19/02/2006
Race three of Warragul Cycling Club’s summer criterium circuit started under threateningly grey skys. The slight drizzle meant cornering was treacherous and the danger of hitting the road was foremost in rider’s minds before the start.
A Grade was again the largest field of the day. Eleven riders set off and flew around the first four laps at a speed that soon found Tim Lee and Steve Sandner struggling. Trent Brown suffered a puncture but didn’t seem too keen to fix it and get back into the race. The pace was on. Shane Styles was in attack mode for much of the race, constantly bouncing off the front of the bunch ensuring nobody could settle into a constant rhythm. Despite his effort the group stayed together until the final sprint. Scott Keeble and James Henry showed the field a clean pair of heals in the sprint. Scott just won from James with Matt Malacarne in third spot.
The fear of riders hitting the road in the wet conditions turned into reality in B grade. But the wet conditions were not to blame. The field negotiated the wet conditions in the first 7 laps of the race and the road had all but dried out. On lap 8 in the back straight Ross Henry clipped a wheel and laid it down in front of most of the bunch. He took Steve Twining out as he slid sideways across the road and Mark Oakley Brown and Pete Bailey found themselves flying through the air as they hit the riders already on the road. Mark landed on Ross and commented later that landing on another rider is definitely better than landing on the road. Ross and Mark were unable to complete the race. Steve and Pete Bailey, after some panel beating to both bodies and bikes resumed the race. The remaining six rides completed the race in a calm fashion. No attacks and very controlled around the corners. In the sprint Brett Miller made it 3 from 3 with a great win over John Salton with Steve Twining in third. This was an amazing effort from Steve given he’d hit the road pretty hard not fifteen minutes earlier.
Dave Bailey had raced the first 2 crit series races in B grade but could not hold the bunch in either race. He dropped back to C grade and made the regular C graders see how strong he really is. On lap 7 he rode away from the field and would not be caught. Trev Rollinson battled hard to chase him down and Paul Yeatman and Neil Walker claim they would have caught him but for the corner marshal stopping them. In the end it was Dave first, Trev second and Neil Walker third.
Lawrence Maskill continues to dominate in D grade. She won easily from Mich Hynd with first time racer Gita Walker in third spot. Gita is a quick learner and claimed Mitch did no work during the first half of the race and she’ll ensure he does more next week. Cyclists always have an excuse.
Next Sunday is the final Week of the 4 race Crit series. The top 5 points scorers in each grade are included here. As can be seen the battle for the prize in A and C grade is still wide open.
