IN THE LEAD: Jake Stuart pushes the pace in the MacDonald International 2013 Teams Challenge series event last Sunday.
JAKE Stuart (Optus Nowra) scored a runaway win in the MacDonald International 2013 Teams Challenge series event last Sunday.
Stuart rode from a bunch of back markers with 13 kilometres to go and through to the front of the field in this 42 kilometre event.
Stuart finished the last leg out front and alone to be heading for a win with 10 kilometres remaining.
Stuart crossed the line in one hour and 45 seconds to be first and fastest on a morning with perfect weather.
He was 59 seconds ahead of a 30 strong sprinting bunch that was after the minor placings.
Aaron Coghlan (Hanlons Windows) had a two length margin for second over the Gordon McDonald Electrical trio of Andrew Lowe, Morgan Clarke, Levi Johns and Andrew Jarman (Bomaderry Vet Hospital/Coffeeliscious).
Others close up in the big bunch finish were Mark Williams (TLE Electrical), Lawry Schinella (Hanlons Windows), Dave Morris (Hanlons Windows), Paul Nancekivell (Gordon McDonald), Phil Rice (Optus Nowra) and Matt Clark (TLE Electrical).
Also there for the finish were Geoff Lockhart, Brendon Miller, Jose Pereira, Hubert Driehuis, Gary Bryce, Barry Wells, Lawry Byrne, Rod Pierce, Brian Corrigan, Ian Kielly, Tim Devlin, Bruce Jenkins, Henry Wakeford, Dion Carter, Mick Thompson, Mark Robbins, Roger Bird, Peter Kastelein and Greg Showell.
When the other intended scratch markers failed to sign on, Jake Stuart was faced with a solo chase of a 10 rider bunch on the second scratch mark.
Aaron Coghlan opted to start with Stuart and help with the chase.
They started with a 90 second gap to the closest bunch and then two minute steps out through the field with more big bunches lined up ahead.
Jake and Cogs started really fast and were across the gap in five kilometres, a distance Coghlan described as absolute torture.
As the last of the three laps began, it was obvious the back of the field would overtake the leaders despite the hard work at the front from Kate Darke (Hanlons), Jo Chalain (BVH/Coffeeliscious) and Steve Moore (Gordon McDonald), and the division four bunch of Barry Wells (Nowra Velo), Mick Thompson, Rod Pierce and Greg Showell (Gordon McDonald), Brian Corrigan and Lawry Byrne (TLE), and Bruce Jenkins (Hanlons).
After Stuart had scarpered through the field and into the lead, the bulk of the riders were together with 10 kilometres remaining. A big finish was coming up.
Top scoring teams on the day were Gordon McDonald Electrical, Hanlons Windows and Optus Nowra.
Stuart will also precede previous individual leader Greg Showell on individual points.
Stuart and his racing and training partner, Scott Thompson, will race at the Oceania Games in the ACT next weekend.
The local racing will be graded scratch races on the Flinders Industrial Complex on Sunday with the Optus Nowra team hosting these events.
