Bond, Williams win time trials

Multi-Olympic and world rowing champion Hamish Bond bagged his first national title in cycling on the first day of the New Zealand Elite Championships in Napier yesterday.

Bond, who won 22 national titles in rowing, dominated to win the elite men’s time trial, while Auckland’s Georgia Williams won the women’s honours, to claim the first victory for her Mitchelson-Scott World Tour team for 2018.

Bond, who turned to cycling after the Rio Olympics, showed his development in the sport, and time trialling in particular, with a resounding performance to win in 50:48.90, with a sizeable 1:30 buffer to runner-up Michael Vink (Canterbury).

Williams also proved strongest to win the women’s honours in 29.02.89, to be 14 seconds clear of defending champion Rushlee Buchanan.

The winning times were the fastest in the three years the

championships have been run on a course based around Church Road Winery, and made doubly challenging with fierce winds from the storm that hit the country.

‘‘I am really pleased with the result. It was tough out there. Conditions were definitely faster last year,’’ said Bond.

‘‘I am still quite a margin behind the top people in the world. I have to get faster, get more power, be more aerodynamic and keep thinking about my equipment. That is what I want and need to continue to do if I am to realise my dream of competing in this sport at the Commonwealth Games, the world championships and ultimately the Olympics.’’

Williams showed the benefit of her first year on the World Tour stage with a powerful performance to win her first national road title.

She was 20 seconds clear at the halfway mark but paid the price for a fast start as Buchanan, a proven performer for her United Healthcare professional team and a key part of the women’s track endurance squad, pushed hard into the wind.

However Williams held on to finish ahead of Buchanan and Auckland rider Bronwyn MacGregor, who gained her first elite podium.