Auckland cyclist Mike Northey made up for the disappointment of last year's second place with victory in the National Criterium Championships in downtown Takapuna, in Auckland.
Northey sat tight in the bunch before making his move in the final few laps on Friday night to cross the line comfortably clear of Southland's Tom Scully and Canterbury's Daniel Barry.
The 26 year old Northey was pipped on the line in a sprint last year with Hayden McCormick, who is competing in the UCI Tier One track event in Invercargill.
International racing experience also proved beneficial for Auckland's Emily Collins, who took out the elite women's race decided over 30 minutes of racing plus one lap on the tight 1.1-kilometre circuit.
Collins took the sprint in a frantic dash to the line to pip Alexandra teenager Sophie Williamson in her debut in the elite ranks, while veteran Nelson rider Karen Fulton was third.
