Hubbard dedicates Benchmark win to grandfather

SUBWAYR Pro Cycling's Hubbard dedicates Benchmark win to grandfather

11 September 2011

SUBWAYR Pro Cycling's Tom Hubbard made it two from two with a win in the second round of the Benchmark Homes Tour in Timaru today, and dedicated the result to his grandfather who recently passed away.

SUBWAYR Pro Cycling's Sam Horgan won the opening race in Nelson and the SUBWAYR Pro Cycling team was focused on keeping the tour series leader's jersey and its lead in the team's classification.

Racing was on a tough circuit riders completed three times after a shorter opening circuit with the number of climbs gradually taking its toll on the field.

After several failed breakaway attempts the winning move was made as the final lap of the 120 kilometre race got underway. It contained SUBWAYR Pro Cycling team mates Paul Odlin and Hubbard, James Early from the Benchmark Homes Cycling Team and L & M Group Racing's Brendon Sharratt.

The group worked hard at holding off the chasing bunch that had been whittled down to 30 riders until Hubbard attacked on the final climb to win in two hours, 41 minutes and 44 seconds. Early beat Sharratt to the line to take second, nine seconds after Hubbard.

"The team did a super job at the front all day today, and I honoured my race plan" Hubbard said.

"It was helpful to have two Subway (Pro Cycling Team) riders in the winning move, and I was worried the bunch was catching us at the end but it was a great result for me and the team today. My grandfather was a huge supporter of my racing and he passed away a couple of weeks ago; today's win was also for him."

Hubbard also claimed the lead in the Benchmark Tour Under 23 riders classification. Horgan came in fifth with the rest of the SUBWAYR Pro Cycling team all comfortably in the leading bunch, job done.

"It was a great result all round," SUBWAYR Pro Cycling team General Manager Hayden Godfrey said.

"We stuck to the plan and kept the leaders jersey in the team and also increased our lead in the teams competition."

Round three of the Benchmark Homes Series is on October 8th.

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