21/07/2007
Warragul Cycling Club resumed racing on Saturday with our own version of the Tour de France. WCC members will compete for the Yellow Jersey over 5 stages and 4 weeks. Saturday’s race started with a 2km prologue time-trial around the Warragul Velodrome. While racing was keen it was obvious that the cold weather had discouraged many riders from putting in too much winter training. Time’s recorded for the races were not quick and no-one should be discouraged from coming along to have a race if they are not in great shape. In July few cyclist are in top form.
In A grade visiting LCCC Steve Beckman posted the fastest time of the day. He completed the 2km in 2 minutes 50 seconds. Second was Ash Lucus 2’56”, Third Andrew McKernan 2’58”.
In B Grade Paul Yeatman showed he’d been doing some secret winter training by clocking a time that would have seen him in second place in A Grade. His time of 2’55 was just quicker than the 2’58” recorded by second place getter Brett Rollinson with Steve Muggeridge 3’01” in third spot.
In C grade Trev Rollinson showed them a clean pair of heals recording 3’10 for the 2km. Geoff Gatt showing he’d been doing some solid winter eating was second with a time of 3’ 26” and Graeme Patrick finished in 3’27” to take third spot.
The D grade time trial resulted in a close finish. Cy Monk 3’44 just defeated Pam Benstead 3’48”.
The second stage of the race was conduced at Cloverlea. A and B graded started together Ash Lucus decided to attack from the gun and the rest of the bunch, when they stopped chuckling, made a pact to let him stew off the front of the bunch for as long as he liked. His solo lasted half the first lap before be re-entered the bunch. From then on the race took on a stop start tactical battle. With three LCCC members and Wayne Chester the only WCC rider in the A grade race, it was always going to be tough for Wayne. He’d try to get up the road but the LCCC boys would work together to bring him back. If a Latrobe rider went away, even the Warragul B grade riders were keen to chase. After staying together for three of the first 4 laps the A grade quartet was finally cut lose from the bunch. Wayne Chester tried valiantly to shake the Valley boys but they would not be reigned. In the run to the line big Ashley Lucus took out the sprint from Steve Beckman and Anderw McKernan.
The B grade race also ended in a bunch sprint. Young Callan Barker in his first B grade race could not resist jumping for home with four hundred meters to go. His move was chased down quickly though and Brett Rollinson looked to have established a winning break with fifty meters to go. Paul Yeatman was not done though and just flicked Brett on the line to take full points. Brett was second with Rob Monk in third.
C and D grade rode the first lap together. Wayne Tunks took off up one of the rises and this was enough to remove D graders Pam Benstead and Cy Monk from the bunch. Pam was too strong for Cy in the run along Parkers road and she took the points in D grade.
Trev Rollinson, Wayne Tunks and Graeme Patrick rode together until the turn off Parkers road. Trev headed for home and was too strong. Tunksy took second with Graeme in third.
Next week’s stage of the Tour de Baw Baw is at the Fonterra Factory at Darnum. Race starts at 1.00pm. All members and visitors from other clubs are welcome to come and join in the racing.
