Eddy Kuipers took line honours when the Masterton Cycling Club held a graded road race on the Miller's Road circuit on Tuesday night.
A brisk southeasterly wind on top of a day of showers meant temperatures on the start line at the Gladstone Church intersection were a mere 8C but a good-sized field of 43 riders were prepared to brave the conditions for what was the first graded road race of the season.
Kuiper's time of 47 minutes 17 seconds placed him just 1 second ahead of Jack Sowry, Bill Van Woerkom and Andrew Linton and close up were Mike Wilkinson, Dave Drummond and Ben Knight.
In the women's section it was Lesley Mouat who took the honours from Donna Burkhart and Julie Millar while junior division winners were Matt Gillan and Emily Luytons.
The hard luck story went to Douglas Maclachlan who was competing well with the fastest riders in C grade when a gradually softening rear tyre took its toll and he had the ignominy of being passed by slower riders from further back in the field. He finished on the rim but at least made it to the end.
