Cycling: Race wins for dead colleague

TE AWAMUTU - Waikato cyclist Sally Fraser outsprinted a strong bunch to win her second title in two days at the national road cycling championships yesterday.

Riding in the veteran women's race Fraser, a former national champion, dedicated her victories to triathlon champion Mark Furlan who died at Tauranga last week after a road accident while he was cycling.

"Mark was my best friend and I was riding for him," she said.

Fraser won the 20km race on Monday and led the four-rider break from the field on the first lap of the circuit, constantly forcing the pace to stay clear in yesterday's 55km race.

Another Waikato rider, former marathon champion Marguerite Ritchie, punctured early while in the leading break. She chased desperately and although still 50s down two laps from the finish, caught the leaders at the start of the final lap but had nothing left for the sprint and finished fourth behind Mary Bamford and Anne Kerr, of Canterbury.

- NZPA