McIlroy wins classic second year in row

Riders in the Calder Stewart Series get  off to a safe start in Outram on Saturday.  Photo: Peter...
Riders in the Calder Stewart Series get off to a safe start in Outram on Saturday. Photo: Peter McIntosh
Dunedin is proving a happy hunting ground for Commonwealth Games-bound cyclist Kate McIIroy.

She won the Dunedin Classic for the second year in a row on Saturday to get the Calder Stewart Series off to a bright start.

The former international triathlon athlete completed the 109km course in 3hr 4min. Commonwealth Games team-mate Sharlotte Lucas outsprinted Ella Harris to finish second, just under a minute behind McIIroy.

Defending series champion, Otago’s Mikayla Harvey, finished ninth.

The women’s leader’s jersey will change hands in the next round in Hokitika as McIIroy, who will be at her third Commonwealth Games in her third sport, will be racing with Lucas in the road race. Matt Zenovich was an impressive winner in the men’s 134km race, dropping last year’s Calder Stewart Series joint under-23 and elite men’s winner Jake Marryatt during the final stages of the 14km climb to win in 3hr 18min.

Zenovich is hopeful his race programme with his Australian St George Continental Cycling Team will allow him to race the next round. Marryatt claimed the under-23 leader’s jersey and Ari Scott won the under-19 jersey.

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