Results: Summer Crit Series - Round 5

More than 60 riders converged on Eastern Beach for the fifth round of the Geelong Cycling Club Criterium Series.  Series leader, James Fitzgerald, was not in attendance and those close to him on the points table sensed an opportunity to move up in the standings.  Racing was contested across five grades in good conditions, albeit slightly hot and windy as the morning progressed.

How it happened...

A Grade
The absence of young gun James Langedyk and series leader James Fitzgerald meant that the A Grade race did not burst from the blocks as in previous weeks.  However, a very strong field would ensure that some pain was still going to be dished out over the course of one hour.  Marcus Wettenhall “upped the ante” just before the decent on lap two and the race began in earnest.   

At about lap five Paul Nyko put in a strong effort up the rise in Limeburners Point Road.  Gary Wearmouth saw this an opportune time to increase the pressure and attacked.   This created a break with the inform  Blake Hose, Marcus Wettenhall, international rider Tobyn Horton and Gary getting well clear of the main group.  Team tactics dampened the effectiveness of this break-away group with Marcus and Gary playing “cat-and-mouse”.  The lead group soon split with Tobyn and Blake working well together to build a strong lead over Marcus and Gary and the chasing peloton which was still trying to get organised.   In the closing laps, the gap between the leading two riders and the main chasing group, which now included both Marcus and Gary, was far too great to bridge.  After working well together for most of the race Tobyn broke clear of Blake in the last few hundred metres to take the chequered flag.  Paul Nyko managed to hold off the fast finishing bunch to claim third place having broken clear of the main group earlier.  A puncture forced Paul to take a lap out with about ten minutes remaining.  He quickly rejoined the race in a similar position and went on to take a well earned third place.

B Grade

Tommy Paton had a day out on Sunday smashing the field up then blowing the doors off the bunch to establish at one stage a half lap lead. Paul Jane and Adam Cullen also took turns at reeking havoc surging and backing off the field. A sprint finish showed Tommy’s class and signalled his readiness to join the A grade ranks.

C Grade

The C Grade field had the largest race numbers for the day with 31 riders massed on the starting line.  Racing was intense from the start with heavy casualties early on.  A bunch sprint ensued after 40 minutes of racing with Brendan McKay taking the honours from Laim McGarry and Tony Ross.

D grade

Seven riders contested the D Grade race.  The race was under control of experienced cyclists in John Burtt and Chris Gillespie for the first 15 minutes to give riders a chance to learn the finer point of bike racing.  Ben Culton took out the bunch sprint from a fast finishing Lisa Happ and Anne Vandenhurk.

Written by :

Simon Masters

 

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