Cycling: Nick Lovegrove holds on for win

Northland cyclist Nick Lovegrove had one of his biggest wins of his racing career, and his first for the season, when he won the Forrest Grape Ride Race in Blenheim on Saturday.

The Subway Pro Cycling team member, based in Auckland, was part of the winning five-man break that snuck away with 25km to go in the 101km road race.

"Me, and my teammates Sam Horgan, who was third, and Tayla Harrison [fourth] made the move with Christchurch-based riders Robin Reid [second] and Will Bowman in fifth," Lovegrove said.

"We worked really hard to establish a gap then it was just a matter of using our numbers to get the win. I attacked with just over one kilometre to go and Reid came too," he said.

Lovegrove took the lead just before the final turn of the gruelling ride and held on to the finish line.

The 101km race, South Island's biggest, attracted 2500 cyclists. The circuit covered some stunning scenery, starting at Forrest Estate Winery stone in Renwick. Cyclists headed for Blenheim before going north and gently climbing into Picton with an exhilarating descent into the centre of the town. Climbing out of Picton, the route followed the picturesque Queen Charlotte Drive around the head of Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, past Ngakuta and Momorangi Bays to The Grove.

Once riders hit Havelock, they then crossed rolling terrain back to Renwick.

"A big group came together after the climbs due to lots of crashes slowing the front groups down. We then had to make sure the right group got away and it worked perfectly with Subway taking first, third, fourth and sixth."

Lovegrove was delighted to win after a number of near misses recently.

He said he would not have been in position to win without Horgan and Harrison drilling it in the break and other teammates covering moves at the start.