Small field for last race
THE last club road race for the season was hosted by the Leongatha Cycling Club at Dumbalk on Saturday.
The persistent rain affected numbers with none of the Warragul club risking the drive over but the rain surprisingly cleared for the race.
With only seven starters two grades were formed but started together as a bunch in an intra-club hit out.
Tony Giles and Leigh Stott led the bunch out of Dumbalk at a steady pace, then Alex Dunbar led into the first little climb to Foster Road. Giles again took front position but soon it was the A graders leading the way.
Unfortunately Rod Cheyne’s legs were a little heavy after racing at the Masters National Championships (coming in 8th – well done Rod) and he lost contact.
Down the other side Giles didn’t like the pace so attacked and went to the front again where the bunch was happy to let him sit. Coming in to the Limonite climb Ollie McLean, Stott and Dunbar set a steady pace up the ascent which was a little too much for Peter McLean and Giles but Syd Jackson pushed to go with them until it became a bit too much as well and eased back.
The three A graders disappeared in to the distance as McLean peddled up to Jackson with Giles on his wheel.
They even had time for a little chat as they made their way to the top where Kerry Fitzgerald was waiting to turn them around for the return trip. Jackson and McLean had put nearly 50 metres in to Giles but with an extra effort Giles made contact again by the top of the climb.
The return proved a fairly social affair until the last little climb into Dumbalk and the finish line. In A Grade Stott went first but couldn’t shake Ollie McLean and Dunbar so eased back. He went again towards the top but Ollie came around him with Dunbar. In the sprint Ollie held Dunbar off for the win, Dunbar second and Stott third.
In B Grade Giles attacked too early at the bottom and was covered by McLean, then Jackson went. Jackson held on to get first over the line from a close Peter McLean with Giles a further 50 metres back. Rod Cheyne came in another seven minutes back with tired legs.
Many thanks to Steve Wilson, Jim Geary and Kerry Fitzgerald for running the day.
Dumbalk winners: B Grade winner, Syd Jackson , left, with A Grade winner, Ollie McLean.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Oct 23 2018. Filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
