Burfoot 8th to sea

Tim Burfoot led the Marlborough charge in the annual Source to Sea cycle race on Saturday, placing eighth in the solo category.

Burfoot finished in the leading bunch of individual riders, completing the 160-kilometre course from Lake Rotoiti to Westport in 4hr 24min 13sec.

He was joined in the leading group by fellow Marlborough rider Mark Hawkins, who crossed the line 13th in the solo, two seconds back, and Al McIntosh, 23rd in 4:24.24. Burfoot was fifth in the men's 40-49 years, Hawkins sixth in the same class and McIntosh 10th.

A large contingent of Marlborough riders entered the event, either as solo riders or in teams.

Brad Sidley (29th) and Ken Anderson (38th) produced top-50 finishes in the solo section.

The all-female Kiwi/French team of first-timers Julie Nicholls and Nathalie Berthelin were third out of 15 women's teams and 15th out of 65 two-person relay teams overall.

The Mums on Seats team of Nicola Poswillo, Anna Poff and Ali Robbins won the female work-team section.

Experienced Marlborough cyclist Jon Cunliffe, who placed 52nd in the solo class, said this year's race was the most challenging of the three he had contested, with a strong headwind all the way keeping times down.

At the front of the solo field, Christchurch pair Mark Washington and Craig Fenton continuously attacked the peleton, eventually gapping the field.

Fenton allowed Washington the line honours, paying respect to the hard work he did pushing into a brisk headwind. Both riders clocked the day's fastest time of 4:22.02.

Riders were surprised to be joined by Phil Keoghan, host of TV show The Amazing Race, in the field. The celebrity showed he is no mug on two wheels, placing sixth in the solo class.

Earlier, Chris Nicholson defended the pro men's title. He joined a four-rider breakaway at the 60km point in Murchison, which fell to three as the race went on. The Nelson rider showed his finishing power over the final 500m, sprinting clear to win in 4:23.20. Tasman Glass rider Jonathan Kalma was runner-up and Thomas Hodgson third, both clocking the same time as Nicholson.

Richard Anderson was Marlborough's best in the pro section, 11th in 4:28.18, while Chris Heywood crossed the line one second back in 14th.

- The Marlborough Express

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