BATHURST’S Craig Hutton came close to finishing Sunday’s elite men’s road race at the Road Nationals but ended up part of a large group of riders who failed to see the event to its conclusion.
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Hutton was just shy of completing 13 of the 16 laps in the 185.6 kilometre event before he was told to stop by race officials, as he and his group had fallen too far away from the leaders.
The race was taken out by Alexander Edmondson, who was able to make his breakaway move stick ahead of a charging chase group.
Edmondson was joined by Chris Harper in a two-man break with four laps remaining in the race.
Edmondson powered away inside the final 500 metres to see off a late sprint challenge from Jay McCarthy.
Harper held onto third place ahead of Caleb Ewan.
Hutton said the intense pace put on by the high calibre of riders broke the race apart.
“The heat wasn’t too bad for the elite race, it’s just so tough going up against World Tour riders. They were just on another level, so I was happy to get the number of laps in that I did.
“I made the first attack of the day but then on the climb each lap someone would attack there and it would pull the race further apart.
“BMC got to the front and then when Simon Gerrans went on the attack that’s when the legs blew up.
“It’s a cool thing to go up against riders like that but frustrating too because you’re not being paid to be there. You’ll never match it with the guys who are but you have to never say never and give it a go.”
Only 39 riders finished.