The field was further depleted by the decision of several elite riders to compete in the Benchmark Series in Nelson.
Organisers ran a sealed handicap instead of a graded mass start. A, B and C grade riders were each assigned a handicap time but were not told what that time was.
The whole field set off together to race eight laps of the 5.4km Salisbury Circuit.
At the end of the race, the rider's handicap time was deducted from his or her actual time to reveal the winner.
While Stu Crooks, on a zero handicap, was first home to take fastest time honours, it was relative newcomer John Lynch, on a 20min handicap, who came out on top.
The field quickly scattered as riders scrambled to hold their place in the break-away bunches.
Young Daniel Cresswell repeated his efforts of last week, by staying with the lead group of A grade riders for almost three laps before he tired. Eventual winner Lynch, on the C grade handicap, found himself working alongside B grade riders for the entire race.
On lap three, Justin Stott and Crooks broke away from the lead bunch and were soon joined by Jo Chapman, as he bridged the gap, leaving Scott Thomas, Glen Todd and Wayne Evans in his wake.
By the penultimate lap, reaching speeds of more than 65kmh on the tail-wind leg, the leaders had lapped the B and C grade bunches and gained 1min 25sec on Thomas, Todd and Evans.
On the final lap, Crooks attacked in the tail wind and put enough distance on the others to get home, 10sec in front of Chapman. Stott cruised in shortly after.
Chapman said the atrocious conditions were good practice for the Tour of Southland, beginning on October 28.
Lynch won the sprint in the next bunch finish to claim the overall win. In only his fifth road race, Lynch said he was rapt with his performance and grateful for the encouragement and guidance of the other riders in his bunch.
By Jan McLelland.
