17 men), Jacob Grieve (senior men), Ross Gamble, Stu Crooks, Justin Stott (masters men).
