31/03/2007
This weekend Warragul cycling club contested the final of their Autumn Classics. The race was inspired the be famous Paris Roubaix race, known as the “Hell of the North”, because the cyclist have to negotiate many kilometres of treacherous, bone jarring cobble stones. There are no cobble stones in the Warragul area but race director Chris Beales thought some pot-hole and corrugated dirt roads would do the trick. Paris Roubaix is always a race of attrition where the conditions test riders and equipment to the limit. Our local version proved to be similar. Many started but less than half finished.
A and B grade started together. Nine riders would begin but only four would finish. The ride from Shady Creek towards Yarragon was completed at a brisk pace and after crossing the river a sharp left turn in Mahoney’s Road found the riders on the first dirt section. Pete Finlayson went to the front and drove the pace up along the gravel. The speed at times was over 45km per hour and riders at the back of bunch could not see the rocks and pot holes until they hit them at speed. Col Brown was the first to puncture and retire from the race. Next to puncture was Luke Hanley. At the end of the 7km long dirt section riders had lost feeling in hands and arms as the shock of the constant bumps made riding very uncomfortable. As the bunch turned back into the wind on North Canal Road the pace slowed and the riders enjoyed being back on the black top. The second time along the gravel saw more carnage. This time Pete Finlayson punctured twice. Clint Hick had looked strong but a loud pop from his rear tyre ended his winning chances. This left only Rob Monk and Paul Yeatman to fight out the B grade finish and Chris Beales to take out A grade. In the B grade sprint Paul Yeatman headed for home with 500 meters left to race. His strong initial jump was too good for Rob who didn’t quite have the speed get over the top of Paul on the line. A strong win by Paul.
In C grade the bunch split even before getting to the dirt. Callam Barker, Paul Kennedy, Steve Evans and Steve Muggeridge force the pace on the rise past the dairy and split the field. They hit the dirt together but almost immediately Paul Kennedy punctured. Wayne Tunks and Karen Munroe chased at a steady pace until Karen dropped her drink bottle and went back to retrieve it. Callam and the two Steve’s completed the first section of dirt without incident but unfortunately for Steve Evans his tyre went flat while on the bitumen. Steve Muggeridge punctured on the last lap and despite a broken seat post Callam took out his third win in a row. Wayne Tunks stayed out of trouble to finish a distant second and Steve Evans repaired his puncture quickest to finish third.
In D grade it was ladies day. Tammy Patrick, Liz Watson and Susan Cleary spread out quickly on run down to Yarragon and never really came together again. Liz took out a strong win with Tammy second.
Junior riders Cy Monk, James Lalor and Renee Patrick had no problems negotiating the dirt roads. Unlike their senior counterparts the juniors managed to stay puncture free. The three rides worked well together into the strong head wind. In the race to the line James Lalor was too strong for Cy with Renee in third place.
There is no racing next week due to Easter but after that April is “Mountain Month”. Racing includes a hill top finish at Shady Creek, the Baw Baw Classic and the Yarragon Hill climb.
