Results Pararparap: June 13th, 2009
The Geelong Cycling Club held racing at Paraparap on what has been the coldest race day that many have experienced in a long time. With many club members racing the Fred Icke Memorial in Creswick a small but enthusiastic field of 16 assembled to take on six laps of the Paraparap course.
The handicapper broke the field into four bunches with Limit (20 mins) fielding a 6 rider bunch, 2nd Limt (15 mins) with three riders, 2nd Scratch (8 minutes) starting with four riders and a small but dangerous group of three from the scratch mark.
The starter issued his orders with the comment that the bunch that works best together on a cold and windy day would probably be the winner and with that the limit bunch was underway. Unfortunately the limit riders did not stay together and their bunch split up during the first lap with Stephan Bos trying for a long day in the saddle and a solo victory, Lisa Happ and Daniel Alban stuck together and kept the pace consistent and event between them. The remainder of Limit appeared to be spread over a couple of minutes behind them.
The 15 minute bunch began the race at a good even tempo with visting rider Matt Pope, first time rider David Rae and an improving Suzanne Always making some inroads into the limit markers but did not look as though they would have the pace to hold out the 8 minutes bunch over the duration of the race. Anthony Reyntjes was an early causality of the 8 minute bunch leaving John Burtt and young guns Steve Del Gallo and Brad Young to do the early chase work on their own.
The three man scratch bunch were riding a great tempo, keeping it smooth and taking consistient time out of all bunches in front of them. By the half way point of the race scratch were right on schedule having taking 10 minutes out of the leaders who had started with a 20 minute advantage. For scratch to get up I am sure they were hoping for windier and colder conditions to descend on the field.
The race leaders, Lisa Happ and Daniel Alban, were riding extremely well together and it looked as though they may just be able to hold out the now combined 8 and 15 minute bunches with two laps remaining. Scratch stil had 6 minutes to make up on the leaders with the now combined 8 and 15 minute bunches looking solid but did not look all that fast, this of course is sometime just an indication that they are riding smoothly and keeping their pace measured.
At the start of the final lap Lisa Happ and Daneil Alban held a 2 minute lead from the 8 and 15 minute bunches with scratch coming through just 3.30 from the race lead. The handicappers started to look smug as they and the spectators realised that the finish was going to be up for grabs to which ever bunch wanted the win the most.
A valiant ride from Lisa Happ and Daniel Alban was unfortunately not rewarded and came to an end as the combined 15 and 8 minute bunches finally caught the two leaders, after an epic 5 1/2 lap chase, on the final time along Grays Rd. A bunch sprint looked likely between the remnants of the front three bunches, however Scratch was still making significant inroads into them.
With the finish flap now in sight a bunch sprint was inevitable and it was clear that scratch was going to just miss out on the win. John Burtt attacked hard just as he did to win the Annual 20 earlier in the year but Matt Pope and David Rae were alert enough to follow this tactic. Matt Pope showed off his sprinting prowess to take the win by a few bike lengths from a close finish between David Rae over John Burtt for the minor placings.
Some 30 seconds later, Steve Young took the sprint for fastest time over Daryl Suter and Grant Blake.
Many thanks also to all the marshals for today's race, on what was a cold and miserable day to be standing out in the countryside, your efforts were most appreciated.
Brief Results:
- Matt Pope
- David Rae
- John Burtt
Steve Young (Fastest Time)
Full race results are posted here.
The club's next race will be the club's inaugural Hill Time Trial up Benwerrin starting at Deans Marsh. Please ensure that you enter early either online or via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
If you are a first timer and interested in getting involved with the Geelong Cycling Club please log onto the club website and register you interest, alternatively contact the club via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Make sure that you also check out our "getting started" section.
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