Bailey bags second win on his favourite course
Doug Sail
Bailey O’Donnell won Timaru’s Boxing Day cycling criterium for the second time on Saturday.
The 20-year-old, a former age-group rider for Mid-South Canterbury who now lives in Christchurch, produced a dominant performance to edge out another former Mid-South Canterbury age group star, Mitchel Fitzsimons, and last year’s winner Ollie Jones, who has finished in the top three every year since 2014.
‘‘That was pretty hard but good hard racing,’’ the current New Zealand under-23 road championship said, adding that he only just recommenced training after three weeks off following the Tour of Southland.
The top three, later joined by Jake Marryatt, broke away about a third of the way into the 40 minute plus two laps race and eventually lapped the field.
‘‘I heard it was an extra $30 to take a lap and I did it a few years ago with Laurence [Pithie] and thought why not do it again.’’
Saturday’s victory was his second after winning it in 2017 and finishing second behind Pithie in 2018 and is just five years after he finished second in the under-17 A grade race.
O’Donnell loves the 1.3-kilometre course which encompassed Sophia, George, Perth, Church and Bank streets.
‘‘It’s probably my favourite track I’ve ever done. It is such a good course.’’
O’Donnell’s dad, Myles, completed a good night for the family by finishing second in the C grade race.
The 12-strong A grade race was easily the highlight of an evening that otherwise featured small fields. Results:
A grade: Bailey O’Donnell 1, Mitchell Fitzsimons 2, Ollie Jones 3.
B grade: Glenn Gould 1, Holly Edmondston 2.
C grade: Gary Stevenson 1, Myles O’Donnell 2, Brent Horton 3.
D grade: Jay Rae 1, Doug Mulholland 2, Scotty Mitchell 3.
Under-17: A grade, Cameron Anderson 1, Frankie Tomson 2, Thomas Audeau 3. B grade: Emily Toomey 1, Jesse Johnston 2, Conor Toomey 3. C grade: George Quested 1, Thomas Peters 2, Zac Brookland 3.