Gore to Invercargill: Jamieson sprints to classic win
“Since I am quite a good sprinter on the road I trust my kick, so I try to stay in the top five for the last five kilometres, not really touch the front too much, and then trust my kick and go."
By Eugene Bonthuys
Magnus Jamieson sprinted home in first place to take the win in the Stonewood Homes Gore to Invercargill Classic on Thursday night.
The event, which organised by Cycling Southland, is New Zealand’s longest running club classic road race. The race took place in warm and near windless conditions, with riders in the open classic taking on a 71km course starting at the Gore Town and Country Club and finishing at McQuarrie Park in Invercargill.
The race is run in a handicap format, with the fastest riders setting off last, and attempting to catch up to the front of the race before the finish.
As a first year under 19 rider, it was Jamieson’s first attempt at the open classic, but with an impressive pedigree on road and track, he started in the second last group on the road, setting off 24.5 minutes behind the first group, with just the scratch group consisting of Hunter Gough and Josh Burnett starting a further two and a half minutes behind.
“It was really good, our whole group was working really well together,” said Jamieson.
“It turned out to be a good combination of us just chipping away, time getting closer and closer, and then we ended up catching the group in front just about the same time they caught the group in front of them so it was just two groups to go, and that was about three and a half minutes and by that time we were a reasonably bug bunch.”
With all the groups having merged except for the two scratch markers, the scene was set for a big bunch sprint to the finish, with a large leading bunch followed by a couple of smaller groups of riders distanced by the pace put on at the front of the bunch.
“Since I am quite a good sprinter on the road I trust my kick, so I try to stay in the top five for the last five kilometres, not really touch the front too much, and then trust my kick and go,” said Jamieson.
Coming up to the line, Jamieson hit the front and never looked back, crossing the line with enough of a margin to celebrate this significant victory. Mike White was just behind, followed by Luke McPherson, Tom Kerr, and Andy Beale. Sixth place over the line went to Caitlin Kelly, who claimed the title as the first woman home, in an excellent performance after having started in the first group to take to the road.
However, the race was not quite over, as the prize for the fastest time of the day was still on the line. As the clock ticked down, there were some anxious glances down the road in anticipation of the two scratch markers coming into view.
Would they have done enough to take out the fastest time, or would that honour also go to Jamieson? As Gough and Burnett sprinted into view, it was clear that it was going to be a very close, but they crossed the line with mere seconds to spare as Gough won the two up sprint to take the fastest time of the day.
Jamieson was very happy with his win, and it had special significance as this was not the first time a member of the family had won the classic.
“It feels really good - a bit of a shock coming from 24 minutes back but also great to win it 19 years after my mum won it, so it is also great getting the same feeling she did back in the day,” he said.
His mum, Erin Criglington, took the title in 2004, and was very happy to see Magnus take the win.
“I am very, very proud of Magnus. He loves riding his bike, so it’s nice to see him get out there and win. I managed to stay at the back of that first bunch as well, so not too bad,” she said.
There were also two junior classic races contested. In the under 13 race over 16km, Jamie Russell took the win and the fastest time, with Kyle Bonthuys in second, and Noah Zwies, taking part in his first road race, in third.
In the under 15/17 race over 36km, Ollie Keast took the win and the fastest time, ahead of Sean Threadgall in second, with Poppy McIvor in third.
It was a very good pay day for the top performers in the open classic as well, with Jamieson taking home $500 for the win, Kelly taking home $500 for the first woman, and Gough taking home $500 for the fastest time.
Race sponsor Brendan Akeroyd of Stonewood Homes was very happy with the outcome of the race.
“Everyone came together on the line. The riders on limit were sprinting it out with the riders on break at the finish, so it was perfect,” he said.
“It was a good successful day and everyone enjoyed themselves. The prize money went to some good young up and coming riders, so you couldn’t ask for more.”