Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team wins three titles

The Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team won three titles after the final race in the Benchmark Homes Elite Tour series held in North Canterbury at the weekend.

Scott McDonnell, who was sixth in the 142 kilometre CFO and SWG 7th Oxford Grand Prix race, won two titles. McDonnell was the first Masters rider to cross the finish line which also secured him the Masters title for the series.

“It was a bit of a surprise to win the overall masters title,” McDonnell said. “My form and fitness has slowly been building and I’m thrilled to be able to mix it with the full time bike riders considering my family and work commitments. It was a great result for me and the team.”

The Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team won the team’s classification for category two ahead the series Category Two leader Team Orbea Racing, which Team Manager Kelly Chapman said was great reward for the team’s consistency and efforts.

“We have entered every Benchmark race over the last three series with the goal of performing well in the team’s classification so to win the last race of the current series was a great way to cap off the series for the team and our sponsors.”

Warmup Pushbike’s Lauren Ellis was leading the women’s classification but could not race at the weekend as she is racing on the track in Invercargill for New Zealand in the Oceania Track Championships where she was part of a New Zealand resident record in qualifying in the women’s 3000m team pursuit today.

The team now turns its attention to local club races that include this weekend’s Barry Richardson Memorial 85 kilometre handicap race, then the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling and the Ashburton to Christchurch handicap race on 10 December.