23/02/2014
Report by Rob Monk
Warragul Cycling club members performed exceptionally well at the recent Tour of East Gippsland. The Tour of East Gippsland is the first race of the Victorian Road Series and 2014 is the first year this event has been run. The event attracted over 200 entries from all over Victoria and interstate.
In A Grade James Henry, Jarryd Jones and Brenton Jones raced well. Brenton the pre-race favourite was third on the time trial stage missing out on victory by less than a second. He suffered from a lack of team mates and a mechanical issue in the stage 2 road race, losing any chance at the overall title. In the criterium stage on Sunday, Brenton and James Henry got in the early breakaway. Brenton picked up the first two time bonuses but was dragged back to the field after that. He came second in stage three.
Cy Monk won the C grade Victoria Road series last year after placing second in the Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort Classic and winning The Tour of Bright. 2014 saw him having his first start in B Grade. Cy managed third in the opening “sprint” time trial. He then won the road stage in the afternoon after breaking away with one other rider 20k from the finish. Cy held a 16 second lead going into Sunday’s final criterium stage. He took a number of time bonuses in the the crit and third on the stage. He increased his overall lead to over a minute ensuring overall victory in the tour.
Warragul Cycling Club’s newest member Sam Abbott dominated the women’s C grade section. She won the time trial and road race and was third in the criterium. She took overall victory by just under a minute. She would have finished second in B grade.
Alan McCollock and Rob Monk competed in the Masters C grade section. Alan finished 21st overall with Rob in 27th.
