Tristan Ward, Nathan Crump, Chris Harrison and Alice Lauder provided a new batch of winners at the Nowra Velo Club’s Access series of criteriums on Sunday.
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While Lauder picked up a grade win in February, all others were first time winners at Nowra Velo events in 2016.
As Alice Lauder led the way with points for the Hanlon Windows team, this gave them their first team win for the year with Scott Thompson, Aaron Coghlan, Aaron Lauder, Graham Johns, Frank Neri and Jo Chalain adding the tally.
The Bomaderry Vet Hospital/Coffeeliscious placed second and still hold a comfortable overall lead, as Hanlons sneak ahead of Optus, The Watts Factory and BaiMed Physio.
Tristan Ward’s win came at the end of a fast aggressive A grade race that saw the field splintered in the final 10 minutes. The field gradually reduced over the course of the event until only Thompson could go with a powerful surge by Ward.
The closest chasers into the final three laps was Coghlan and Jade Colligan (BVJ/Coffeeliscious), with Steve Crossman (Optus), Mark Astley and Godfrey Green (BaiMed) almost a lap behind.
Ward led into the final straight and held Thompson at a length over the line.
Coghlan and Colligan provided a close tussle to the line where Coghlan had the judges eye for third.
Nathan Crump (The Watts Factory), Paul Mackie (Optus) and Gavin Nethery (The Watts Factory) hit the line abreast for the closest sprint finish of the year in the B grade race where the decision went the way as noted.
Ian Kielly (BVH/Coffeeliscious) was the most active rider in C grade but his team mate, Chris Harrison took the win by a clear two lengths ahead of him in this event.
Graham Johns (Hanlons) finished third in a close tussle with Darren Pretious (BVH/Coffeeliscious). Alice Lauder took the D graders by surprise when she skipped away from the field half way through their race. Alice was out to 100 metres before a reaction came, with Brad Oaten chasing and getting close to closing the gap before easing up and returning to the bunch. Chalain put in a big effort over the last 800 metre lap to secure second, with Oaten taking third. The next race is the Jack Hartnett Memorial handicap.