Tasman Wheelers Team

The Tasman Wheelers team came into round three of the Benchmark home series with big ambitions after two previous strong results. With the addition of George Bennett, a previous winner of the same stage, to the team for this round the team now had a clear race plan. Now the team had a leader our prospects became greatly improved given Georges recent good form off the back of professional international racing with team Radio Shack.

Daniel Ellison was the designated sprinter should the team fail to get George off the front of the bunch. In support roles Kieran Hambrook, Sean Hambrook, Chris Nicholson and Dean Fulton looked to control the race as much as possible. Chris brought yet more experience to the Wheelers team and seemed to anticipate how the race would pan out early on.

The game plan came undone when a strong break of 13 riders rolled off the front at the 10km mark despite the efforts of the team to insert riders to the previous skirmishes of the front of the peloton. Being unlucky to not have riders in the break Nicholson was quick to commit riders to the chase for Bennett. With so many of the strongest teams represented in the break away bunch Dean, Chris, Sean and Kieran had a big ask to close the gap. Miserable conditions made the effort even harder.

Over time the gap to the break away blew out to four minutes as the chase disintegrated in strong cross winds. Frustration in the peloton spilled over with numerous attacks to try and create a committed chase group for the remaining places. With Bennett being closely marked the opportunity went to Sean to go unchecked off the front, soon joined by Kieran and Chris Nicholson with five others.

The Tasman Wheelers race soon started to improve with the break away splintering from the pressure applied by the chase. A renewed chase started in earnest as the peloton eventually split again from the efforts of Bennett. Chris gave a huge effort to the front chase before dropping off. Unfortunately Kieran’s chain broke just 20km from the finish while still in the first chase bunch with his brother Sean. Events changed rapidly as the chase brought back rider after rider from the break. Riders from the chase dropped off as well from the all out effort. Sean was left in a group of only three from the original selection, with dropped breakaway riders making up the remainder.

In the dash for the line the front of the breakaway survived to fill the top places but Sean showed a strong sprint to claim 8th. George came in a frustrating 22nd after hammering the remaining peloton in the last few K’s. Daniel won the bunch sprint to take 28th.

Chris Nicholson, George Bennett, Dean Fulton, Kieran Hambrook, Sean Hambrook, Daniel Ellison, Jeannie Kuhajek

It has been confirmed that there will be four races in the series this year, these are as follows:

· Round 4 - Saturday 19 November 2011 – Oxford
· Round 3 - Saturday 8 October 2011 – 11am Cust
· Round 2 - Sunday 11 September 2011 – Timaru
· Round 1 – Saturday 13 August 2011 – Moutere Circuit, Tasman
Team selection will be made on form shown over the Winter Series or in any other races leading up to the Benchmark races.

The 2010 Tasman Wheelers Team were presented in their new Tineli kit; Chris Nicholson, Robin Reid, David Ayre, Dean Fulton, Caleb Hill, Felix Laufkotter, Thomas Hodgson, Karen Fulton, Jeannie Kuhajek, Thomas Ashley, Joel MacMillan, Manager Garry Overend

2010 Tasman Wheelers Cycling Team, supported by the Canterbury Community Trust. NZ Community Trust, NBS Bank, Copy Press, Avanti Plus Nelson, Visique Eyecare, Tineli, Crimson Consulting, Powerade, The Stables. Waimea Estates.

Following the afters and presentations for the Tasman Wheelers 100 selection race 10.4.10, the Tasman Wheelers Team was announced for Benchmark 2 at Hokitika 18.4.10: Jeannie Kuhajek, Karen Fulton, Caleb Hill, Robin Reid, Thomas Hodgson, Chris Nicholson, David Ayre, Dean Fulton, Thomas Ashley. Reserves, Felix Laufkotter, Joel MacMillan.

Team for Benchmark 1, Woollastons Tasman Classic, 28.3.10: Chris Nicholson, Robin Reid, Felix Laufkotter, David Ayre, Caleb Hill, Thomas Hodgson, Joel MacMillan, Jeannie Kuhajek, Karen Fulton. Reserves: Thomas Ashley, Dean Fulton.

Felix Laufkotter Sen RR. David Ayre Sen TT RR, Caleb Hill Sen RR, Jonathan Kalma Sen RR, Michael Naylor Sen RR, George Bennett U23 RR, Bronwen Frazer SenW TT RR, Karen Fulton SenW RR, Jeannie Kuhajek SenW RR, Lana King SenW TT RR, Cushla McKay TT RR. Manager Dean Fulton

The Tasman team lineup was announced at a gala function held at The Coffee Factory, Whakatu Estate, Richmond on Monday evening 22 December.

The 2009 team: Robin Reid, Chris Nicholson, Karen Fulton, Dean Fulton, George Bennett, Britta Martin, Jeannie Kuhajek, David Ayre, Felix Laufkotter, Dawn Chalmers, Lana King, Caleb Hill, Kieran Hambrook, Mike Anderson, Nick Batt, Brian Grant, Manager, Malcolm Saunders, Director.

Supporting sponsors: Canterbury Community Trust, NZ Community Trust, NBS Bank, Forsyth Barr, Houston Motors, Avanti Plus Nelson, Specialized, Peak Fuel, Giro, Uvex, Tineli, The Copy Press, Crimson Consulting, Nelson TV and Video, Woollaston Estates, Rapaura Springs Vineyard, Glovers Vineyard.