South Island Road Cycling Champs

By Andrew Willmott | Posted: Tuesday July 11, 2017

OBHS was represented by three cyclists at the South Island Road Cycling Championships in Christchurch recently. In chilly, but fine conditions, the boys time trialled and scratch raced their way around Ruapuna Motorsport Park.

A one lap, 3.4km individual time trial made for a short, but high intensity start to the weekend. With such a small distance the times of riders within the age groups were fairly close.

Ben Hogan, riding in the Under 20 age group, got around in 4 minutes and 49 seconds. Ronan Geraghty and Louis Harris rode in the Under 17 division, recording 5.13 and 4.51, respectively. Louis's time was fast enough for 10th. With four riders required for a School's team we did not contest the team's time trial. Maybe next year?

The road race was on Sunday, and the focus for most riders. Here Ronan demonstrated real determination, when losing contact with the bunch, he was able to ride on and not be lapped out by the flying lead bunch. This is no mean feat given the efficiency of riding in a big bunch! Louis was fortunate to remain in the lead bunch and finished strongly to post a 7th placing in the final sprint. 

Unbeknown to him, a rider had gone off the front. In a race dictated by the Christchurch schools, in particular Christchurch Boys', the other schools were not able to organise a chase. 

Covering 31.6km, Ronan's time was 50.10 and Louis 44.34. In the Under 20's, a large number of riders were removed from the race, having been dropped early and being lapped by the leaders. Unfortunately, Ben was one of these riders not getting to complete the 40.8km.

The event was a great experience for our cyclists, coming up against some top competition, big fields of riders and strategic racing. Thanks to the parents who travelled up to support their sons.

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