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by Malcolm Sawford
Another great turnout on a fine Melbourne day, with 145 riders competing across all grades. Many of the elite riders are doing big miles in training, in preparation for the 2002 road season, but it doesn't seem to diminish the pace of their racing.
Twilight is falling a little later these days, and the A Grade race duration was lifted back to the traditional 1 hour plus 3 laps format around the long circuit. Those extra 10 minutes can crack you if you're finding the pace uncomfortable! The early attack came after 5 minutes, with Cam Lester (ProMotion), James Taylor (ACR) and Shaun Boschert forcing the pace off the front for a few laps.
They were joined by inform riders Robert Tighello (ACR), Hilton Clarke (NetZero), Warren Knevitt (O'Mara Cycles), Ray Turner (Park Tools/Repco/Diamond Back) and another blast from the past Matt Gould at the 20 minute mark. The group worked well and maintained their advantage until the half way mark of the race before a concerted chasing effort from the bunch saw things regroup.
Tighello, Clarke and Knevitt went again a few minutes later, joined by trackie Leigh De Luca, but the quartet was not able to work together as well as the larger group, and the attack did not stick. Tighello and Clarke attacked again at the 42 minute mark, and this time managed to leave the peleton quickly behind.
The pair worked even turns, and never looked like being caught, while behind Knevitt, Taylor and Turner left the bunch in a fruitless pursuit. Tighello was too good at the finish, with Clarke having no answer when the former Australian road champ launched his sprint to the line. Ray Turner just managed to hold off the bunch ahead of Thaddeus Roos (Bicycle Superstore), inches ahead of the unlucky De Luca who had lead the chasing bunch the entire length of the finishing straight.
The B Grade stayed pretty much intact for the first half of the race, before the big hitters came out to play. Web guru Mike Clucas (SBR) was in the first serious move, with vet Ken Mayberry and Cameron Streistermanis. A larger group was needed to stay clear of the huge bunch, and the next move saw the trio joined by Steve Martin and Brett Morton.
The break swelled further at the 45 minute mark with first time B Grade rider Grant Jamieson bridging along with Bruce Will and Gary Trowell. No one else had the strength to bridge the growing gap, and the race was all over for the main bunch.
Streistermanis, fresh from Dave Sanders' elite training camp the week before attacked his breakaway companions over the top of the slight rise at the back of the circuit, and chased valiantly by Clucas, rode to an emphatic win, in what will be his only ride in B Grade. Renowned fast finisher Gary Trowell had the best legs of the rest to take 3rd ahead of Bruce Wills. Justin Davis lead the main bunch home 10 seconds later.
C Grade also saw success to a breakaway group, with 6 riders finishing well clear of the chasing bunch. Fairly unusual on as close to a windless day as we get at the exposed AFL Park circuit, when every attack is usually quickly chased. After the completion of their race, wily Masters riders Tony Sullivan and Martin Peeters had the freshest legs of the break, finishing ahead of Adam Forster and David Pearce in the sprint to the line.
Gavin Nicholls took his first win in the D Grade race, although he will probably chose to start his sprint a little later next time round, having to manhandle his bike the last 100 meters to the line as the lactic acid build up threatened to make his legs seize! Paul Groves finished a close second, ahead of Apryl Eppinger and John Attard.
Liz Taddich was again the best Women's performer, staying with the main bunch to take out the B Grade event ahead of Katrina Purcell, the only other finisher in that race, who lost contact with the bunch in the final lap. Cheryl Hickman again took the honours in C Grade, while young Tess Downing finished just outside the overall placingsin D Grade.
No racing next Tuesday, which is Christmas Day, but all other Carnegie Caulfield racing continues as usual over the holiday period.
A Grade (1 hour+ 3 laps) 1 Robert Tighello (SKCC) 2 Hilton Clarke (NetZero) 3 Ray Turner (Bendigo CC) 4 Thaddeus Roos (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) B Grade (50 mins+ 3 laps) 1 Cameron Streistermanis (Brunswick CC) 2 Mike Clucas (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Gary Trowell (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Bruce Will (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) C Grade (45 mins + 3 laps) 1 Tony Sullivan (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Martin Peeters (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Adam Forster (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 David Pearce (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) D Grade (40 mins + 3 laps) 1 Gavin Nicholls (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Paul Groves (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Apryl Eppinger (Chelsea & Peninsula CC 4 John Attard (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)