22/09/2012
By Rob Monk
Thirty Eight riders turned out for the 5th race of the spring Handicap series in perfect conditions. The limit group were given a start of 16 minutes on scratch. Sue Eldston, Lou Clark, Adele Whelan and Frank Benstead set a good pace and completed their first lap at 30.6 km/h.
With 12 minutes on scratch Harley Bondini, Ray York and Michelle Scurr didn’t stay together long. Michelle punctured early on lap one and Ray and Harley completed the lap averaging 33.5 km/h.
The 7 minute bunch also had numbers on their side. Handicapper Pete Finlayson must be enjoying his complimentary Gym membership as George Tambassis was still in the 7 minute bunch despite being in 3rd place in the series prior to the race. Tambassis was cruising with the group of Andrew Nicholls, Murray Campbell, Col Brown, and Shane Pettingall. They completed lap one at 36.5 km/h but could have gone harder.
With 5 minutes on scratch Paul Yeatman, Ross Henry, Neil Walker, Stuart Battley, Jason Dastey, Pete Whelan and Brett Rollinson teamed perfectly right from the start. When Yeatman actually does a turn in the first kilometer, you know the bunch is going to ride well. They would catch the 7 minute group just after the half-way mark of the race and from that moment on it was all over for the chasers. They completed lap 1 averaging 37.3km/h and by the end of lap 3 have averaged 38km/h for the race, with each lap getting faster. The Strava junkies can check their ride out here.
The 3 minute group has been caught before half race distance in all races of the series. This was the case again as Roland Elston, Rob Monk, Geoff Thomson, Scott Keeble and Paul Makepeace completed lap one averaging 37.8 km/h. When will these guys be given a chance? They clearly need more time.
A numerical advantage of 5 on 3 would again favour the Chopping block group over scratch. With 1.5 minutes on scratch Leigh Hauxwell, Pete Finlayson, Graeme Parker, Phil Gallagher and Matt Malacarne flew around lap one averaging 40 km/h.
The scratch trio of Cy Monk, Justin Gravitt and Jarryd Jones took time out of chopping block on lap one averaging 41.6 km/h but were unable to sustain that on lap 2 eventually losing ground to chopping block by the finish.
The limit riders were caught by the 10 minute bunch on lap 3. Adele Whelan and Lou Clarke did well managing to hang on until the finish. The five and seven minute groups came together just after the start of lap 3 and actually took time out of the chasers. They had the 10 minute bunch in their sights along Parkers Rd on the final lap.
John Davine, Luke Gallagher and Graeme Patrick were contemplating victory rounding the final bend but the were quickly swamped by the large chasing pack. In the run to the line Jason Dastey tried the oldest trick in the book, “The scratchies are coming!!” he bellowed and Col Brown and Murray Campbell fell for it, driving off the front and spreading the bunch out. In the sprint for the line Pete Whelan got a clear run through the traffic and took the win easily from George Tambassis with Paul Yeatman in third. The winner had averaged 38.3km/h for the race. Then followed Ross Henry and Dastey by a tyre over Andy Nicholls, Murray Campbell and Stuart Battley
One minute and 43 seconds later Leigh Hauxwell dominated the sprint for fastest time. In a rare show of speed he bettered Matt Malacarne and Phil Gallagher and Pete Finlayson to secure fasted time on the day averaging 39.2 km/h.
The final race of the series is on next Saturday morning at 9.00am at Cloverlea.
Today’s Podium
- Pete Whelan
- George Tambassis
- Paul Yeatman
- Fastest time Leigh Hauxwell.
Tambassis moves to first place in the series.
The Final Sprint
Series top 10 going into the final race.
- TAMBASSIS George 32
- THOMSON Geoffrey 29
- MONK Cyrus 28
- BATTLEY Stuart 22
- MARRIOT Glen 21
- MONK Rob 20
- WHELAN Peter 20
- STILES Shane 19
- YEATMAN Paul 19
- NICOLLS Andrew 17
