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Acker and Lucus win inaugural Ride the Rakaia Race

enthuse

Sunday 4 March 2012, 5:35PM

By enthuse

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Simon Acker (Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team) seen here in a time trial race, won the inaugural 103 kilometre Ride the Rakaia cycle race in impressive fashion in very challenging conditions on Saturday.
Simon Acker (Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team) seen here in a time trial race, won the inaugural 103 kilometre Ride the Rakaia cycle race in impressive fashion in very challenging conditions on Saturday. Credit: Bruce Wilson Photography

CANTERBURY

Simon Acker (Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team) won the inaugural 103 kilometre Ride the Rakaia cycle race in impressive fashion in very challenging conditions on Saturday. 

Held in high winds and heavy rain the 19 year old Christchurch rider attacked his breakaway companions Darrell Kircher, Andre Chappell and Graeme Nuttridge, all from the Thule Racing Team, and Wellington’s Kevin McCormack, in the climb out of the Rakaia Gorge to ride the last 45 kilometres solo to win in two hours and forty nine minutes, four minutes clear of Kircher who claimed second in a sprint from McCormack, Chappel and Nuttridge.

Acker’s Warmup Pushbikes Cycling team mate Sharlotte Lucas also won in impressive fashion, to claim her second win in as many weeks, crossing the finish line in three hours and one minute, fourteen minutes ahead of second placed Corina Wilson.  

Key results;
Men
1, Simon Acker (Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team) 02:49:22; 2, Darrell Kircher (Thule Cycling Team) 02:53:54; 3, Kevin McCormack (Wellington) 02:53:55; 4, Andre Chappel (Thule Cycling Team) 02:53:56; 5, Graeme Nuttridge (Thule Cycling Team) 02:53:57

Women
1, Sharlotte Lucas (Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team) 03:01:30; 2, Corina Wilson 03:15:12; 3, Anne Kerr 03:16:27;