20/03/2011

Riders turned out in unprecedented numbers for the club Criterium Championships on Saturday. With medals up for grabs in age group categories some different looking bunches eventuated.

First away were the Open and U19 race. This was a race within a race with the first Under 19 rider awarded a prize as well as the first open rider. Criterium races are run on time not distance but this fact had escaped Kane Walker. Kane found himself doing most of the pace making in the race and when asked why after the race he said, “I just wanted to get finished quicker.” Time dilation did not happen as Kane motorpaced his bunch around lap after lap. Yes Kane it does not matter how quick you go, you still have to race for an hour!

Going up the hill the final time Kane managed to shake everyone but Simon Baxter. The under nineteen guys were not keen to chase as they were more concerned with their own medals. Baxter hung like a limpet to Kane down the main straight and managed to outsprint him to take out the open Championship. Kane’s record of choking in championship races continues.

The Under 19 race ended in a three way sprint. Jarryd Jones just prevailed over Charlie Davine with Jimmy Lalor in third place.
The Under 15/Under 17 race Winner was visitor Jerome Bechaz but first Warragul Rider home was Jayden Manintveld. He just beat Joe Patrick in the sprint. This trio had worked hard to displace Brad Venables and Jack Walk from the leading group.

The Masters 123 race was the fastest of the day. They lapped consistently quicker than the open field. The pace was mainly driven by the irrepressible Shane Stiles. Stiles had raced in Melbourne at 1.00pm and drove back to Warragul for the 3.30 race. Daryl Anderson and Brett Rollinson were happy to swap turns with Stiles when the pace came on. Visitor Craig McLean also joined in the fun. Anderson and Stiles kept the relentless pace on and one by one they cracked the field. Stiles led Anderson out in the sprint but Anderson would not be shaken and came home to take the Masters 123 Championship. Stiles was second with Brett Rollinson riding strongly to take Bronze. Pre race favourite (so he said) Jayman Prestidge finished a disappointing 12th of 13 riders.

The Masters 456 was raced at a pace in keeping with the 45+ age group. The old blokes rolled around for 50 minutes then had a sprint to decide the title. Only Greame Patrick seemed keen to break the race up and he dangled off the front for a couple of laps. The sprint for the title was close but Pete Finlayson was just too quick for Rob Monk and Geoff Thompson.

The U13 and young U15 riders raced for 45 minutes. Guided by Paul Kennedy and Danny Dilger the youngsters raced well. In a sprint finish the race was taken out by Caelin Dasty from brother Riley with Ebony Dilger in third. Ellitot Kennedy was not far back in fourth spot.

Back to race list

Tags: burke street, championships, criterium

12/03/2011

Lurking in the shadows near the start finish line is a rotund little man with thick glasses. He speaks to no-one during the race. He watches his charges go round in silence. He has done his talking in the leadup to the race. Getting into the feeble mind of Jayman Prestidge is no mean feat. Converting George Tambassis from a muscle bound gym junkie to an elite cyclist is still a work in progress, so Bill Frew must avoid distraction. He watches his charges alone and in silence.

Again this week the A grade field was small so A and B grade combined. A Graders Shane Stiles and Kane Walker agreed to let the rest fight out the race, opting for a bunch training ride.

The race was on from the start with small breaks continually rolling off the front. The first to go was Simon Baxter and Danny Dilger. They didn’t get far.

Next Matt Kennelly was allowed to roll off the front and when Paul Yeatman Ross Henry and James Lalor joined him the peleton finally went into chase mode. After the catch Lalor took off again and this time Jayman Prestige rode over to him. Danny Dilger burnt a lot of petrol tickets riding over to them but Lalor was spent. Prestidge and Dilger swapped turns for half a lap before Prestidge ran up the white flag leaving Dilger in the breeze all alone. When Prestige returned to the peleton he suggested Danny would thank him for not working with him later on. Thank’s were not forthcoming when Dilger was caught half a lap later. Prestidge had used the big man up and left in the breeze all alone. Dilger will remember this in future races and will pay Prestidge back.

Cy Monk and Jason Dasty were allowed to dangle off the front of a lap and half before being brought back to the fold. Prestidge again put the pressure on up the King St hill and had the field strung out but not broken. Coach Frew, parked unobtrusively at the top of the King St hill, liked what he saw in Prestidge’s eyes.

With 3 laps to race the combined A/B grade bunch passed C grade and were then overtaken as the pressure went off. It was decided to let C grade get away which mean a rest for everyone. Prestige had time for his brain to regain some balance and as he went into “sit and sprint” mode for the remainder of the race.

The bell lap evolved in a now predictable fashion. Pete Whelan attacked on the King St Hill and Rob Monk had to chase over to him bringing the rest of the group up. As if on cue, Jason Dasty leapt off the front rounding the corner into the back straight. Charlie Davine and Jimmy Lalor chased him down. The bunch was intact rounding the final bend where Prestidge cut off Pete Whelan on the turn forcing him effectively out of the race. With four hundred meters to go the big track sprinter from Latrobe, Craig Skinner opened up the sprint. Rob Monk managed to grab his wheel and with 100 meters to race tried to come off it. Craig was still winding up and Rob was going as fast as he could. With 50 meters to go Skinner began to weaken and another heavyweight, Jayman Prestige emerged from the bunch. He had trailed Simon Baxter along the main straight and was now doing his best work approaching the line. Skinner, Monk and Prestidge, weighing in at a combined total of over 300kg, must have looked a frightening sight as they drove to the line. Prestidge was just too strong taking the win from Skinner with Monk in third. Baxter finished strongly to take fourth spot.

The C and D grade combined as well to make a field of fifteen riders. D graders Colin Manitveld and Micheal Blackwood struggled to hold on after lap four and were forced to do some individual time trial work. Ray York was tailed off as well but managed to catch and pass Matt Williamson and Terry Kelly who were also dropped after Ray. It was the pressure being exerted by Neil Walker and Jayden Manitveld in particular that was making it difficult for the lesser riders. They forced the pace on King St each lap. Unfortunately for the large field the race finished in confusion. The bunch was given “two to go” but when they passed the start finish line they did not receive the bell. Some riders thought they were sprinting and other though they still had a lap to go. There was no way the George Tambassis was leaving anything to chance.

Tambassis like Prestidge had been brought up under the guidance of Cyling Zen Master, Bill Frew. Frew’s message is simple. “Hate your opponents and win at all costs.” The message must be working as Tambassis made it two from two for the Frew stable, taking the win from Chris Henne and Zvonko Maric. The victory was shrouded in controversy though as half the field did not contest the sprint. Frew’s response; “Who cares, my men won!”

Next week is the Club Criterium Championship. Riders will not race in grades but in age groups. Medals and titles are up for grabs to all club members should be there.

Back to race list

Tags: burke street, criterium

05/03/2011

George Tambassis leads Justin Prestidge into the final corner

The first race win is always a special occasion for cyclists. For George Tambassis it was even more special as he has been finishing on the podium but not winning his entire cycling career. The bridesmaid tag was not sitting well with Tambassis. It was a strong C grade field that he would have to beat. Strong men Col Brown and Justin Prestidge were in the group. Trev Rollinson, one of Tambassis’s mentors would not give his pupil and easy win. Neil Walker is always cunning enough to be in the finish and the always bouncy lightweight Jayden Manintveld would make it tough on the King St hill lap after lap.

The race stayed together for the most part. Manintveld and new comer Rowan Cook managed a two lap sojourn off the front mid race but Tambassis, Rollinson and Greame Patrick dragged them back.

Rounding the home turn it was the lean figure of Tambassis at the front. The golden Greek sprinted for home from four hundred meters out. Walker thought he’d gone too early. Prestidge jumped hard but was too slow. Youngsters Jack Walk and Jayden Manintveld had the speed but not the strength for the long sprint. Tambassis, his pumped and oiled forearms and biceps glistening in the afternoon sun, took it out. Prestidge second, Walker third. Then followed Walk, Manintveld and Rollinson. When asked after the race “How does victory feel George?” his response was “Better than my mother’s mousaka. I’d like to thank my wife Trudy for her support and my Mentors Bill Frew and Trev Rollinson who made this victory possible.” George’s wife Trudy was not in attendance for the victory so has demanded George repeat the performance next week so she can watch. The pressure is on George.

Pressure also mounts on Justin Prestidge as his brother Jayman is threatening to take him under his wing and offer him tactical advice. Justin needs to win soon to avoid this fate that will doom him to eternal failure and disappointment.

In D grade it was another breakthrough victory. A bunch of seven riders started but soon split up. Youngsters Andrew DeBona and Matheson Jenkins found the tempo set by Tom Heard and Paul Kennedy too hard to follow. By lap 5 the lead bunch was down to four. Heard, Kennedy, Ray York and Colin Manintveld were the leaders. Manintveld was next to crack leaving Heard, York and Kennedy to fight out the final 4 laps.

York was strong on the flats and Kennedy and Heard conspired to make sure Yorka was not around for a sprint finish. They took it hard up the hill with two to go and gapped big Ray. They kept the pace on to the finish making sure the big man could not get back on. In the sprint finish Tom had too much toe for Paul and took out a well deserved maiden victory.

With only four A graders in attendance it was decided to combine A and B grade into a bunch of thirteen riders. Darryl Anderson was not interested in riding with anyone else. He took off in the home straight on lap one and stayed away for the entire race. His task was made easier as the bunch never even attempted to organise a chase.

Short lived attacks were the order of the day. The most promising break was mid race when Pete Finlayson, Jarryd Jones, Cy Monk and Pete Whelan got up the road together. Sensing the danger of this move Simon Baxter jumped over the gap towing Geoff Thompson with him. The back half of the bunch was now in the red zone but luckily the leaders sat up on the hill and the race all came back together. Only Paul Yeatman and Andy Nicolls were dropped from the lead group. At this point Darryl was only 200 meters off the front but that was as close as the chasers would get.

In the last few laps Simon Baxter was super aggressive. Repeated short lived attacks made the bunch chase but ultimately did little dent to their reserves of stamina. With two laps to go Baxter finally found a breakaway partner in Jerome Bechaz. The pair swapped turns and established a small break. Pete Whelan and Rob Monk did most the chasing on the penultimate lap but it was not until Danny Dilger pulled a huge turn on the final lap that the race came back together turning into the main straight. Jerome Bechaz was not done yet. He was the first rider to jump for home with 500 meters to go. Rob Monk dragged the field back to Jerome and then the sprinters flew past.

Jarryd Jones won the bunch kick for second from Pete Finlayson. Then followed Thommo, Pete Whelan, Cy Monk, Rob Monk, Jerome Bechez, James Lalor and Simon Baxter.

Photos from the race can be seen here.

Back to race list

Tags: burke street, criterium, photos

26/02/2011

A grader Jarryd Jones riding to victory

When the big cats stay away the mice will play. With Shane Stiles and Brenton Jones racing in Melbourne on Saturday and Kane Walker just back from racing in India and still recovering from the inevitable tummy upset that such a trip brings, the A grade field was considerably weakened. With this in mind it was decided to combine A and B into one race. Fifteen riders made for a good group. Jarryd Jones would not waste a change for a win when the big boys are away.

Jayman Prestidge missed out on a warm up while putting out the signs so when the flag was dropped to begin racing he took off. The rest of the bunch was not too keen to chase and let Prestidge waste his energy for a couple of laps. Clearly his clever tactical ride a few weeks ago that led to a race win, was an aberration. Prestidge was back to his brainless best on Saturday. He still had a big lead when he rounded the King St corner on lap 3 and as the bunch went around the corner he was out of sight. As the leaders scanned ahead trying to see him, he rode out of a carport on the side of the road and joined the back of the bunch.

Various riders tried to get away early in the race. Charlie Davine, Jimmy Lalor, Simon Baxter, Jarryd Jones and Justin Gravett all spent a lap off the front of the bunch trying to establish a winning break. It was not until late in the race when Simon Baxter, Jayman Prestidge, Justin Gravett and Jarryd Jones established a small break that the pace really picked up. Rob Monk and Pete Finlayson jumped over to the lead group but after disputing race etiquette Finlayson decided to go back to the main field. Paul Yeatman then came out of nowhere to tack onto the lead group and thought the race was pretty much sewn up for the six leaders.

The six man breakaway was caught at the dance school thanks to a big chase from Jason Datsy and with two laps to Rob Monk was not done and attacked on King St again. This time Jarryd Jones was the only rider to go with him. Jones and Monk swapped turns for the final two laps and were not caught. Jarryd was too strong for Rob in the run to the line and took the win. Rob just hung on for second with Justin Gravett finishing strongly to take third. Pete Finlayson sprinted past Simon Baxter to take fourth. Then followed Jayman Prestidge, Pete Whelan and Paul Yeatman.

C grade also had a bunch of fifteen riders. They stayed together in the early stages until Colin Manintveld, Brian Munro and Renee Patrick lost contact.

Jayden Manintveld was making it tough for riders to stay with him on the King St Hill. He put the A/B bunch to shame with three of their laps left as Jayden blew past them leading the rest of the C graders. His efforts soon tailed off Roy York, Micheal Blackwood, John Davine and Tom Heard. Tom was super strong on the flat sections though and for two laps in a row towed the bunch back together. Jayden could not crack the hard men though. Greame Patrick was always able to work the group back to Jayden with some help from Neil Walker, George Tambassis and Matt Kennelly. Jack Walk was never out of the main group.

The race would inevitably end in a bunch sprint. Matt Kennelly likes races that finish this way. He proved too fast for Tambassis again. George is developing a reputation as the perennial bridesmaid. He keeps getting on the podium but his maiden victory is proving elusive. Zvonko Maric rode strongly all race and finished third with Jack Walk in fourth and Neil Walker in fifth.

Kane Walker rode with the juniors giving them some riding tips. They all stayed upright so clearly the youngsters were not listening to Kane. Andrew DeBona rode away from the Dastey boys again and is nearly ready to step up to C grade. Caelin Dastey just beat younger brother Riley in the sprint for second.

Back to race list

Tags: burke street, criterium, photos

19/02/2011

The youth of Australia had their day on Burke St circuit during the Warragul Cycling Club race on Saturday.

A grade turned into a Brenton Jones showcase. The field of 9 riders stayed together for a couple of laps but soon the moves began. Phill Gallagher, making a welcome return to racing, could not contain himself long and rolled off the front in the strong tailwind in the back straight. Left to dangle off the front Phil proved difficult to reel in. After a couple of laps Brenton Jones decided to join the fun and burst across the gap to Phil. Unfortunately for Gallagher, BJ was not going to wait for anyone. He left Phil in his wake on the King St Hill and that was all the bunch saw of him again. Jones took nearly half a lap out of the chasing group. In the bunch sprint for second visitor Richard Irwin took the prize from another visitor Shane Young. The consistent Zander Hitchcock finished fourth.

One of the highlights of the B grade race was the family duel between Rob and Cy Monk.

Rob Monk, while not the best cyclist in the club, could at least claim to be the best in his family. Sadly this comfort is no longer available. Not only did his 14 year old son Cyrus outride him on Saturday, it is clear that the lad also out-thought him.
What now is left for the former behemoth of B grade? Tactics were his strength. No ruse was too shameless, as he sucked the power from the peloton.

Ah, but young eyes were watching, and Cyrus learnt well from his father’s example. The great wheel of karma has turned, and it seems few are feeling sorry for the ex-champ.

The race was taken out by another promising junior rider, 14 year old Jerome Bechaz. Jerome’s winning move was to cover the attack of Pete Whelan on the final lap and follow his wheel into the final bend. Jerome then jumped for home. Whelan hesitated and the rest of the peloton were reluctant to chase into the strong head wind in the main straight and sacrifice their chance of winning for the sake of dragging Jerome back. Rob Preston eventually took up the chase with Rob Monk on his wheel. Cy Monk jumped for home with 300 meters to go and much to the annoyance of his father managed to hold this advantage all the way to the line to take second place. Rob finished third to the delight of the big crowd.

C grade had a large and evenly matched bunch. Ross Henry and Paul Yeatman provided the strength and when Ross put in the big efforts up the King St hill on Lap 5 and 6 Paul Kennedy and Ray York lost contact with the bunch. Ross tried repeatedly to break away but Manitveld, Tambassis and Yeatman were not going to let him get too far away. In the bunch sprint George Tambassis was again in front with 100 meters left to race. This week it was Yeatman and Henry who flew past him. Yeatman first and Henry second. Both have been promoted to B grade next week.

The four D grade juniors raced well rolling turns in the first 3 laps. Their racing skills continue to develop. On lap 4 Andrew DeBona managed to break away and went on to take the win. Caelin Dastey put in a grade ride to take second from Nic Anderson in third with Riley Dastey in fourth.

Back to race list

Tags: burke street, criterium

12/02/2011

A grade Pair Brenton Jones and Shane Stiles corner in Saturday’s Criterium Race

It was a day for the fast finishers at the Burke St Circuit. Breakaways were doomed to failure as big fields and determined chasers meant the “sit on” sprinters would dominate the races.

In A grade a small but elite field of six riders lapped at over 38km/h for the entire race. The relentless pace eventually cracked the field as Brenton Jones and Shane Stiles rode away from Danny Dilger, Brett Rollinson and Jarryd Jones.

Zander Hitchcock’s race was ruined when he punctured after 20 minutes. Rollinson, Jones and Dilger nearly managed to get over to Stiles and BJ with 2 laps to go but nearly is not good enough. In the sprint finish BJ was just too quick for Stiles. Jarryd Jones just held off a fast finishing Brett Rollinson for third.

Paul Yeatman leading the B graders through a turn

B grade had a field of sixteen riders and no-one was able to break away for long. The major disruptions to race order were riders taking a lap out for mechanical faults. Ross Henry, Scott Walkeden, and Charlie Davine all had a lap out during the race.

Rob Monk and Scott Keeble tried to break the race up in the last 15 minutes with the help of James Lalor and Cy Monk but they were quickly chased down. Only Paul Yeatman and Col Brown were displaced from the bunch.

Going up the Burke St Hill the last time Cy Monk took off and established a small break. He was not overtaken until the final bend when Trev Rollinson decided to make sure the sprinters had to work for their prize. Trev made sure the last kilometre was raced at top speed. When Trev tired with 200 meters to go Charlie Davine made his way to the front for the first time in the race. He sprinted clear of Andrew Nicolls and took the win. Rob Monk was third with his son Cy Monk taking forth in his first B(+) grade start.

Juniors Jack Walk and Jayden Maniveld break way in C grade

C grade had a bunch of thirteen riders. They stayed together for four laps until Ray York and Colin Manitveld found the pace too hot to handle and were dropped.

Junior riders Jack Walk and Jayden Manitveld pushed the pace on the hill and gapped the group mid race. They were allowed to dangle off the front as the experienced riders like Neil Walker, Graeme Patrick, Terry Kelly and Matt Kennelly shared the pace making for two laps.

When the race came back together at the bell the sprinters were still fresh. George Tambassis showed his inexperience by jumping for home too early. He led from the front with 400 meters to race with riders lined up on his wheel. Matt Kennelly judged the sprint perfectly to take the win from Jayden Maniveld and Neil Walker. George held on for forth.

Andrew DeBona soloing to victory

In D grade the junior riders broke up early. By the end of lap one Andrew DeBona was time trailing away from Matheson Jenkins, Mitch Jones and Nick Anderson. This order was maintained throughout the race.

Photos from the race can be seen here.

Back to race list

Tags: burke street, criterium, photos