NICHOLAS Kidman’s strong season continued when he claimed victory in the fourth race of the Mount Gambier Cycling Club Autumn/Winter Series.
Strong northerly winds greeted the riders for the 40km Handicap Caves Road race.
The riders maintained high speeds on the outward leg but battled directly into the strong wind on the way back when they faced gusts of up to 50km/h.
The first rider to start was Jason Buckland in his first attempt at the longer distance races.
He was given a 15 minute advantage before Mike Bakker, Don Sforcina and Elmer Buckland departed.
Spek Peake, Harry Opperman, Patrick Langsmith and Dean Zeven then started their race four minutes later.
Two minutes later, Craig Andrae and Gerard Coote started their race with a further wait of two minutes before Malcolm Tirabassi and Matthew Opperman began their chase.
Three minutes later Nicholas Kidman and Niel van Niekerk departed.
The final pair began their race 27 minutes after Jason Buckland.
A flat tyre ended Andrae’s race after 12km and a dropped chain caused Sforcina to drop out of his group.
After leading the race for almost 30km, Jason Buckland was passed by Zeven, Harry Opperman, Langsmith and Elmer Buckland.
Kidman caught the leading group not long after as Elmer Buckland and Harry Opperman looked to catch his draft.
Kidman pulled clear of the rest of the group to finish first and claim the fastest time again.
Matthew Opperman claimed second ahead of Harry Opperman.
Elmer Buckland rounded out the top four as held off Zeven in a sprint to the finish.
