16 Feb 2020

Archbold and Fisher-Black win road race titles

5:05 pm on 16 February 2020

The Timaru cyclist Shane Archbold has won the men's road race title at the National Championships in Cambridge, while Nelson teenager Niamh Fisher-Black won the women's race.

A patched up Shane Archbold after a crash during the 2016 Tour de France.

A patched up Shane Archbold after a crash during the 2016 Tour de France. Photo: Photosport

Archbold managed to haul fellow European-based pro George bennett in with two kilometres to go before taking crossing thee line first.

Bennett, who is known as a climber rather than a sprinter, had gone solo with almost half of the 174km race remaining.

It was a significant result for Archbold who suffered a broken pelvis in a crash on the 2016 Tour de France.

It was also a tough weekend for Bennett who finished second to hamish Bond in Friday's time trial.

Meanwhile 19-year-old Fisher-Black broke clear in the final 100 metres to win the 108 kilometre women's race ahead of Ella Harris and time trial champion Teresa Adam, who was the leading elite rider.

Waikato-Bay of Plenty rider Kate McCarthy led by as much as four minutes before being caught inside the closing kilometres.