16/09/2006
For the first time in nearly three years the Warragul Cyling Club riders faced the gruelling Christies Road Circuit. Starting at the Lillico Tennis Courts the course climbs up to Old Sale road then returns along the undulating Christies Road. The 13 km lap finishes with an uphill run to the start-finish line. This is certainly a course for the climbers.
A grade started with a strong field of 8 riders but they were destined to break up early in the race. First to be spat from the pack was Geoff Thomson who was happy to save his efforts for Sundays Country Veterans Championship. On the second time up to Old Sale Rd James Henry broke away but the strong men in the bunch decided to let him dangle off the front for most of the next lap. On the top first of the two huge “rollers” on Christies Road Shane Styles, Luke Handley and Dave Salton caught and rolled past James and left the rest of the field in their wake. With the three strongest men in the field getting a small but decisive break the race for James Henry, Jason Kruger, Kane Walker and Tim Lee the remainder of the race would now be a lonely individual time trial. They all split up chasing the leaders and would finished minutes apart. The forth and final time up to Old Sale Rd Luke Handley set a tempo that Styles and Salton could not match. He had a small break over the top and held this until the top of the first hill in Christies Rd. Here Shane Styles hitting speeds approaching 80 km/h an hour was able to drop Dave Salton on the decent and joined Luke for the run back to the start-finish line. Luke was too strong for Shane in the uphill run to the line and took out an excellent win. Shane was second and Dave finished third.
In B grade nine riders started but after one lap Justen O’Connor decided that this circuit was not the best one to make his comeback to racing on. He conveniently retired after twisting his chain on the first climb. Rather than wait, Chris thought this would be a good time to attack but this backfired as Beales was allowed to dangle off the front of the bunch for all of the second lap. On the second time up to Old Sale Rd Paul Yeatman, Neil Walker and Rob Monk lost contact with the bunch. Yeatman and Walker almost regained contact but Rob decided a training ride and early finish would be a better use of his time. Beales was caught the third time up to Old Sale Rd. He claims a ‘slow leaking’ tyre was the reason for the catch but others in the bunch suggest he was “well and truly cooked”. From there to the finish the regular “A graders” Trent Brown and Pete Finlayson set the pace. Ross Henry and Clint Hick hung on strongly. Clint lost contact with the bunch the final time over the first hill on Christies Road. Ross hung on until the finish. Trent Brown just held off Pete Finlayson on the sprint up to the finish. Ross was not far away in third spot.
A small field in C grade stayed together of the first two laps but on the third time up to Old Sale Rd Dave Axford lost contact and Steffi Hoffer and Greame Patrick were left to duel for victory. Steffi had big Graeme’s measure on the climbs and took out the win.
Noel Mason’s dominance in D grade continued and he was able to ride away from first time racer Callan Barker. Well done to Callan finishing second in your first race. Pam Benstead finished third.
The Juniors took on the Christies road circuit as well. Tristan Walker, Renee Patrick and Cy Monk displayed great perseverance to make it over all the steep hills without having to get off and walk. The parents were more nervous than the juniors as the kids hit speeds in excess of 50km per hour down Christies Road. Cy Monk narrowly held off Renee Patrick in a great sprint for the line. When Renee gets her gears worked out she’ll put a lot more pressure on Cy.
Next weeks race is a combined event with the Latrobe Valley Cycling Club. The race starts at 2.00p.m. at Yinnar. We’d like a strong turn out from Warragul Cycling Club Members. Our aim is to win all grades and leave the Valley boys with nothing. Let’s take them on!! Go team WCC.
