Racing rookie Hamish Scott had the ride of his life last Saturday, the 40 year-old, who had never ridden more than 120km and just bought a racing bike, held off a hard charging pack of neo pros to win New Zealand’s annual Twizel to Timaru Cycle Classic.

Since 2009 the handicapped chase race has offered riders of all abilities a chance to earn overall victory with different start times/groups depending on ability. Run under club handicap rules, it is basically a 151km team time trial with riders in each group expected to contribute to the pace making – sandbaggers face disqualification. This year’s race included nine groups of around ten riders each, with the fastest and fittest neo pros starting last in the ninth group.

Hamish Scott started in the second group, departing 1:10:00 ahead of the neo pros driven by MitoQ – NZ Cycling Project, a UCI Continental pro team.

This year, just like some days at the Tour de France, the chasers misjudged their effort and came up a few meters short at the finish, with Scott and all day time trialing companion Jason Wilson barely holding on to take first and second place overall – by less than a second over the neo pros.

Although not earning the overall win, Marshall Erwood (MITOQ – NZ CYCLING PROJECT) took third place and set a new course record of 3:09.51, averaging 47.72kph. The fastest woman was former pro Sharlotte Lucas (LUPA) in 3:34.15.

2024 Twizel to Timaru Cycle Classic results HERE

Photo Credit: TimaruHerald/Aiman Amerul Munher

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