The Southland Girls’ High School year 13 pupil claimed a prestigious Cycling Southland honour, winning the Gore to Waikiwi Classic.
The event was created by the Waikiwi Amateur Cycling Club in the early 1960s, and it has survived the test of time.
Competitors such as Greg Henderson, Tim Carswell and Glen Thomson have picked up the fastest time honours over the years.
The Gore to Waikiwi Classic was a 78-kilometre handicapped race, and the scratch riders on Saturday gave up a 28-minute head start.
Rikiti started off six minutes and 50km into the race her bunch was able to catch upwith the front group.
With about 25km to go, that big group split and what unfolded was a bunch sprint at the end, which Rikiti won.
Emily Paterson was second, followed by veteran rider Colin Horton (62).
Matt Zenovich claimed the fastest time honour, covering the 78km in 1hr 53min 21 sec.Conor Shearing had the second-fastest time, with 1hr 58min 10sec.
Just a week before, Rikiti lined up in the Cycling New Zealand Southern Performance Hub and competed in the Tour of Timaru, where she finished 13th in the C-grade section.
She felt that time spent on the bike had set her up well for Saturday’s race win.
Rikiti has two key events on her mind, starting with the New Zealand Secondary Schools Road Championships in Christchurch later this month.
The focus will then switch to the track, as she hopes to make an impact at the Oceania Championships in Adelaide next month.
An under-17 Springhills to Waikiwi race was also staged on Saturday, which Rhylee Akeroyd won with Mitchel Fitzsimons claiming the fastest time.
The under-13 Grove Bush to Waikiwi race was won by Caitlin Kelly, with Magnus Jamieson picking up the fastest time.
- Logan Savory
