He rode in the Elite Men category, riding seven laps over a distance of 143.2 kilometres. “It was good to have a chance to ride in my ‘backyard’ and race locally,” he said.

“Having a local knowledge of the roads and conditions certainly helped me in terms of training.

“It’s definitely a good thing for Cycling NSW as well as the Goulburn Cycle Club to have such a prestigious competition as this held in Marulan.”

NSW Elite Championships Race Director Mike O’Reilly was also impressed with Kiss’ form, as he placed ninth overall, only three minutes and 17 seconds behind the first place rider, Jacob Kaufmann of the Manly Warringah Cycle Club (who had a time of 3 hours and 44 minutes).

“Adam stayed with the main pack the whole time and had a cracker of a ride,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“He really rode exceptionally well and I honestly didn’t think he had it in him! He was constantly managing attacks and chasing the pack down.”

The first race of the day was the Elite Women (four laps or 83.2 kms) from the starting line on Post Office Lane outside the Marulan Community Hall, along Brayton Rd, then into Bypass Rd and up to Red Hill Rd and back again.

In first place was Lauren Fitzgerald of the Sydney University Velo Club with a time of two hours 35 minutes. This time followed on from her winning stage at the National Capital Tour in Canberra last week.

In second place was 2014 Roadwoman of the Year Kristen Howard from the Bathurst Cycle Club, who came in one minute and 27 seconds behind Ms Fitzgerald.

Third place went to Emily Cunningham from the Sutherland Shire Cycle Club. coming in 1 minute and 54 seconds behind Ms Fitzgerald.

“Out of the 14 starters, only seven managed to finish the whole stage,” Mr O’Reilly told the Post.

“The overwhelming consensus was that this Red Hill Rd stage was described by many of the riders as ‘being harder than Buninyong’, which was a previously very hard stage near Ballarat in Victoria.”

Then came the Under 23 Elite riders who rode a five lap circuit of 103.2kms along the same route.

In first place was Dylan Sunderland (Lidcombe /Auburn Cycle Club) with a time of 2 hours and 33 minutes. In fact all top three positions finished in 2 hours 33 minutes, with Aiden Toovey from Mudgee Cycle Club in second place and third Rylee Field (Parramatta Cycle Club).

“Of the 28 starters in this race, 15 managed to finish,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“All Under 23 races are usually fast and furious and this one was no exception. There were numerous breakaways and the race was really entertaining to watch.”

Finally the most gruelling stage of all was that of the Elite Men, who rode seven laps for 143.2 kms.

Out of the 49 starters, only 19 managed to finish, with Jacob Kaufmann from Manly/Warringah Cycle Club taking out first place in a time of three hours 44 minutes.

“Jacob managed to solo away from the pack at around the 20 km mark,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“In fact he was 2 minutes and 43 seconds ahead of the second place rider Samuel Burston (Sydney University Velo Club) and third placer Edward White (also from SUVC).

This really was a fast and entertaining race from the get-go with breakaways within the first kilometre.”

Mr O’Reilly thanked the community of Marulan for their support.

“This was the first time we’ve held the championships here at Marulan, and I would also like to thank the residents who live along Red Hills Rd for letting us race and coming out to cheer the riders on,” he said.

“The cafes and motels, etc in Marulan certainly did a roaring trade selling coffee to all our cyclists. Finally and most importantly, I would like to thank Goulburn Mulwaree Council for whom without their support this championships just would not have happened.”

For Kiss, the target now is on finishing the road season and focusing more on the track side of things.

“I’m aiming towards the Trackpower event in January 2016 and doing some track racing now,” he said.

“I really want to thank Mike O’Reilly for his support and wish him and Cycling NSW all the best for the future.”