Former pro cyclist David Whyman stole the show at the Fred Ogle Ride, pipping Whangarei's Lee Johnstone by two hundredths of a second in a nail-biting sprint finish.
The event was hotly contested and after riding just under 110km, pack leaders Kerikeri's's Whyman, Whangarei's Johnstone, Auckland rider Sam Horn, Matt Robinson
and defending champion and favourite Ben Evans all had winning hopes at Maungakahia Sports Complex.
However, disaster struck for Evans when his chain came off with 200m left to ride.
"He went to put the power on and his chain came right off he thought he could have taken it out as well," race organiser Paul Fancy said.
Despite the chaos happening around him, Evans managed to put his chain back on and finish fifth, but the day belonged to Whyman.
He has recently returned to New Zealand after cycling professionally in the United Kingdom.
Whyman won in a time of 2 hours 57 minutes and 31 seconds a creditable effort given the conditions.
"There was a nice tail wind on the way out to Hukerenui but a head wind on the return leg of the ride so that made it tough.
"But the rain held off," Fancy said.
Auckland cyclist Sam Horn was one second back in third place, ahead of Matt Robinson and Evans who were four minutes in front of the main bunch.
The first woman over the line and the winner of the e Lynley McDonald Trophy was, as expected, Chubby Hale,
But it was a narrow victory, with Hale fending off triathlete Sam Warriner to win by one second.
Defending champion Kim Reyburn was third, three seconds behind the leader.
Over the shorter 50km ride, Brian Bedford was first home in a time of 1:39:29 ahead of Matthew Markby and Sam Frizelle, while in the 25km distance, Johnstone's 13-year-old son won the event by nine minutes, in front of Claire Furlong and Timothy Dalton.
The Fred Ogle Ride is an annual event which started last year after Ogle was killed in a hit and run incident while cycling.
