Promoters wishing to submit results should send them to cyclingnews
Ninety four riders lined up at Burleigh this week, with a strong tail wind blowing down the finishing straight, but thankfully with cooler temperatures than the heat wave conditions that have been present for most of the summer period.
The A Grade riders showed they were ready to race, with Riki Lanyon and Dave Costanzo going off the front in the first lap, and holding a slim lead before being swallowed up ten minutes later. It was then the turn of Jon Cantwell and Jim Burke to have a go, and when they had built a lead of 30 seconds with 20 minutes remaining, there was a faint possibility that they could stay away.
The bunch had other ideas though, and within three laps the race was together again. This was the signal for Jason Phillips, along with visiting US rider Jesse Lawler and Chris Thompson to attack, and with three laps remaining they had a 15 second lead over a bunch that was racing without much enthusiasm. At two to go Cantwell, Lanyon and Crackles Cahill took off in pursuit of the leaders, they made contact in the back straight on the last lap, and on the line it was Cantwell showing a clean pair of wheels to Phillips and Lawler.
B Grade was also won from a break, with Viktor Temesi and Steve Christie getting away in the last 10 minutes, while new CATS member and first year Under 17 rider Todd Dawson used his track speed to take out C Grade.
D Grade was won by Steve Drew from "golden oldies" Martin Davis and Stan James, while Vince Nucifora proved too strong for Rob Rota in E Grade.
Meanwhile, CATS riders Robbie McEwen and Sara Carrigan have had a booming start to the year down south. Robbie took out the Bay Series Crits overall, he won the Australian Criterium Championship with a scintillating burst of speed in the last 300 metres, then a week later won a two up sprint to win the Australian Road Championship. He then capped off an amazing three weeks with four stage wins in the Tour Down Under.
Sara won the Australian Time Trial Championship, finished third overall in the Bay Series Crits and placed fourth in the Australian Road Championship. A great start to the year for them both, and we wish them continued good form as the season progresses.
Information on the Gold Coast CATS Cycling Club is available on the club web site at www.goldcoastcats.com
A Grade - 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 Jon Cantwell 2 Jason Phillips 3 Jesse Lawler 4 Chris Thompson B Grade - 50 minutes + 3 laps 1 Viktor Temesi 2 Steve Christie 3 Shane Scott 1st Lady Lorian Graham C Grade - 40 minutes + 3 laps 1 Todd Dawson 2 Brad O'Rourke 3 Joel Davis 4 John Mildenhall D Grade - 30 minutes + 3 laps 1 Steve Drew 2 Martin Davis 3 Stan James 4 Sarah Rota E Grade - 20 minutes + 3 laps 1 Vince Nucifora 2 Rob Rota 3 Byron Davis