11/09/2010
Warragul Cycling Club riders assembled at Shady creek for race 5 of the Spring Handicap Series. For the first time in the series the riders who started last were there at the finish to contest the final sprint but a scratch rider has still not won a race in the series.
Renee Patrick was first away with 21 minutes on scratch. She battled away in the windy conditions and was not caught until the final time up Stur’s road.
Ray York was given 8 minutes start on scratch but once again was left to ride on this own up the first climb. He did manage to latch onto the 6 minute bunch as they passed him on the decent.
The 6 minute group consisted of Paul Kennedy, Zvonko Maric, Matt Williamson, Steve Muggeridge, Rupert Hudd-Baillie and Clint Wilson.
Two minutes behind them with 4 minutes on scratch were Dave Baillie, Danny Dilger, Jayden Manintveld, Cyrus Monk, Jayman Prestidge, and Duncan Hamilton. The youngsters were comfortable on the climb but could not match the power on the flat of Dilger and Prestidge.
The chopping block group, with 2 minutes on scratch consisted of Simon Baxter, Jarryd Jones, Joe Patrick, Justin Prestidge and Paul Yeatman.
Scratch was made up of Geoff Thomson, Rob Monk, Thomas Sander, Darryl Anderson and James Lalor.
By the mid point of lap one it was clear that the bunches would all come together.
The scratch men had the chopping block in sight. Anderson had driven the bunch hard. Monk was struggling to hang on and Lalor had been dropped but they had made up the time to catch the bunch in front before the end of lap one. Thomas “the tank engine” Sander was returning to some form and pulled some solid turns for the scratch bunch.
On the second time up the climb Darryl Anderson set a solid tempo. The four minute bunch were passed with 1km left of the hill. Junior stars Cy Monk and Jayden Manintveld were able to join the scratch bunch and hang on. Joining them was another promising junior Duncan Hamilton also looked comfortable on the climb. By the top of the climb Thommo, Darryl, Thomas, Cy, Rob, Justin Prestidge, Jarryd Jones were in the lead group with Jayman Prestidge, Paul Yeatman and Simon Baxter just off the back.
The group worked hard on the flats leading to the left turn into Stur’s road. The 8 Minute bunch were in sight and it was clear that the race would all come together in the finishing straight. Darryl Anderson was still the strongest rider in the race and he put the pressure on along the rises on Sthurs Rd and had most riders in the red zone. The last group to be caught were the 6 minute group and only Steve Muggeridge and Rupert Hudd-Bailey managed to stay with the Anderson and Sander led surges in pace.
Steve Muggeridge took off with youngster Duncan Hamilton on his wheel. The pair established a small break but Anderson and Justin Prestidge chased them down.
Thomas Sander led the group into the final kilometre setting a solid tempo on the front. The sprint was opened up by the ever combative Justin Prestidge. He didn’t have the speed to hold off the jump of Jarryd Jones though. Jarryd quickly put a gap in the rest of the field. Rob Monk struggled hard to get onto his wheel and loomed up next to Jones with 50 meters to go but Jarryd found a little something extra and took out the win by half a wheel. Rob was second and also took out fastest time. Thommo was third. Then followed Darryl Anderson, Duncan Hamilton, Paul Yeatman, Justin Prestidge, Cy Monk, Thomas Sander and Steve Muggeridge.
Next week’s race is at Shady Creek again.
In other news:
Trudi Gallagher was the first female rider to complete 120km Kinglake ride on Saturday.
Rob Monk won B grade at Southern vets on Sunday. Shane Stiles came 2nd in A grade.
Paul Yeatman came 3rd in the C grade at Blackburn CC’s Kew ITT course, despite having a mechanical that cost him 30-40 seconds and a pb. Brad Venables came 4th in the same grade/event.
