ANZAC Day Race Results: April 25, 2009
37 starters took to the line for the ANZAC day race at Paraparap. With winds reaching speeds in excess of 60kph a tough day was in store for all riders.
Seven groups started of marks of scratch, 1:40, 4:00, 7:30, 10:00. 14:00, 16:00 and 20:00. Our lonesome limit rider Lisa Nap stayed away from the chasers for 4 of the 5 laps in what would have to be one of the gutsiest riders of the day.
The handicappers job was a hard one as conditions would play havoc with all the groups on the road. After the first lap, it was evident that scratch was going to have a good day, as they had managed to bring the gap between them and the 1:40 group to back to only 20 secs. All the gaps had diminished at a rate far quicker then expected.
At the end of lap 2 - 2nd, 3rd and 4th limit had all combined as had scratch and the 1:40 bunch and where working very well to together. A few lone riders where scatted between the to major groups on the road. With the conditions being so tough there was a far attrition rate with almost 10 riders pulling out by the end of lap 2.
By lap 3 Lisa still held a 1:30 gap to the next chasing pack on the road with the scratch group only another 1:45 behind. Scratch had managed to bring back in excess of 16 minutes in 33 km’s of racing.
Lap 4 saw the combining of all the groups on the road with the lead bunch consisting of approx 20 riders. The forest road climb saw this bunch halve with Chris Fry deciding he would try his luck and break up the big group. This basically left a group of 7 riders left to fight out the finish.
The last drive up misery lane would see the decisive move with Kyle Marwood (Bendigo) and Mark Isaacs managing to get away from the other riders. This gap would remain and the two riders would fight out the finish on their own.
Kyle held off Mark to take the win and the fastest time with Chris Fry and Mark Bellew taking out the minor placings.
- 1st Kyle Marwood (Bendigo CC)
- 2nd – Mark Isaacs
- 3rd - Chris Fry
- 4th - Mark Bellew
Fastest time – Kyle Marwood 1:24:10 (39.20KPH)
Saturday also saw our first “Come n Try” day of the year. Conditions where not ideal but we still saw 25 riders come out to experience the days racing.
This week we head out to St Leonards for the Wood/Sellers handicap. Start time is 1:30pm. Please make sure you get your entries in by 5:00pm Thursday afternoon.
