Bond wins Oceania cycling champs title

Two-time Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond has taken another huge step towards potential success at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games by winning the elite men’s time trial on day one of the Oceania Road Cycling Championships in Tasmania on Friday.

Bond, who won gold medals in the coxless pair with Eric Murray at the last two Olympics in Rio and London, is excelling since switching boat for bike 18 months ago and he was named as part of New Zealand’s cycling team to compete on the Gold Coast next month.

The 32-year-old from Dunedin laid down a marker to rivals ahead of the Commonwealth Games, which take place from April 4-15, by winning the 41km test ride in 51min and 3.44sec in Evansdale near Launceston.

Bond was 32 seconds faster than second place, Australia’s Sean Lake, who was the defending champion.

"This was a stepping stone to the Commonwealth Games.

‘‘It is always good to get the win against some quality competition on what looked a benign course but it proved quite challenging,’’ Bond said.

‘‘With those rollers over the back of the course, I used up a bit too much energy early and I needed a bit more power in the legs against the headwind coming home.’’

After his triumph in Rio, Bond switched to cycling and, he won the elite men’s time trial at the national road cycling championships in Napier in January.

Meanwhile, Christchurch’s Jake Marryatt and Central Otago’s Mikayla Harvey won the respective men’s and women’s under-23 Oceania titles in Tasmania. two-time