23/09/2006
Warragul Cycling Club members dominated Saturdays combined WCC and Latrobe City Cycling Club race at Yinnar on Saturday. Despite the home course advantage the locals were outnumbered and out-ridden by the visitors from down the highway.
In A grade Shane Stiles lined up at the start and asked one of the locals for directions about where the course went. “ok, so its left, straight on a bit, then left and loop back and then another left. right got it.” The race started and the Valley boys never saw Shane again. After attacking into a headwind from the start he rode clear off the front and try as they might the Latrobe boys could not bring him back. Next Luke Handley jumped over the gap to Shane, then Dave Salton made it across. James narrowly missed his window and the 3 strongest riders were off the front and they went on to win by minutes. Shane first, Luke second and Dave third.
In B grade the bunch stayed together for the whole race as the windy conditions would not suit a breakaway. Chris Beales worked the group hard up the gentle climb on the second of three 20km laps but this was the only time the bunch looked like splitting. In the sprint to the line Rob Monk just pipped Chris with Paul Yeatman in third spot.
In C grade Graeme Patrick of Warragul took the race. Latrobe rider Wayne Tunks came in second.
In the Ladies race, Steffi Hoffer won from Tammy Patrick with Gita Walker in third place.
Cyrus Monk was the only junior to compete and he finished just behind the ladies after staying with them for much of the race.
