Adam Rourke used his extensive race experience to win the Nowra Velo Club’s final round of the 2016 Access series on Sunday.
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Rourke (Nowra Velo) crossed the line three seconds ahead of Aaron Lauder (Hanlon Windows) with a similar gap to third placed rider Mark Astley (BaiMed).
Rourke’s win came off the back of a series of attacks late in the 53-kilometre race from Paul Mackie (Optus), Jade Colligan (BVH/Coffeeliscious) and Astley.
Rourke, Astley and Colligan had ridden through to the leading groups of the event from a back mark and bunch of 15 riders approached the final five kilometres together.
Mackie launched into action a kilometre later and a strung-out bunch was heading for the finish.
Into the last three kilometres Colligan jumped clear and held a handy lead until Astley replied and raced past. Lauder went through to Astley and then Rourke made his move as other legs were stinging.
Rourke went from the chase bunch to Colligan and then swiftly crossed over and past Astley taking Lauder along with the move. There was no hesitation as Rourke charged for the finish line to take that three-second win.
Richard Vitiello (BaiMed) cleaned up the bunch sprint and fourth place 10 seconds after Rourke had crossed the line.
Vitiello led Mackie, Rob Rix (the Watts factory), Godfrey Green (BaiMed), Colligan, Rob Pickard (Watts Factory), Dave Gray (Optus), Hubert Driehuis (Hanlons), Mick Thompson (Watts Factory), Frank Neri (Hanlons), Bill Stahlhut (BVH/Coffeeliscious)and Jo Chalain (Hanlons) up the finish straight.
They were followed by Annette Sampson (Watts Factory), Alice Lauder (Hanlons), Greg Showell (BaiMed), Mark Bagnall (Nowra Velo), Mark Robbins (Optus), Graham Johns (Hanlons) and Jose Pereira (Optus).
The front markers had led the race into the final turn at Turpentine with Chalain, Brad Oaten (Nowra Velo), Alice Lauder, Sampson and Showell in this lead group.
This event decided the final overall team and individual positions in the 2016 Access Series and a full report will be published when all positions have been finalised.
The Nowra Velo Club returns to the Albatross Aviation Tech Park for criterium racing on October 9 with the club championship series to start the next week with the individual time trial title race.