MITCH Carrington sprinted to victory in yesterday’s Gunnedah to Tamworth Road Race.
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It was the first time the local rider, who rides for Paradice Investment, has won the individual event from five attempts and is a perfect farewell as he flies out for the Tour of Tahiti today.
Carrington came down the inside of the group of 10 to pip Daniel Alcock in a quick time of 2hrs 38mins.
Nathan Bradshaw, Peter Milostic, and Kieran Lewis rounded up the top five.
Carrington said it felt great to win a home race.
“It was a pretty controlled race until we got to Werris Creek,” Carrington said.
“Two blokes got away and the Celebrations and Subaru Albion teams held us all together.”
At Carrububula Carrington joined a small group who started to make a move on the front two riders.
“I noticed Peter Milostic and a few other strong riders and decided to go with them,” Carrington said.
The group of eight caught the two at the front and rode as a pack to the Burgmanns Lane finish where Carrington won the sprint.
The win is a great confidence boost for the rider as he prepares to fly out to Tahiti on Tuesday for a seven day tour race.
Fellow Paradise rider Harrison Munday from Armidale is also Tahiti bound and finished in the front on Sunday.
Baulkam Hills rider Brian Appleyard took out B Grade from Hans Schmidt-Harms and Paul Verkuylem.
The first female over the line was Melanie Roach in D Grade with a time of 2hrs 52mins.
Organiser Alan Spokes said the day was a huge success with around 230 riders participating.
The Tamworth Club will now start preparing for the Junior Two Day Tour in July.
o Meanwhile, Colombia’s Esteban Chaves staged a late attack to win atop the summit finish in Verbier in Saturday’s eighth stage of the Tour of Switzerland, while Germany’s Tony Martin increased his overall lead going into Sunday’s concluding stage.
Orica-GreenEdge rider Chaves finished three seconds ahead of Czech Roman Kreuziger and Dutchman Bauke Mollema in the Valais ski resort, with the chasing group that included Martin crossing 17 seconds behind.
It was a second win this season for Chaves, 24, who also won a stage at last month’s Tour of California.