Odlin wins Oceania road cycling title/completes championship

Odlin wins Oceania road cycling title to complete successful championships

18 March 2012

Paul Odlin from SUBWAY® Pro Cycling won the Oceania elite road racing title to complete to very successful championships.

His win follows the time trial victory by his SUBWAY® Pro Cycling teammate Sam Horgan on Friday, where Odlin finished runner-up. A strong Australian contingent dominated the championships, winning 22 of the 30 medals, with Horgan and Odlin providing the New Zealand highlights.

The Christchurch based rider was part of an early break and then made his winning move on the steepest climb of the course on the last of six gruelling laps of a 25 kilometre circuit in the Wakatipu Basin.

Australian Nick Aitken (Jayco AIS) managed to stay with Odlin and the pair rode clear of the four-man break that had split the field.

Odlin was very keen to see off the challenge of the young Australian in the final sprint for line honours, and did so with ease winning in three hours and fifty four minutes with Aitken finishing second to take out the Oceania under-23 title.

Odlin, who won the national time trial in January, said the win was without doubt his best for a while and that it’s been some time since he’s come across the line feeling so euphoric and rapt.

“After getting away early things started to just pan out and once it was down to four guys in the final lap I took my chance to attack riding hard up the steepest climb of the course and only one guy stayed with me,” Odlin said.

“I recovered well after Friday’s time trial and had a very supportive environment that allowed me to totally focus on the racing.”

“After all the commitment and sacrifices my wife and family makes its very satisfying to get results like this.”

Hayden Godfrey, SUBWAY® Pro Cycling’s General Manager said he was “stoked” for Paul. “It shows what a true competitor and champion he is. Second in the time trial and winning the road race is just an outstanding couple of days for Paul and SUBWAY® Pro Cycling.”

“The team followed the plan and executed it well. Sam rode a great race too, and put pressure on the chasing bunch and was in the hunt for a podium spot right until the end.”

Horgan finished fourth and Nick Lovegrove rolled across the finish line in what was left of the main bunch.

Results:
• Under-19 men 102km: Bradley Linfield (Australia) 1; Hamish Schreurs (NZL, Christchurch) same time, 2; Tom Vessey (NZL, Alexandra) same time, 3.
• Under-23, 153km: Nick Aitken (AUS, Jayco-AIS) 3:54.05, 1; Michael Freiberg (AUS, Jayco-AIS) at 4m43s, 2; Jason Christie (NZL, Ashburton) at 8:56, 3.
• Elite men, 153km: Paul Odlin (NZL, Subway Pro Cycling) 3:54.05, 1; Mark O’Brien (AUS, Team Budget Forklifts) at 1:08, 2; Sean Finning (AUS, Victorian Institute) at 2:32, 3; Sam Horgan (NZL, Subway Pro Cycling) at 4:43, 4; Joseph Chapman (NZL, L&M Group Racing) at 8:59, 5.

SUBWAY® Pro Cycling Team was New Zealand’s first professional cycling team, established seven years ago.
It has been registered as a UCI Continental team since early 2009 with a successful track record of racing in New Zealand, Asia and the United States.
www.subwaycycling.co.nz

ENDS

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