Kuysten wins battle for line

A last-minute road trip with friends resulted in a win for Josh Kuysten at the 2015 round-the-mountain cycle challenge.

The 24-year-old Tokoroa cyclist entered the Taranaki event at the last minute, contesting the men’s 20-24 age group.

‘‘I’ve just been a weekend warrior really. Working 40-plus hours a week makes it hard to fit in much travelling away.’’

The builder by trade considered the sport a ‘‘hobby’’ and only entered because his friends did.

He outgunned a wily legend among cycling ranks in a two-way sprint finish against five-time national road champion Gordon McCauley at the line.

‘‘It was unexpected and overwhelming . . . you’ve just got to back yourself.’’

The Tokoroa Forestland Cycling Club member finished the 150km race in a record 3hrs37min40secs which carved three minutes off the previous best, set by Arron Sheldrake last year.

Kuysten took up cycling when he was 11 and worked his way through the junior ranks. He was mentored by the likes of Wheeler members Ian Brown and his own father Eddie. ‘‘It’s a really good club here in Tok.’’ He often returns to the district to visit family and ride with club members. Kuysten can rack up a total of 200km a week on the bike. However he was not up to the full-time work of an athlete when he hit his late teens.

‘‘It [cycling] was my life until I got a licence and women came into my life.’’

Despite the high of winning, he said he continued with the sport to keep fit and ride with friends. Kuysten’s next event will be the ASB Tour of Wellington where he will ride from Wellington to Auckland in a corporate team on February 15.

SURF Touch

Thursday February 5

Round 1, 6.00pm F1 Kaiviti v Just 4 fun (Bulalas); F2 Local as v Crazy horses (MIA); F3 Hydroz v 509 (Mezgals); F4 Banging v Venture (Whanau); F5 X-Factor v Forestland (Razzamatazz); F6 Lil karz v Beebops (Mooloos); F7 Unknowns v Chuchies (Who nos); F8 Pedersen v Rusties (Intense gamers); F9 Orb sports v Carters (Step n up); F10 Touch of class v ETNT (Spirit-D);

Round 2, 6.45pm F1 Motley crew v Bulalas (Kaiviti); F2 Soles v MIA (Local as); F3 Hit em up v Mezgals (Hydroz); F4 Da uddas v Whanau (Banging); F5 Sting v Razzamatazz (X-Factor); F6 Jedi v Mooloos (Lil karz); F7 Spirit-D v Who nos (Unknowns); F8 Step n up v Intense gamers (Pedersen); F9 Tok SDA v Exusia (Orb sports)

Putaruru Touch Draw

Thursday February 5 2015

Round 1 6.00pm Field 1 U Know Animals vs Arapuni Eels; Field 2 Warriors vs Da Business; Field 3 Winterhawks vs College;

Round 2 6.45pm Field 1 Barebackers vs doyoureallywannatouchit; ; Field 2 Twisted vs Kiwi Lumber; Field 3 St Pats vs All Sortz