Cycling: Fred Ogle Race's profile lifts nationally

Ben Johnson returned home to ride one of his best Fred Ogle races ever, finishing in second place ahead of some top class riders. Photo/Supplied.

It's only been run six times but the Fred Ogle cycle race is beginning to draw wider participation from elite and recreational riders and organisers are keen for that growth to continue.

Numbers for the race have been growing steadily over the past few years but the presence of several riders who had just completed the Tour of Southland has buoyed organisers this year.

Bike Northland's Stuart Bell said the 110km race, held on November 17, clearly had the potential to grow further.

"We increased the prize money this year but, for the semi-professional riders, $500 for first place probably didn't have much to do with their decision to come up and ride - it was probably more word of mouth about how good the ride is," Bell said.

Former Subway-Avanti team rider Nick Lovegrove has won the race for three years in a row, but missed out on a podium finish this year after puncturing.

Bell said Lovegrove's promotion of the ride among his peers was one of the main reasons that some of the country's elite riders turned up on the start line this year.

The event also has the potential to attract more recreational riders, with its proximity on the calendar to next month's Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, a factor that makes it well placed for growth.

"We're looking to raise the race's profile in the years to come and, apart from the four-day Tour of Northland, it's now our biggest ride," Bell said.

The ride remains well supported by Northland riders because of its history and the legacy of Fred Ogle and cycling safety.

Ogle was a road safety campaigner who was killed by a car while riding near Maungatapere in 2008, while the women's race is named after Lynley MacDonald, who died in a similar manner just a matter of weeks later.

Overall with some faster riders entering this year and with perfect conditions, the racing was far more intense and many riders recorded personal best times for the distance.

"The amazing thing was that given the quality of the field, a couple of ex-juniors from Northland did really well," Bell said.

Auckland elite rider Morgan Smith was the first across the line in a time of 2 hours 49 minutes, 59 seconds. Great rides by ex-Whangarei juniors Ben Johnstone, now based in Christchurch, and Matt Markby, now studying in Auckland, earned them second and third places, 28 seconds later.

Another Northland rider, David Whyman from Kerikeri, just missed the podium, finishing fourth.

Lovegrove got a puncture early in the race but, even after a quick repair, he wasn't able to make up enough time to catch the leaders, given the aggressive tactics they employed during the race. Whangarei's Sam Warriner won the Lynley MacDonald women's race in a time of 2.55:47, with runner-up Kim Reyburn - riding with a foot injury - finishing almost eight minutes later.