Chris Nicholson, front right, leads, from left, Dean Fulton, Luc Cowley and Finn Black in the final A grade race of the Ray White Winter road racing series around the Hope circuit on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Simon Bloomberg.

Cyclists prepare for elite race

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Tasman Wheelers top road cyclists had a testing hit out before the third round of the Calder Stewart Elite series in Nelson this weekend when they raced in the final round of the Ray White Richmond Winter series around the Hope circuit on Saturday.

And veteran Chris Nicholson showed he still has the legs to compete against the South Island’s elite riders in the Calder Stewart when he secured the winter series with a nine-race total of 95 points.

Chris was super-consistent, winning one race and finishing in the top three in another seven to edge out his Fresh Choice Richmond Pomeroys Tasman Wheelers Calder Stewart team-mate Mikey McCallum (87 points) and Chris Heywood (69 points) – Finn Black won Saturday’s race which finished with a climb up the Aniseed Hill.

Josh Ryan won the B grade series with 80 points, William Stein won C grade with 71 points while Geoff Gudsell won D grade on 99 points.

Karen Fulton won the women’s winter series, winning four races for a total of 103 points to hold off Susie Wood on 80 points and Tania Radman on 71.

Karen’s daughter Shaane was fifth on 49 points from just six races. Karen will be riding for the Fresh Choice Richmond Pomeroys Tasman Wheelers women’s team in the Calder Stewart series on Saturday.

The 124km Calder Stewart men’s race starts at Upper Moutere School at 10am on Saturday, while the masters start at 10.35am and the women at 10.40am.