17/03/2007
Warragul Cycling Club members took on a combination of the Lillico and Christies Road circuit on Saturday as part of the clubs Autumn Classics Series. This series is loosely based to the Spring Classics that make up the early part of the professional Season in Europe. Saturdays Race was in the spirit of the Leige Bastonge Leige. For all grades that meant 3 laps of the 10km Lillico circuit and then either 1 or 2 laps of the tough Christies Road circuit.
A Grade had the largest field of the day. Numbers were boosted by riders from Latrobe City, Hawthorn and Caulfield Carnegie. The pace was pushed from the start by local rider James Henry. He tried repeatedly to escape but was unsuccessful each time. Visiting Latrobe Valley rider Andrew McKernan and John McDonald from Hawthorn found the pace a little too hot handle and pulled out with a lap to go. The pace up to the fire station on Bloomfields road the last time up was hot but not too hot to drop Thommo from the bunch. In the sprint, young gun Kane Walker told everyone when he would start to sprint for home. This meant the experienced riders were able to follow his run to the line. Thommo locked onto James Henry’s wheel as he flew past a frustrated Michael Vogt from Caulfield Carnegie. Thommo hit the lead for the first time in race fifty meters from the line and took out the win. James was second and Michael was third.
The B grade group worked well together for the circuits around Lillico with only Clint Hick keen to force the pace. The first real attack came on the sharp rise on Christies road. Pete Finlayson pushed the pace and everyone struggled to go with him. The break was short lived though and the field came back together for the final ascent of the Bloomfields road climb. At the top of the hill Brett Rollinson and Rob Monk led the field onto Old Sale Road. Brett rolled clear and Rob could not go with him. The gap widened and no-one was keen to work to bring the bunch up to Brett. Finlayson tried to jump across the gab but could not close the gap totally. Monk and Scott Keeble joined Pete at the beginning of Christies Road and they finally managed to catch Brett. After the 70km/hr descent of Christies road Keeble attacked on the sharp rise and Finlayson and Rollinson were the only riders who could go with him. These three rode together to the finish. In the sprint Pete was just too quick for Scott with Brett in third place. Rob Monk held off the chasing trio of Clint Hick, Dave Bailey and Neil Walker to take out forth place.
In C grade experienced rider Danny Dilger organised the bunch for the three preliminary laps of Lillico. Callan Barker looked to be the strongest rider on the climbs but Danny ensured he would not break away too early in the race. Callan and Steve Muggeridge did manage to break away on the Bloomfield road ascent and held their advantage to the finish. They started the “cat and mouse” tactics a long way from the finish and this nearly allowed Karen Munro, Dave Axford and Danny to catch them before the sprint. Callan proved too quick for Steve in the run to the line and took out a strong win. Karen was third with Dave Axford in fourth place.
The D grade bunch was joined by Junior rider James Lalor and first time racers Susan Cleary and Andrew Stewart. Pam Benstead rode strongly but found the going too tough on the Bloomfields road ascent. Caulfield Carnegie rider Anthony Poisson proved too strong for Stewart with James Lalor a creditable third spot.
Next week’s race is inspired by the Fleche Wallonne spring classic. The Fleche Wallonne race finishes on top of a short but brutally steep climb. Our local version of this race will take in 2, 3 or 4 laps of the telegraph road circuit and then finish on top of the infamous Fisher’s Road Wall. It should be a grade race for all competitors. An autumn classic.
