A NATIONAL road cycling champion, Darren Lapthorne powered to victory in yesterday’s Launceston to New Norfolk Classic in Tasmania.
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Inclement weather meant the race distance was cut from 208km to 65km.
Racing for Drapac Professional Cycling, Lapthorne led three Tasmanians – Nathan Earle, Jai Crawford and Ben Grenda – across the line as he won in 1 hour 29.18 minutes.
The top 10 included Sam Witmitz, winner of last Sunday’s Eaglehawk to Pyramid Hill.
For Lapthorne and Drapac Professional Racing, which has gained Skoda as a major backer, the focus switches to tomorrow’s start to the six-day Caterpillar Underground Mining Tour of Tasmania.
Racing starts in Hobart when teams contest an 18km time trial to the top of Mount Wellington.
Lapthorne’s team-mates in Tasmania include Lachlan Norris from Barkers Creek.
The Tour of Tasmania is the fourth and final leg in the Scody Cup series.