"No one really gave me any fight as such this year. It is a bit of a shame," Earnshaw said, reflecting on how Jim McMurray, of Te Awamutu, used to push him in previous years but last Saturday chose to do one round of the lake with the professionals.
Earnshaw is "newish" to elite road racing but used the endurance event for the first time to build up for the 24-hour Mountain-biking Solo World Championship (Wembo) to be staged in Rotorua in February.
"You're doing 1450km a lap so you go a lot slower on the road with all the climbs and trails, so it's all about pacing yourself."
Girlfriend Kerwin said one had to be "a bit crazy" to do endurance and he agreed.
"You have to enjoy the pain to make gains," said Earnshaw who clocked 9h 29m, averaging 33.2 km/h.
The bloke, who won the 12-hour mountainbiking event, Torpedo 7 day/Night Thriller, at Tokoroa in August, said fitness and skills were a given in endurance races but it was really a test of mental fortitude.
Kerwin clinched the elite sprint prime title in the 100km out-and-back race from Taupo to Turangi in a field of 40.
About 50km into the race, she made her move at Hatepe, attacking a couple of corners before the 1km approach to the sprint mark.
"I did the same thing last year and won that, too," she said with a laugh.
Kerwin, who moved from Wanganui to the Bay five years ago for lifestyle and work, was a bit surprised no one followed after the "attack from the gun".
The race ended in a bunch sprint with Kerwin finishing 24th overall but 14th in the female 19-34 division with a time of 2h 46m 47s.
Racquel Sheath, of Cambride, took the overall line honours in 2:46:43 ahead of Mikayla Harvey, of Wanaka, and Helen Baillie-Strong, of Auckland, all on the same time.
Waipukurau rider Amanda Jamieson was fifth overall, also in 2:46:43, and the best of the Bay riders. She was second in the U19 female division behind Harvey.
Fellow Rambler Hannah van Kampen, of Hastings, was sixth overall with the same time but fourth in the 19-34 division.
"I led out Hannah so she could have a sprint finish. We had talked about it during the race," said Kerwin of the pair who have been club mates throughout the year.
Phoebe Treseder, of Waipukurau, was 16th overall and ninth in the 19-34 division.
Kerwin hopes to nail a sprint queen treble next year but also try to be over the finish line first overall.
But what can we make of the Bay couple who fuel each other's riding ambitions even though they flat 500m apart in Napier but have Josh Page as their coach?
"We know what motivates each other because cycling takes up so much time," she said, revealing it ate about 12 to 15 hours a week after work.
Kerwin was using the Taupo challenge as a build up to the elite nationals to be staged in Napier next month.
Do they have differences?
"We haven't had too many fights," a jovial Kerwin said.
Earnshaw said their rapport offered a mutually beneficial existence regardless of whether they excelled or not.
"If she's not feeling her best I try to motivate her and when I'm not she does the same.
"We have a few differences but we're good personalities so don't clash as such."
He thanked Cycle Nation for his sponsorship and Vello Ronies, of Wanganui, for her backing.
"Josh Page is a longtime friend and a silent person who helps me."
For the record, Kerwin received $100, a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine.
Earnshaw got nothing compared although the elite winner pocketed $5000.
"Even a free entry to next year's event would have been nice but you do a crazy thing and get nothing so it's a little unfair," he said although the statisfaction of victory was a great emotional ride in itself.
