WorldTour professionals Kim Cadzow and Finn Fisher-Black claimed the opening honours with victories in the time trial at the Cycling New Zealand Elite Road National Championships in Timaru.

Cadzow successfully defended the title she won last year with the EF Oatly Cannondale rider securing the first national jersey for her WorldTour team with a dominate ride, as riders had to handle persistent light rain throughout.

The Paris Olympian clocked 34:52.15 for the 24.4km individual test, to finish 32 seconds ahead of last year’s under-23 winner and Jayco AlUla WorldTour rider, Ella Wyllie. Cadzow’s teammate Henrietta Christie was a further 24 seconds back in third with in-form FDJ-Suez professional, Ally Wollaston fourth.

“It was windy, it was raining and it is a really hard course and you are pushing the pedals all day,” said Cadzow. Tt is just the way I like it. I do not like suffering with the so I enjoy it when it was like that.

“The fittest person wins on the day. It was quite the same conditions as it was at the Olympics. I love the rain, the cold, the wind. I was happy.”

Fisher-Black secured his first elite national title, with the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe professional having won two under-23 time trial titles in Christchurch 10 years ago.

He produced a powerful second half to his ride to finish in 47:37.59 for the 37.4km test, averaging over 46kph.

Fisher-Black, who finished third in the recent UCI Tour Down Under World Tour opener, was 34 seconds faster than defending champion and three-time winner Aaron Gate, from XDS Astana WorldTour team.

His fellow Paris Olympian, Tom Sexton was third, 1:20behind the winner, and next week he will swap back to the track for the Oceania Championships.

“I got to the halfway point and still felt I could do another half an hour,” said Fisher-Black. “I gave a nod to Shane behind (Team Director and former New Zealand road champion Shane Archbold). From there I knew I was on a good day.

“It is really good to compete back in New Zealand. I always try to get back. I cherish that – it is only three or four weeks a year. It is good to be back racing with kiwis on home roads.

“Today was my big focus. It is the race you can control a bit more. The road race is a super strong field this year –  almost every New Zealand pro is racing so it will be a tough one.”

The Black Magic Tinelli development women’s professional team showed their riders have prospered from their northern hemisphere experience, with team riders performing prominently.

Marlborough’s Neve McKenzie (Black Magic) prevailed in the under-19 ahead of Kyra Marett (South Canterbury) and Piper Karras (Black Magic).

North Canterbury’s Kirsty Watts (Meridian Blue p/b 99 Bikes, last year’s under-19 winner, stepped up to claim the under-23 title ahead of the Black Magic pair of Alex Rawlinson and Ava Maddison.

Highly promising former rower, Nate Pringle from near-by Leeston, near Christchurch, powered away to win the men’s under-23 honours in 48:42.80, the third fastest overall on the day. He finished ahead of last year’s under-19 podium riders Reef Roberts and Noah Hollamby.

The action moves to the road races tomorrow for Under-19 Women, Under-19 Men and combined Under-23 and Elite Women. The combined Under-23 and Elite Men’s road race over 190kms is on Saturday.

Time Trial results:

Female, Under-19 (14.8km): Neve McKenzie (Black Magic Tinelli, Marlborough) 25:01, 1; Kyra Marett (Geraldine, South Canterbury) at 18s, 2; Piper Karras (Black Magic Tinelli, Christchurch) at 1:30, 3.

Under-23: 24.4km: Kirsty Watts (Black Magic Tinelli, Swannanoa) 36:14.12, 1; Alex Rawlinson Black Magic Tinelli, Tauranga) at 1:34, 2; Ava Maddison (Black Magic Tinelli, Auckland) at 2:20, 3.

Elite, 24.4km: Kim Cadzow (EF Oatly Cannondale, Wanaka) 34:52.15, 1; Ella Wyllie at 31s, 2;  Henrietta Christie (EF Oatly Cannondale, Lincoln) at 54s, 3.

Male, Under-19 (24.4km): Harry Shannon (Counties Manukau, Auckland) 32:50.10, 1; Andre Free (Canterbury Track, Christchurch) at 42s, 2; Ben Crawford (Canterbury Track, Christchurch) at 1:18, 3.

Under-23, 37.4km: Nate Pringle (Leeston) 48:42.80, 1; Reef Roberts (Groupama FDJ Conti, Queenstown) at 1:49.02, 2; Noah Hollamby (Timaru) at 1:49.55, 3.

Elite, 37.4km: Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe, Nelson) 47:37.59, 1; Aaron Gate (XDS Astana, Cambridge) at 34s, 2; Tom Sexton (St George Continental, Invercargill) at 1:20, 3.