The Tauranga cyclist Courtney Lowe has won the women's road race title at the National Championships in Christchurch.
In her first race since leg surgery in August last year, 20-year-old Lowe out-sprinted a select group of proven professionals to claim victory from Auckland teenager Georgia Williams and Canterbury's Jo Kiesanowski.
The 26-strong field had been whittled down to just eight for the final lap of the 121km course including six climbs up the demanding Dyers Pass Road.
The men race tomorrow over 184kms.
