Vink wins Akaroa Le Race in record time

Michael Vink stormed home to win the 100km Christchurch to Akaroa Le Race cycle race in record time on Saturday.

Christchurch's Vink, 18, beat a high quality field that included his Subway Avanti team-mates Gordon McCauley, Joe Cooper, Sam Hogan and Hayden Godfrey.

"It's really, really good, not only to win today but it's even better to be the fastest overall, ever," Vink said of his record time of two hours and 37 minutes, beating the previous record of 2 hours and 39 minutes held by Jeremy Yates.

"It's always tough, it's one of the hilliest races in New Zealand. It was deceptively hard, especially the last 30km where no-one can sight on.

"This is a really good win for my team and bodes well for my trip overseas."

Five-time national champion McCauley showed good climbing legs to be in the front four over the first climbs in the Port Hills above Christchurch and then managed to get away with Mark Tindle on the Summit Road approaching Gebbies Pass.

The Benchmark Homes team came to the front of the chasing bunch, but failed to close the gap on the leading two riders before the start of Hilltop climb.

McCauley dropped Tindle on the tough 6km climb and held off the chasing Vink until the final 20km, picking up the King of the Mountain competition.

Paul Odlin managed to outsprint McCauley in a tight finish for second and third, finishing 1min and 50sec one seconds behind Vink.

Retired professional Jo Buick from Christchurch upstaged pre-race women's favourite, Australian professional Carla Ryan from the Cervelo Lifeforce team, winning in a record female time of 2hr and 58min.

"I loved it, and winning is such a nice surprise," she said. "It was great conditions, just perfect."

Buick, who trains less than half the amount she did as a professional four years ago, started slowly, losing ground on Ryan up the first climb but after settling in and finding her rhythm she improved and led Ryan by just over one minute at the top of the Hilltop climb and crossed the line 2min and 43sec ahead.

RESULTS

Men: Michael Vink 2:37:49 1, Paul Odlin 2:39:40 2, Gordon McCauley 2:39:40 3, Joe Cooper 2:39:41 4, Samuel Horgan 2:39:59 5, Brad McFarlane 2:40:01 6, James Early 2:40:39 7, Brett Dawber 2:41:57 8, Neil Sutherland 2:42:46 9, Nathan Smith 2:43:28 10. King of the Mountain; McCauley.

Women: Jo Buick 2:58:51 1, Carla Ryan 3:01:34 2, Amanda Minty 3:09:22 3, Rebecca Rae 3:11:09 4, Carolyn Jenkins 3:14:14 5, Nimesia Smith 3:16:43 6, Laura Thompson 3:20:32 7, Aimee Burns 3:22:26 8, Kylie Rochford 3:23:57 9, Corrinne Smit 3:26:12 10. Queen of the Mountain: Jo Buick

- © Fairfax NZ News