Results: St Leonards - 8th August, 2009
James Langedyk has demonstrated why he'll be leading the club at the Geelong tour with a classy A grade win in fine, sunny conditions at St Leonards. Ever-green John Burtt also showed us why he'll be graduating to A grade next week with another win in B grade. Niel Maurer displayed his class winning C grade in his first outing at the club.
How it happened... A grade:
The smiles were quickly wiped off A grade riders when resident VIS star James Langedyk arrived at the start line of St Leonards and proceeded to pull of his leg warmers. Things didn’t approve as the wind seemed to began gusting hard while riders were called to the line and it came apparent that this wasn’t going to be an easy Saturday afternoon out. But a crack A grade field was on hand with Ironmen Mark Bellow and Paul Blackborrow, Ballart City Cycles rider Marcus Wettenhall and 4.30am hill repeat specialist James Stokie all ready to duke it out.
Things started slowly and riders were content to roll steady turns heading out along the coast and into the headwind towards Geelong. But before long things heated up as Marcus Wettenhall attacked hard with the bunch happy to give him a bit of rope. However he was quickly reeled in as the peleton turned left onto the back straight and into a slight cross wind. Unfortunately this came at a heavy cost as Greg Stewart, Deiter McDonald and Jono Thompson were unable to hold the pace and quickly lost contact. Heading back into St Leonards Mark Bellow didn’t let 32km of running the day before slow him down igniting a powerful solo attack. But not to be deterred by his previous efforts Marcus launched a gutsy counter attack to successfully bridge across. Unfortunately it was not to be as the bunch saw the danger and quickly brought them back. The early efforts then caught Marcus by surprise as his legs cramped up.
Second time round, Rudy Schmidt attempted to light the race up by putting things into the gutter along the back straight, but James Langedyk showed him who was boss, attacking hard up the road and shooting Rudy out the back. Numerous counter attacks followed, but the group held together for a bunch kick in the final lap. James had to throw his bike to hold off a rapidly finishing Mark Bellow. Meanwhile Marcus Falconer managed to hold on to take third in front of Paul Blackborrow and James Stokie.
| Result | Rider | Time | |
| 1 | James Langedyk | 1hr 44.15 | |
| 2 | Mark Bellow | @ st | |
| 3 | Marcus Falconer | @ st | |
| 4 | Paul Blackborrow | @ st | |
| 5 | James Stokie | @ 2 sec | |
| 6 | Rudy Schmidt | @ 4.50 min | |
| 7 | Greg Stewart | @ st | |
| 8 | Jono Thompson | @ st | Carnegie |
| 9 | Deiter McDonald | @ 4 sec | Colac |
| DNF | Marcus Wettenhall |
How it happened... B grade:
Ten riders faced the “B” grade start with “Attack Dog” Matt Oliver in a belligerent mood as he went “up the road” within the first 300m holding off the civilized rolling turns of the bunch until Indented Head. This set the pattern for the race for the first two laps, Matt attacks, bunch reel him back. Portarlington / Queenscliff Road had Matt out front “in the gutter” inflicting maximum pain on his unappreciative contemporaries. Despite the conditions the only victim was Jared Anskaitis discovering cover hard to find for his massive frame. Lap three saw some discontent creep into the bunch, the pace, conditions and attacks eroding willingness to “pull through” for several riders. Damien Maggs (Footscray) tried time and time again to reestablish the rolling turns but it seemed each time he got to the front, curiously he was hung out to dry.
Fed up, mid way to the Murradoc Roundabout Maggs launched an all out attack spurring a concerted if somewhat delayed response from the pack. Four Kilometers from home Maggs was reinstated melting to the back to recover, he was not done yet. With everybody looking at each other a few unknown quantities, Susan Always, Greg Hosking and Chloe McIntosh (Ballarat/Sebastapol) provided much food for thought. 800m from home a revitalized Maggs hit the bunch up the “hard side” leaping to a 45m advantage. Catching the mob napping John Burtt was first to respond dragging the canny Grant Blake with him.
On catching the spent Maggs, Blake immediately counter attacked off Burtt’s wheel expecting the line to be a little closer than the reality of 250m. As Blake eased Burtt considered his options with Hosking closing fast he held off for Blake to show his hand as long as he dared finally moving to the line for a win. Blake was a close second with Hosking incurring the wrath of the commissionaire, ceding third place to Brad Young.
Well done to all, a safe tactical race, the only incident being a puncture to Daniel Albam.
| Result | Rider | Time |
| 1 | John Burtt | 1hr 52.05 |
| 2 | Grant Blake | @ st |
| 3 | Bard Young | @ st |
| 4 | Chloe McIntosh | @ 5 sec |
| 5 | Susanne Always | @ st |
| 6 | Matt Oliver | @ 25 sec |
| 7 | Damien Harris | @ st |
| DSQ | Greg Hosking |
How it happened... C grade:
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| Result | Rider | Time |
| 1 | Neil Maurer | 1hr 18.15 |
| 2 | Phil Spark | @ st |
| 3 | Laim McGarry | @ 5 sec |
| 4 | Craig Strong | @ 55 sec |
| 5 | Lucas Snow | @ 6.13 min |
| 6 | Paul Hughes | @ st |
| 7 | Vincent Glynn | @ 2.42 min |
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