Starting from the ‘chopping block’ three minutes prior to scratch, he hammered home finishing the race in two hours, 19 minutes and four seconds, coming ahead of Ben Comfort from Canberra and Cru Halliday from Macarthur.

The weather conditions were perfect on Saturday for the 143 starters, as it was sunny with no wind.

Block riders kept scratch at bay throughout the race with a three minute head start. 

Mudgee rider, Ayden Toovey, took the fastest time honours at two hours, 17 minutes and 21 seconds.

Mitchell was hungry to win; he put in the hard yards with his bunch and never doubted his potential.

With the finish line in sight he converted belief to reality.

“With 300 metres to go I pulled out, I looked around, and there was no one coming,” he said.

“I thought, ‘I might get this.’ 

“Then I just put my head down and kept on going. I’m over the moon, really.”

He’s looking forward to the upcoming track season.

“The track’s good; it’s what I’ve been brought up on, I’m hoping I get picked for the Nationals and do some good stuff there.”

As for the Coota Annual, he just can’t get enough of it.

“This is my fourth year now, and I’ll be back again next year; that’s for sure!”

In the other results, Wayne Collingwood won the sprint award, and Ed Garnott came second.

Trudi Stevenson was the fastest female, and she also won the courage award. First and second locals were Cootamundra Cycle Club riders Kyle Williams, from Young, and Jamin Hall, from Cootamundra.

Another perfect day brought 92 starters to Sunday’s Coota Annual Recovery ride.

Simon Anderson from the Eastern Suburbs was first over the line, with a time of 1 hour and 56 minutes coming in ahead of Keith Harris from Hunter.

Harrison Carter from Bathurst was the fastest rider, finishing the race in 1 hour, 30 minutes and 30 seconds.