07/02/2009
The fifth race held by Warragul Cycling Club in 2009 saw eighteen cyclists complete four laps of the flat Cloverlea circuit. Racing just beat the heat and the freshening northerly.
The limit rode off 20 minutes ahead of scratch and consisted of Patrick who was down to ride three laps. Next up at 16 minutes were Kennedy, Muggeridge, Jones and Snowden. This group was followed at 10 minutes by Henry, N. Walker and Baillie. The 13 minute bunch consisted of Baxter, Marut and Brown.
Third scratch at 15 minutes were Yeatman, Barker on his new Cervelo and Keeble. Second scratch began at 17 minutes and consisted of Thomson and Sander. Scratch began 20 mins behind the limit and comprised K Walker and handicapper Stiles.
The 13 minute bunch (1st lap 20:15) cruised along and was caught by the 5 minute bunch (1st lap 18:23) before lap one was completed.
One kilometer into lap 3, the scratch bunch (1st lap 16:00) and second scratch (1st lap 18:074) caught the combined group of the 15 and 13 minute riders. This group formed a group pulling steady turns and quickly began to reel in the remaining bunches. The 10 minute bunch (1st lap 18:26) was caught along Parkers Road and these riders also joined the bunch.
Kennedy and Jones form the 16 minute bunch (1st lap 20:02) along with Patrick (1st lap 22:29) were caught within half a lap to go. Following this the pace slackened as the bunch thought everyone had been brought in. This did not stop Yeatman setting the pace for much of the remaining race, in between mini attacks from Sander. It appeared that K Walker and Stiles had used up all their energy in the first three laps.
While the chase bunch cruised along, Snowden and Muggerige joined hands as they crossed the line 2 minutes ahead. Due to this the commissaire ruled them no placing and the sprint was on for first place.
Sander began the sprint about 1km out and soon slowed. Another surge saw Barker follow Baxter. Yeatman grabbed Barker’s wheel only to be passed by Thomson. With another 150m to go, Barker was passed and the win went to Thomson with Yeatman 2nd and Barker 3rd. ???, Marut, Brown, Stiles, K. Walker, ???, N. Walker, Henry and Ballie are recorded as finishing in the stated order. Stiles scooped fastest time.
Fastest time 1:07:50 for 45.33km.
