Young Christchurch rider Michael Vink, a three-time winner of the national under-23 honours, won his first elite men’s time trial title over 40kms while US-based professional James Oram from Auckland won the under-23 crown.

Riders faced tough windy conditions on the open out-and-back course in Lincoln, south of the city, to kick-start the road championships.

Some thought Vink (Breads of Europe-All About Plumbing) may have pushed too hard with the advantage of the wind when he turned in the men’s time trial in 21:09 with 20 seconds advantage over 2013 winner Joseph Cooper (Avanti Racing).

But Vink had gained an insight into the winds when he chose to cycle out to the course today, and he was solid, giving up just seven seconds of his advantage to Cooper to win in 48m24s.

Cooper was second in 49:37 with his Avanti Racing teammate Patrick Bevin, a favourite for Sunday’s road race, third in 49:56.

“I was fastest overall in a year I won the under-23 title so it is great to win the elite overall title, and to be honest, I am a little surprised given where I thought my form was at,” Vink said.

“While I train on this course a bit, today’s wind is not something I’ve experienced before. I decided to ride out here today and that gave me an insight into the wind and I rode accordingly.

“It’s a good start for the Breads of Europe-All About Plumbing team and let’s see if we can follow that up with a good team performance on Sunday.”

Aucklander Oram trailled Lotto-Soudal professional Hayden McCormick (Te Awamutu) but three seconds at the turn, but the Bissell Development pro, to be known as Axeon Racing this year, was the only under-23 rider under the 30 minute barrier on the return leg.

He won in 51m17s, which was 46 seconds ahead of his teammate Dylan Kennett (Waimate) with defending champion Fraser Gough (Avanti Racing, Hawkes Bay) third a further 12 seconds back.

Tomorrow is the women’s road race over 120.5kms comprising eight laps with six climbs of the infamous Dyers Pass.  The elite and under-23 men’s race on Sunday is 12 laps in total for 183.7kms, starting with the usual full lap on the flat before 10 circuits up the Dyers Pass climb and a final flat lap to the finish.

New Zealand - Individual Time Trial

1. Michael Vink (Champion Systems) 49:24
2. Joseph Cooper (Avanti Racing) 0:00:12
3. Patrick Bevin (Avanti Racing) 0:00:31
4. Jason Christie (Avanti Racing) 0:01:17
5. Westley Gough (Budget Forklifts) 0:02:17
6. Sam Horgan (Budget Forklifts) 0:02:25
7. Paul Odlin (Canterbury) 0:02:33
8. Taylor Gunman (Avanti Racing) 0:02:41
9. Andy Hagan (Wellington) 0:04:15
10. Daniel Barry (Budget Forklifts) 0:04:50

U23 riders

1 James Oram (Axeon Cycling) 51min 17sec
2 Dylan Kennett (Breads of Europe-All About Plumbing) 0:00:45
3 Fraser Gough (Avanti Racing) 0:00:58
4 Dion Smith (Hincapie Racing) 0:01:13
5 Nick Bain 0:01:33
6 Hayden McCormick (Breads of Europe-All About Plumbing) 0:01:40
7 Jake Marryatt 0:02:32
8 Joshua Haggerty (Champion Systems) 0:05:15
9 Ben Wortelboer 0:05:02
10 Matthew Webb-Smith 0:06:01