Break aways were the order of the day at the GCC Eastern Gardens Criteriums on the weekend. Given the calm and warmer than expected conditions, bunch sprints looked more in order, but the normal fastman weren't given much chance as breaks in A and B grades dominated their respective races.
 
Gary Wearmouth topped a five man escape group in A grade, while visiting Ballarat rider John McLachlan took out B grade from a two man break with Jarrod Malone. Matt Castles headed C grade home in front of ex-Sun tour rider Paul Robertson and ever improving Phil Spark.

How it Happened...

A Grade:

A grade left the start line in a surprising sedate manner with no one keen to apply pressure early. This wasn't to last long as Greg Stewart and Brad Young tried their luck with some attacking riding. However the bunch wasn't going to have much of that, and the race came back together. Heading into the second lap Gary Wearmouth and Tom Paton rode off the front and were left dangling 100 metres up the road.

Steve Del Gallo sensed an opportunity and counter-attacked with Rudy Schmidt and Richard Jermiah on his wheel. The Trio quickly linked up with the front pair and began to work together to build a gap. Behind them a few riders including James Fitzgerald, Mick Varker and Greg Stewart tried to organise a co-ordinated chase.

Up front the gap began to blow out as the chase failed to gain momentum. Coming off a dominate win during last week's Footscray Cup, Tom Paton's diesel engine like motor helped to drive the break along and distance the bunch. With about 10 minutes to spare, the break had sighted the remaining field before caughing and lapping.

Hitting the final lap, Tom Paton attacked hard hoping to get away early and use his power to hold on for the winner. The rest of the break sensed his urgency and closely followed his slip-stream. Hitting the final rise to the finish Richard Jermiah tried his luck on the climb before Gary Wearmouth hit out with 400 metres to go. Steve Del Gallo and Rudy Schmidt clung to his wheel, but neither were able to get over him as he took the win with Steve and Rudy taking the minor placings.

B Grade:

Racing was aggressive in B grade as Steve Cuneen attacked the field out of the blocks. The bunch reeled him in, but he wasn't content to leave it there as he attacked repeatly hoping to get a gap. Unfortunately it wasn't to be as he ran out of legs and was forced to take it easy at the back of the bunch.

Other riders tried there luck with some aggression racing including Lewis Stolz, Oliver King and Brandan McKay. But the right combination proved ellusive as the escapes were repeatly reeled in. It wasn't until four laps to go that a move looked dangerous. Jarrod Malone and Ballarat's John McLachlan attacked together and the pair built a decent gap that looked like paying dividends. However the chase behind was organised and had the two leaders in sight up the final lap of the back straight.

But John McLachlan launched a powerful surge up the final rise to distance Jarrod and take a comfortable win. Jarrod just managed to roll across the line to take second, a couple of bike lengths in front of Paul Jane who took the bunch kick for third.

C Grade:

Racing was much more sedate in C grade with some tactical but conservative riding taking place. A few riders rolled the dice with some half-hearted attacks, but the bunch gave no one any leeway.

It quickly became evident that a bunch finish was in order and things were still together as the leading riders crested the final hill into the finish. In a fanastic first ride with the club, Matt Castles bested all to take the win in front of ex-Sun Tour rider Paul Robertson and 2010 Annual 20 winner Phil Spark.

Juniors:

The juniors took to the road with the C grade seniors to see how long they can last with the big boys. After a determined 20 minutes the two young guys, Will Keys and Rylan Bird dropped off to fight out the race individually. Rylan dug deep to fend off a challenge from Will to take the win.

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Photo Gallery:

For more photos, click here.

{If you are a first timer and interested in getting involved please log onto the club website and register you interest, alternatively contact the club via email. Make sure that you also check out our "getting started" section.}

The winter road calendar rolls on with Graded Criteriums at Eastern Gardens. Make sure you get out there and take advantage of this fantastic racing venue.

Racing will include:

9.00am - D Grade/Juniors (30mins) / B Grade (50 mins)
10.00am - C Grade (40 mins) / A Grade (60 mins)

Presentations will be conducted after racing. For more information, click here.

For the second year in a row the Footscray Cycling Club has taken home the Geelong V Footscray Cycling Clubs Challenge Cup on a day more suited to penguins than dogs and cats! The Challenge Cup, including a strange trophy concocted by the Geelong Cycle Club, is an annual event held in a spirit of friendly rivalry between these two clubs as a way of getting together and enjoying a little good natured competition. Hosted by the Geelong Cycling Club this year, the race was held out at the notoriously hilly and difficult SheOaks circuit in the Brisbane Ranges.

Thank you to Footscrays' Mark Micallef for this week's race report.



How it Happened...

A Grade (4 laps - 80km):

A-Grade started racing in cold, blustery and overcast conditions, with a Northerly crosswind that played havoc with riders on the fast, steep descents. Geelong rider Tom Paton attacked from the get-go, and set about building himself a commanding lead on the chasers. By the end of lap 2, Footscray rider Matt Heath bridged the gap to Paton; the pair riding together for another lap and a half, until the last and hardest climb of the day out of Steiglitz where Paton simply rode Heath off his wheel, continued on into the driving rain and won by a minute from Heath, who finished 30 seconds ahead of a ragged and wet looking peloton headed by Ben Johnson.

B Grade (3 laps - 60km):

B-Grade’s race was a race of attrition, with the bunch breaking up early on, with Footscray's Daniel Standen and Geelong's James Chronis simply riding away from the rest; in behind riders broke into two's and three's and struggled through the cold, wind and rain to get to the finish; many choosing in-stead to simple get back to the car and head home. In a true display of sportsmanship, Standen and Chronis crossed the line shoulder to shoulder with arms linked; the judges awarding Standen the win over Chronis, with 2008 Ross Bush Memorial winner Darren Ward a creditable third.

C Grade (3 laps - 60km):

With the largest field for the day, C-Grade’s race was a cracker from the start, with most riders throwing in an attack or two to liven up proceedings; riders who love the steep climbs would attack in the hills, and riders who enjoyed the flat, homeward run into the nasty crosswind attacking on the flat, second half of the lap. Within a lap the field had been whittled down to seven; three Geelong and four Footscray riders, and at this stage Geelong piled on the pressure and changed the odds to three Geelong and Two Footscray riders. In a turn of fortunes, Footscray's 'Fabulous' Phil Tehan attacked on the last climb out of Steiglitz, stringing riders out. This left Tehan 100 meters up the road, followed by Footscray's Mark Micallef and Geelong's David Rhodes; Rhodes, knowing that Micallef wouldn't help chase down his team mate, was left to work through the driving rain solo; Tehan just burying himself and building a commanding lead. An elated, chilled and soaked Tehan crossed the line about a minute ahead of the two chasers; Micallef rounding up the exhausted Rhodes in the last 100 meters and finishing second and 10 seconds clear of third placed Rhodes.

D Grade (2 laps - 40km):

D-Grade’s race was hampered firstly by the small number of riders that took part and secondly by the fact that the bunch disintegrated in no time flat; Footscray rider Leigh Kelly riding a lonely 2 laps to take the win a minute ahead of Geelong's Matt Castis for second and 30 seconds later Geelong's Nate Walsh cleaned up third.

For corrections to result please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


Photo Gallery:

For more photos, click here.

{If you are a first timer and interested in getting involved please log onto the club website and register you interest, alternatively contact the club via email. Make sure that you also check out our "getting started" section.}

The 2010 Ross Bush Memorial is fast approaching and is slated for Saturday September 4. This is our biggest race for the year with $1000 in prize money. As a result, it needs a lot of volunteers to make it happen.

At this point we need:

 - 10 Drivers (follow cars for each bunch)
 - 3 Corner marshals
 - 2 Finishing judges

If you are able to help out with this great event (and not planning to race), please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Your help is needed!