Chris Rowe outfoxes scratch riders

SATURDAY’S racing was held from Tarwin Lower with the Senior field racing out to Walkerville and back.
Weather conditions were fine and cool with a light wind.
With 17 riders in the field and strong backmarker numbers it was set up for them to dominate.
The race involved the climb up the hill to the Cape Liptrap turnoff, a plunge down to the top estate at Walkerville followed by a stiff climb back up the Cape Liptrap corner before the long run back to Tarwin Lower.
By the time the field had returned to the hilltop the three rider scratch group (Brett Franklin, Stefan Kirsch and Will Lumby) had joined with the three minute bunch of Peter Hollins, Harrison McLean and Chris Rowe and had the rest of the field covered.
The power riding of the back markers quickly shed numbers up the rise at the eight mile corner leaving the fittest riders to contest the outcome.
Chris Rowe was not keen to leave it to a sprint and managed to open a gap with only a kilometre to go.
This let Chris sprint solo to the line for the win just ahead of a fierce three up battle for the minor places.
Brett Franklin had a narrow clearance for second and fastest time (1hr 6.o6 min) ahead of Will Lumby, third and Stefan Kirsch fourth.
Just behind was Peter Hollins fifth, Harrison McLean sixth, Morgan Barnes seventh, Brad Bouquet eighth, Bernadette Fitzgerald ninth and Rob Waddell rounding out the top 10.
There were 10 Junior riders for the 18 kilometre race out and back on the Walkerville Road.
Max Slinger and Sullivan Herbert were on 11minutes, Felicity Waddell, Alfie Herbert and Michael Eastwood were all on nine minutes then there was a big gap back to Tom Fitzgerald, Mitch Harry and Kaleb Jans at two minutes, whilst on scratch Matt Winchester and Oliver McLean had plenty of work and no hills to help.
Felicity was quickly into a good tempo dropping her co-markers on the run to the turn.
Max Slinger was first to turn but was only 100m ahead of Felicity.
The back five had also grouped up by the turn and Matt and Oliver had the bunch travelling well.
Felicity continued her good pedalling on the return to have a clear win.
Alfie Herbert rounded the last bend just ahead of a fast finishing bunch and just hung on to his lead to claim second.
Oliver won the bunch sprint for third and also took fastest time – 35.00min.
Next home was Matt, followed by Tom, Mitch, Max, Kaleb, Sullivan and Michael
The weekend also saw club riders racing elsewhere.
On Sunday several riders were racing at Boolarra in the Gippsland Road titles.
Harrison McLean obviously liked the hilly course as he won the elite Men’s road race.
Will Lumby was second in this race.
In the Women’s race, Grace Mclean took out second place while in the M15 division, Oliver McLean scored a win.
Whilst it is the local road season, the advent of the indoor velodrome in Melbourne means you can race on the track all year round and the past weekend there has been a major meet in Melbourne with an elite international attendance.
In support races Austin Timmins won his M17 wheelrace heat but had to settle for fourth in the final.
In the M19 group, Thomas McFarlane took out a B Grade scratch race and came second in the M19 keirin.
Next Saturday the club racing will be at Kernot.
That will be the last hit out for riders prior to the three day Gippsland Tour on the June long weekend.

Winners’ group:  from left, second Brett Franklin, first Chris Rowe, third Will Lumby and front, junior event winner Felicity Waddell.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on May 26 2015. 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