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After losing the last two Tuesday nights to rain storms, racing returned with a bang last night, November 27, with the 30km handicapped criterium around one of Sydney's windiest and most demanding crit circuits.
The 25 strong B and C grade fields got off to impressive starts by keeping the tempo up and creating a real challenge for the 18 strong A grade field who had over a minute to make up on the two kilometre circuit. The A grade field were bolstered by the presence of NSW Academy of Sport riders Jono Hall, Brent Dawson, Mark Renshaw and Steve Wooldridge and had B grade in their sights with seven laps to go, but determined rides from masters strongmen 'Dr Bob' Hampshire and Geoff 'Caveman' Butler, meant the two bunches didn't come together until four laps to go.
C grade, who seem to ride stronger every week (A grade have yet to win outright), still had a comanding lead at this stage, so the A & B grade bunch still had their work cut out to claim line honours, however impressive turns by NSWIS riders Renshaw, Davis and Dawso set up a thrilling last lap finale.
With the train at full 55km throttle down the straight Jose Rodiriguez lead it out, but it was evergreen Warren Doyle who had the speed and skill to find a path through the C grade bunch and claim third outright as two C grade escapees Luc Gowty and Peter Carter had already crossed the line for first and second.
Mark Renshaw and mountain biker Tim Bartholomew got the last two places in front of 16 year old Warren Scott who positioned himself well to win B grade.
1 Luc Gowty (Easts) 2 Robbie Cater (Randwick Botany) 3 Warren Doyle (Northern Suburbs) 4 Jose Rodrigues (Easts) 5 Mark Renshaw (Bathurst) First A Grade (not placed): Tim Batholomew (St George) First B Grade: Warren Scott (St George)