Cycling: Shanks blitzes rivals

Dunedin rider Alison Shanks and Timaru's Marc Ryan were the big winners at the national road cycling championships in Palmerston yesterday.

Shanks, 23, blitzed her rivals in the women's 25km time trial, winning by more than three minutes from Timaru's Josie Giddens (42m 49s), with Yvette Hill-Wills, of Counties-Manukau, third in 43m 12s.

In the men's 40km time trial, Ryan nudged out defending champion Robin Reid, of Marlborough, by 11s.

Ryan struggled out to the 20km turning mark before racing home in a time of 59m 36s and reaching speeds of up to 70km/h.

Ashburton's Hayden Godfrey was third in 61m 15s.