29/11/2003
The hot weather and blustery south-westerly winds on Saturday afternoon did little to deter Warragul cyclists from competing at the Shady Creek circuit. For a refreshing change the circuit was not plagued by the rain, cold and sheets of hail that it has become renowned for in 2003. Twenty-four cyclists competed across four grades, but with only four races remaining on the 2003 calendar all attention was on who would score crucial points for overall placings in A and C grades.
Joel Pearson made a welcomed return to A grade after his successful tour of The Southland in New Zealand where he won the sprint classification riding for Team MGZT. Fellow MGZT rider Paul Richards was also scheduled to ride but missed the start due to an extended warmup up past Tynong. Despite the strong 7-man lineup, all eyes were focussed on the tussle between Scott Keeble and Thomas Sandner for first place on the overall points tally where only three points separated the two riders. Without batting an eyelid, the two attacked into the headwind on the Nilma-Shady Creek hill in the first lap and immediately established a gap. The remaining A grade riders had their work cut out to reel them back, but by the end of the first lap they had all regrouped and gained the services of late arrival Richards, crossing in a quick time of 34.42. During the second lap the heat began to take its toll and the pack dispersed across the second climb of Nilma-Shady Creek hill, with Pearson and Richards the only two riders to cross the top intact. Danny Dilger led the chase down the hill but the remaining five were unable to bridge the gap as Pearson and Richards powered away with Joel crossing the line in 1.08.04. The fight for minor placings was eventually won by Scott Keeble who managed to recover from the tough climb in time to roll Thomas Sandner in the sprint, ahead of Geoff Thomson in the same time of 1.08.54. Gerrard Donnelly and Daniel Dilger crossed a short time later.
B grade began with an intimate field of four, which was reduced to three half-way through the first lap when Alan Beveridge punctured. The remaining three, consisting of Pete Finlayson, Steve Sandner and Dean McIntosh, crossed the first lap in 39.45. They stayed together through the second lap before stealth rider Stevie, full of fresh legs from his lack of training, easily accounted for Peter and Dean on the uphill finish, crossing in 1.17.07, followed soon after by Pete and Dean.
The strong C grade field was added to in the last minute as Chris Jones and Monique Hanley managed to get their bikes onto the road with a full 15 seconds to spare before race director Staf started the clock. They joined Rob Monk, Glenn Fisher, Steve Hall and father-son combination Ross and James Henry. Although the pace was spirited, the pack stayed together on the first lap until James Henry punctured on the Darnum corner, causing Ross to slow down to drop off a pump and tools for his son.
A toey Rob Monk attacked on the second climb but could not establish a break. With the pace already at a consistent tempo the peloton was content to stay together until 1,200m from the finish when Chris Jones jumped the sleepy bunch with a faux sprint. His early attack drew all attention onto his wheel, enabling a sneaky Ross Henry to attempt an early sprint for the finish. He was unable to keep the pressure on, but his efforts forced the pack into a drawn-out sprint, causing a chain reaction of riders ‘blowing up’ before they could cross the finish line. Only Glenn Fisher retained enough petrol in the tank to just roll over Rob Monk in a time of 1.18.11, only a minute slower than B grade. They were followed by Chris Jones and Ross Henry, with Monique Hanley and Steve Hall crossing a few seconds later.
D grade began with all six riders staying together on the first lap and crossing in a time of 43.59. The second climb of the Nilma-Shady Creek hill saw the intensity heat up when Daniel deBlauw led an attack followed by Luke Hanley and Ian deBruyne. Under the tactical guidance of Ian, the three were able to establish a break on the remaining riders and continued to work together. Meanwhile, Kym Fisher and Rod Atkinson were content to leave the breakaways ahead while the heat took its toll on Emma Beveridge who retired early. The sprint became a two-man fight between Daniel and Luke which like C grade, began too early. Luke was able to hold off a tired Daniel to cross strongly in a time of 1.26.07 with Ian crossing soonafter. Rod Atkinson crossed three minutes later followed by a very casual Kym Fisher.
Next week’s racing is back at Burke Street for a criterium.
