TOWNSVILLE rider Chris Klem won the elite A class in a blanket finish in the Queensland Road Cycling Championships at Swan Creek yesterday.

After a rainy Saturday for the masters events, the weather was perfect yesterday.

Early leader Hadleigh Milligan, of the Uni Cycling Club, had a four-and-a-half minute lead after the first lap of the race as the peloton covered the first of five 30km laps in 50 minutes.

As the pace quickened, Milligan was overtaken and Klem won from Fast Cycling Club member Daniel McCulloch and Toowoomba rider Darren Rolfe.

Five riders were close at the finish and were all credited with the same time – three hours, 56.31 minutes. The next seven placegetters were two seconds behind.

In the women’s elite A, Loren Rowney from the Balmorel Club in Brisbane was first from Alexandra O’Dea, of Rockhampton, with Cassandra Dodd, of the Lifecycle club, third.

Ipswich rider James Heyburn, brother of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Michael, won the under-23 event while Jesse Kerrison, from the Gold Coast, was the U19 winner. Warwick rider Julius Peters was ninth in an U19 field of 14.

Cycling Queensland operations manager Matt Gillett said cyclists commented on the good road surface through Freestone, Warwick and Swan Creek for the state championships.

“There were quite a few rolling hills,” Gillett said. “The hall (Swan Creek) was quite close which was convenient and we didn’t disturb too many residents.”

While his organisation tries to share the state championships around the state, he said the team series which was held a week ago would definitely return next year.