McCauley leads Counties Manukau to RaboDirect Team Time Trial title
Commonwealth Games cyclist Gordon McCauley was straight back into competition as he led the Counties Manukau team to victory in the RaboDirect National Team Time Trial Championships in Hamilton today.
McCauley, who rode strongly at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, was in excellent form as the powerful Counties Manukau combination was far too strong for the competition in the open men’s team time trial.
BikeNZ has re-introduced the popular team time trial, with teams of four with the time stopped on the third rider across the line – over 40km for open and masters and 20km for age groups.
McCauley was teamed with former national representatives Karl Murray and Aaron Strong and talented Nick Lovegrove to clock 50:48.48 for the 40km.
They were more than a minute faster than second place Cycling Otago with Stratford third a further minute back.
Counties Manukau made it a double when they took out the open women’s division in 59:50.58, with their Hakes Bay Ramblers second nearly two minutes behind ahead of Te Awamutu Sports.
The Counties Manukau combination included New Zealand representative Toni Bradshaw in the lineup.
Te Awamutu Sports took out the Masters title from Counties Manukau who included the great Stephen Swart in their team.
Counties Manukau completed a highly successful day by winning both the under-17 boys and girls titles as well.
Results RaboDirect National Team Time Trial:
Senior men, 40km: Counties Manukau ( Nick Lovegrove, Karl Murray, Aaron Strong, Gordon McCauley) 50:48.88, 1; Cycling Otago (Mark Spessot, Shane Melrose, Scott Lyttle, Logan Edgar) 52:06.76, 2; Stratford Road Cycling Club (Mike Torckler, Brohn Torckler, Gregory Marfell, Nick Sutton) 53:11.77, 3.
Masters, 40km: Te Awamutu Sports (Manu Robson, Gary Mikkelsen, Matt Douglas, Wayne Mason) 54:50.58, 1; Counties Manukau B (Murray Garland, Stephen Swart, Brett Slater, Ian Peach) 56:16.65, 2; Cycling Otago (Glenn Todd, Chris Henderson, Stu Crooks, Brendon Hastie) 56:20.51, 3.
Open Women, 40km: Counties Manukau (Marion Webb, Rachel Larner, Mel Burke, Toni Bradshaw) 59:45.92, 1; Ramblers (Ashleigh Neave, Haley Davis, Megan Watson, Hannah Van Kampen) 1:01.26.14, 2; Te Awamutu Sports (Laura Gretton, Brittany Thompson, Courtney Grenfell, Maddie Brunton) 1:01:16.35, 3.
Under 17 boys, 20km: Counties Manukau (Jonathon Laycock, Nick Bain, Hardy Michel, James Judd) 28:00.89, 1; Te Awamutu Sports (Hayden McCormick, Stephen Brunskill, Boris Clark, Blair Tremayne) 29:09.22, 2; Morrinsville Wheelers (Alex Heaney, Liam Aberhart, Toby Atkins, Charlie Murrell) 29:44.13, 3.
Under-17 Girls, 20km: Counties Manukau (Devon Hiley, Elise Salt, Helena Jackson, Paige Patterson) 31:59:89, 1; Te Awamutu Sports (Catherine Moser, Steffie Hokcrift, Alex Marsh, Robin Hacker-Cary) 32:44.31, 2.