The Commonwealth Games-bound road cyclist Gordon McCauley has won the Auckland 1000 at Karaka, the latest round in the national series.
McCauley proved too strong for his final breakaway companions on the 104 kilometre event, out sprinting Christchurch's Paul Odlin to increase his lead in the series.
In tough conditions, Melissa Holt, who, like McCauley will be riding the individual road time trial at Delhi, was responsible for the steady disintegration of the women's 78 kilometre race.
By the start of the third and last lap, Holt only had Tauranga's Courtney Lowe and Jeannie Kuhajek from Nelson for company.
Kuhajek dropped off the pace and finished third, while Holt led out a long sprint, with Lowe biding her time until the final 75 metres when she had enough energy left to edge the C ambridge rider for a narrow win.
McCauley's win extends his lead in the national points series over Matt Gorter and Josh Atkins, while Kuhajek's third place lifts her to fourth in the standings behind Karen Fulton, Cath Cheatley and Serena Sheridan.
