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Markouris Wins Back To Back
Cooler conditions did not necessarily make for easier racing at Coburg's recent Thursday night crit race. Last week's 36 degrees was replaced with a mild 20 degrees with a strong wind buffeting the riders and not allowing any break to succeed.
A Grade saw Dennis Markouris (Giromondo Cyles) score his second victory in as many weeks. Markouris was content to sit in the middle of the bunch for most of the race and followed the Brunswick duo of Steve Lyndburn and Jake Sunderland (Lygon Cycles). This tactic paid dividends as Markouris turned the last corner in third wheel and managed to overpower the Brunswick duo. Markouris tested his legs for a flying lap at 55kmph. Content with his speed, he settled back into the bunch to devise his finishing strategy. Ken Allen after attempting many unsuccessful breaks lead the bunch through the last corner before being overpowered by Markouris and Sunderland. Allen finished third, continuing the Mountain bikers good recent form.
B grade was fiercely contested. With last weeks C Grade winner Adrian Hanson showing the senior riders how to sprint. A few riders tried to launch attacks but all ran out of legs due to the blustery conditions and a committed peleton. Most of the work was done by the Coburg trio Xavier Csar, Adrian Hanson and Paul Logan. On the last lap Xavier attempted to turn on the gas down wind into the last corner, however rounding the final corner into the straight he found is line impeded by a car towing a van. Xavier had to slow temporarily and the long straight into the wind caught up with him as Paul and Adrian came around in the last 100m. Adrian was given the honours on the line by the width of a tyre from Paul and Adrian bringing up 3rd. This comes after his narrow defeat of Mussie Akgun the week before, showing that Hanson obviously learnt a trick or two at the Bay Crits and that he is over his glandular fever.
C grade.
Some work horse in blue top (finished fourth) was happy to sit at the front for most of the race, with professional c grade rider, Mel Humphreys-Grey sticking to his wheel. On occasions the duo slipped away from the field, but Muzzie Agkun narrowly defeated in last weeks sprint was hoping for a better result this day and was quick to work hard to bring it all back together. Branko Verkic in his first race managed to slip away with the A grade bunch, until Cubitt ( CoburgCycling.com) - acting as C grade coach, informed Branko of some racing etiquette! Paul Bunn and Teck Chin were content on sitting at the back of the bunch practicing positioning themselves to stay out of the wind. Young Sunderland showed some strong power at the front in the early parts of the race, as did Terry "the tiger" Stewart. Branko demonstrated his potential, but was happy to sit in the bunch and develop some bunch experience. John Marcan training for the upcoming Sunbury Fair criterium ground it out each lap in what looked like a 53-12, but despite his power was unable to wind it up in time for the finish line.
"The horse" died meters from the line after doing a 10lap lead out, Mel Humphreys-Grey celebrated promotion to B Grade with a win ahead of Akgun who yet again left his attack 10m too late. Craig from Sunbury grabbed third on the line followed by "the horse" and then Marcan. C grade competitors would like to farewell Mel, Muzzi and "the horse" to B grade!
A Grade (average speed 42.3kmph) 1 D Markouris (Fty) 2 J Sunderland (Bwk) 3 K Allan (Dirt Riders) B Grade (average speed 38.4 km/hr) 1 A Hanson (CoburgCycling.com) 2 P Logan (CoburgCycling.com) 3 X Csar (CoburgCycling.com) C Grade (average speed 36.5 km/hr) 1 M Humphreys-Grey (Nor) 2 M Agkun (CoburgCycling.com) 3 A Craig (Sunbury-Hume)