18/10/2003
For the first time this season the winter white legs of the Warragul cyclists were bathed in sunshine at the start of the Lillico scratch race. Numbers were down because many were saving themselves to go around the bay the next day and subsequently B-Grade could not post a field.
With the temperature creeping above the mid twenties the cries for race organiser Staf to cut the race distances were echoed amongst the grades. Consequently, the A-grade race was cut to four laps and despite the protests of Ian Walk (who threatened to lie down on the track after three laps) C-grade would do the same.
The A-Grade group comprising Geoff Thomson, Thomas Sandner, Shane Stiles and Scott Keeble headed off with a little over an hours ride ahead of them. Shane’s race literally came ‘unglued’ just after the first corner of the race. Trying to save money on tubes by patching his old ones cost him the race and he spent the next two laps riding solo.
Thomo enjoyed covering the attacks from Scott and Thomas who set the pace. Lap one took 16:36, lap two a slower 17:09, and lap three a quicker 16:50. The final lap would see all three finish together over the two sharp hills that lead into a downhill sprint. Not renowned for his sprint finish, Thomas clicked into the right gear to beat off Scotty and cross the line first. Thomo feeling a little guilty for hanging on decided to roll over the line in third with a total time of 1:07:04.
New rider Luke Whitmore joined the bunch of 9 C-Graders and was eager to impress by spending considerable time at the front.
Shane Wainwright made his return to cycling with the ambition of hanging in with the peleton for at least one lap. Times of 19:55, 19:19 and 19:50 were posted for the first three and it wasn’t until Luke and Steve Sandner made a break across the start finish line that Shane called it quits.
Several riders were unable to bridge to the two leading cyclists. Rather than quit, Ian was able to make the jump along with Rob Monk and Monique Hanley leaving a bunch of five up front.
This bunch remained together with the inexperienced Luke leading them through the back straight and the final hills. Steve Sandner made the most of his good position to jump them on the final hill and was not passed to conclude proceedings in a time of 1:15:47. Rob Monk not suited to the last climb finished second followed by Ian Walk. Luke and Monique crossed shortly after.
The final bunch lead by Steve Evans crossed in a time of 1:17:06. Following him across the line was Steve Hall, Glenn Fisher and Dave Axford.
D-Grade enjoyed three laps in the sunshine and remained together for the first (20:31). The next lap saw Daniel de Blauw, Vic Spunner and Kym Fisher got away in the next lap to post a time of 21:06. Glenda Pridmore crossed shortly after with some solid cycling. Brendan and Ian were 1 minute in arrears.
The final lap resulted in Vic and Daniel pulling away to fight it out for first. Vic proved too strong in the finish and took out the ten points and cross in a total time of 1:02:58. Kym, Brendan and Glenda rounded out the final placings.
Next weeks racing is at Shady Creek.
