28/09/2013
By Rob Monk
When the wind howls and the skies are grey the hard men of cycling lick their lips. The men off scratch know their strength allows them to handle the wind better than those they chase. The four riders off scratch, Kane Walker, Cy Monk, Jayden Manintveld and Graeme Parker timed their passage through the field to perfection on Saturday. Such was their strength and the strength of the cross winds that no-one could latch onto them when they flew past. The started last but filled the top four positions at the end of the race.
The first group the scratch men caught were Matt Parkinson and Pete Whelan. They started with Paul Yeatman but he didn’t last long. Parkinson couldn’t hold the scratch group for long and Whelan only lasted a couple of kilometres with them before he was also blown off the back.
With 2 laps to go scratch caught the combined 6 and 8 minute group. Geoff Thomson and Shane Stiles had done the majority of pacemaking for this group but only Thommo was able to go with the scratch group for ½ a lap. Just before the bell lap they dropped him as well.
By the bell there were only 2 riders left to be caught. The rapidly improving Dave Armour had limit rider Frank Bensted in his sights. Dave had ridden with Ben Stein for the first 3 laps then taken off on his own in pursuit of Frank. Dave caught Frank with 2k to go to the finish but the scratch men had them in sight and flew past just before the final bend.
Kane Walker put the power down out of the final corner and established a winning break. Cy Monk allowed Parker the lead out the sprint for second before taking it out with Jayden Manintveld finishing third. Parker finished fourth with Armour in fifth. Frank held on for sixth with Thommo in seventh.
Parker’s 4th place was enough for him to take out the series and collect the first prize, a colour printer from PrintSolution@Work. Second place in the series was Geoff Thomson with Frank Bensted in third and Cy Monk fourth. Fifty one riders took part in the series. Adele Whelan was the highest placed female rider in the series.
Next week Warragul riders will contest the time honoured Morwell to Glenmaggie Handicap. Raced every year since 1978 the race is a genuine Spring Classic. Race starts at Morwell at 10am on Sunday.
Check out the complete points for the series here.
