STEVE Bennett claimed his third Bathurst Cycling Club Championship on Saturday after winning a five-man bunch sprint to the line.
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Bennett finished the 75-kilometre A grade course in two hours, 18 minutes and 42 seconds to win ahead of Brad Rayner and Ryan O’Donnell.
After the climb up Rockley Mount only an elite group of six riders remained in contention.
Past winners Bennett, Dean and Mark Windsor were joined by Rockley Cup winner O’Donnell and promising young riders Will Hodges and Brad Rayner.
Dean Windsor’s retirement due to injury changed the race’s complexion as Mark Windsor and O’Donnell attacked on the hills.
Hodges did the hard work to close down the gap and five riders were left for the bunch sprint, where Bennett showed his class.
Windsor was fourth while Hodges was fifth.
Andrew Gordon went on the attack early in the B grade (55km) championship and when joined by Steven Scott the pair built a winning lead.
Gordon beat Scott to the line while Stuart Renshaw lead the bunch home in third.
In C grade (55km) Rob Stephen put in the hard work early and still had plenty left in the tank to defeat Brian Draper and Stacey Fish.
The D grade (46km) title went to Jasmine Lee, who beat Wayne Powell and Rosemary Hastings.
