Riders approach Alfredton in the first race of the Trust House Team Series on Sunday. PHOTOS/MARK JERLING
CYCLING
CHRIS COGDALE
[email protected]
A 15-year-old debutant stole the show, stunning his more experienced rivals in the first race of the Trust House Team Series on Sunday.
Jackson Fellows riding for the new Pahiatua-based team, Madison Cycle Clothing NZ, was the rider of the day with a daring attack to win the category three race on a windswept Alfredton course.
Fellows showed his talent and determination to win when he broke away from the bunch up the last hill climb and rode the last 3km on his own while battling strong crosswinds.
Race director Jorge Sandoval said it was very impressive riding, rarely seen from such a young rider.
“I have seen so many races and riders coming to our events, and occasionally you see someone like Jackson who really impresses everyone,” said Sandoval.
“I am sure if he keeps his cycling up, we will see lots more of him in a few years.”
Fellows was over the moon with the surprise result in his first attempt at senior level.
“This is my first big race. I couldn’t race last year as I was too young, but today everything went my way,” Fellows said.
“I decided to go away up the last hill and rode the last three kilometres on my own. It was hard because it was so windy, but I managed to stay away. I love hills, and I look forward to race two of the series with some hill climbs.”
Fellows cut out the 68km race in two hours and two minutes, 0.4 seconds. He was three seconds clear of teammate David Jackson, with his father Marcus third, giving the Madison team a clean sweep in category three
Category one raced 102km around the Alfredton circuit with national scratch race champion George Jackson [NZ Cycling Project] taking the victory in 2:42.52.1. Callum Nisbet [Coupland’s-Booth’s Group] was second, with Wellington’s David Weaver [Team Wheelworks] third.
Caleb Bottcher [West Coast North Island] pulled away in the last 2km to win the category two race over 102km in 2:50.32.6, with Simon Dowsett [iRIDE] second, and Jamie Campbell [Green Performance Coaching] third.
Chris Sharrott [Kapiti Cycling Club] won the bunch sprint to take line honours in category four from Darren Murdie [Bike Manawatu Palmfield] with Toshi Yamauchi [Storage Manawatu] third.
Twenty-two teams with riders from Manawatu, Wellington, and Wairarapa, made up the four race categories.
With covid-19 alert level 2 restrictions in place, extra safety controls were implemented by Sandoval to ensure the safety of riders and officials,
“I was very happy with the support from everyone in the event, adhering to race regulations to ensure we race while following best practice and to support us being able to continue to deliver events during changing alert levels.”
Race two on October 3 is the longest race in the series on a new circuit, starting in Alfredton, riding towards Pongaroa and Pahiatua, and finishing in Alfredton.
Brief Results
Category 1: 1 George Jackson [NZ Cycling Project] 2:42.52.1; 2 Callum Nisbet [Coupland’s-Booth’s Group] at same time; 3 David Weaver [Wheelworks] 2:43.12.6. Leading Team: NZ Cycling Project
Category 2: 1 Caleb Bottcher [West Coast North Island Road Racing] 2:50.32.6; 2 Simon Dowsett [iRIDE] at 20sec; 3 Jamie Campbell [Green Performance Coaching] at 1min. Leading Team: West Coast North Island
Category 3: 1 Jackson Fellows [Madison Cycle Clothing NZ] 2:00.4; 2 David Jackson [Madison Cycle Clothing NZ] at 2secs; 3 Marcus Fellows [Madison Cycle Clothing NZ] at same time. Leading Team: Madison Cycle Clothing NZ
Category 4: 1 Chris Sharrott [Kapiti Cycling Club] 2:07.47.5; 2 Darren Murdie [Bike Manawatu Palmfeild Motors] at same time; 3 Toshi Yamauchi [Storage Manawatu] at same time. Leading Team: Kapiti Cycling Club.
