Sam Hill has once again conquered the Bathurst Cycling Classic men's road race, winning it for the third consecutive year on Sunday morning.
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Having already won the hillclimb men's division one title on Friday, the Tamworth Cycle Club member won his second event at the classic, after winning Sunday's race ahead of Bathurst hopeful Tom Bolton and brother Ben Hill in second and third respectively.
Hill said this year's win in the road race ranks as his best one yet.
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"I just didn't think I'd win. I thought I was wasting energy out front all day but I really wanted to win three in a row," he said.
"Ever since last year that's been my goal. I felt disappointed during the race because I thought I blew it, that I had spent too much energy. It just feels surreal. I honestly can't believe it."
Hill had broken away from the bunch with Will Hodges and Ben Spenceley within the first 30 kilometres of the race.
"I just rode tempo, at my own pace. I let it sort out behind me," he said.
"I think Will and Ben Spenceley just bridged across, which was a big relief. I wouldn't have won it without them because on the flat you need people rolling. Ben was particularly strong. He gave everything and so did Will. It was just enough. I can't believe it."
Hill got to the top of Rockley Mount first to win his third consecutive King of the Mount minor title.
After the climb, the sprinters moved up the field and Hill was being chased by his brother and Bolton on the ride to the finish line.
"I had no doubts that someone would've caught me," he said.
"I was just hovering off the front of the bunch for the whole race and that didn't change until the very end. I honestly didn't think I'd win, but I stayed out there as long as I could, because I knew Ben [Hill] would be sitting out there in the wheels.
"Up that last hill coming just into the finish, I just went bottom to top as fast as I could and it was just enough. I got to the top and that's when I thought maybe. I put my head down and went as fast as I could down to the finish and I looked over my shoulder and it was touch and go.
"I just held on. It's the best win I've ever had."
Fellow TCC member Luke Deasey crossed in 25th, 37 seconds behind Hill, while Armidale's Michael Harris finished 37th.
Pip Ash meanwhile was 15th in the women's Division 1 race and Luke O'Connor 7th in the Division 3 men's.
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