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Warragul Cycling Club

Huge Hill Hardens Handicap, July 31, 2004

Stealthy win for Keeble

A textbook handicap race was executed on Saturday as thirty-one cyclists ventured out to the final round of the Shady Creek Super Series hosted by the Warragul Cycling Club. While the sun shone brightly throughout the entire race, it was at its strongest for race handicapper Staf Duncan who had the tough task of setting handicap times from a handful of recent race averages for all grades. Making the task more difficult was the racing locale of Shady Creek, not exactly renowned for handicap events due to the bunch-breaking 1.6km hill climb on Nilma-Shady Creek Road. However, true to Staf's script the scratch group rode like a bunch possessed, catching the dead legs of the outlying markers by the final 2km and setting up a sensational finish claimed by stealth rider Scott Keeble.

First off the ranks and with an eighteen minute buffer on the scratch bunch were outmarker juniors Sam Atkinson and Brendan Pridmore, guided by Glenda Pridmore and Lawrence Maskill. The four would find it tough to stay together on the first climb, with Brendan Pridmore riding off the wheel of his mother and Lawrence. Sam Atkinson also found the pace tough as they powered over the ascent and into the Nilma North flats, and he retired from the toll after the first lap.

Six minutes later the D grade bunch set off, consisting of Roger Bell, Paul Kennedy, Helmut Korab (with shoes), Allan Hauxwell and Rod Atkinson. With Roger Bell on some flying form, this group also splintered on the hill with only Allan Hauxwell keeping the wheel of Bell. The two powered on for the remaining first lap, picking up Glenda and Lawrence by the end of the start/finish crossing and with a five and a half minute buffer on the chasing scratch bunch. Paul and Helmut remained together a minute back, followed by Rod Atkinson and each feeling the strain of pushing too hard on the hill.

The C grade bunch consisted of Michael Pridmore, Glenn Fisher, Vic Spunner, Daniel Dilger and Monique Hanley and was another group pushing their limits on the first ascent to stay clear of the chasing groups. With Dilger keen for some parting success at his last Warragul race, he set the tempo on both the uphill and the downhill, ensuring the C bunch toed the line. With the heart rate rising, Glenn Fisher opted for a safer HR zone and lost contact off the back before retiring early, while the cunning Vic Spunner hung on to begin the final lap. It would be a tough ask to protect their three-minute lead on the chase groups behind.

The third scratch bunch, and with only an initial three-minute buffer on the scratchies, consisted of Tim Lee, Brett Rollinson, Luke Hanley, Dean Logan and Pete Finlayson. Following a fast start thanks to Tim Lee, the small bunch pushed up the first climb extremely hard, but continued to work together and cross the first lap with a solid time, yet only one minute ahead of the chasing bunches. The second B grade bunch started one and a half minutes later, and consisted of Scott Keeble, Pete Johnstone, Pete Bailey, James Henry and Mike Brown. Returning from a racing hiatus, Pete Bailey showed his displeasure at his high bunch grading by attacking his own group from the starters gun, stringing the bunch out in the so-called neutral zone to Darnum-Shady Creek Road. Unsure of the point he made or whether he was bridging the gap to the slower bunch ahead, he was a spent force by the top of the climb. The intensity was also rough for youngster Pete Johnstone, losing touch with his bunch and requiring Scott Keeble to drop back and help him regain contact. They succeeded in re-grouping by the bell.

The scratch bunch was strengthened with the return of John McKenzie fresh from some strong regional outings, and with Josh Akarsu back from interstate. But it was veteran Geoff Thomson who led the attack out hard from the start. Perhaps too hard, giving the remaining field comprising Thomas Sandner, Jason Kruger, Steve Sandner and Chris Beales little chance to breathe. Although spent by the turn into Darnum-Shady Creek Road, Thommo's work was done, and he sat on the back of the pack for the remaining race. His effort, however, cost newly promoted rider Chris Beales an early exit as he opted to return to the car park. John McKenzie set a scorching 38km/h pace up the first half of the climb, slowing only slightly for the remainder of the pass. By the descent, the pack had scorched across to the second scratch bunch, and the two bunches combined for the remaining lap.

By the time the scratch bunch had reached the bottom of the second climb, they had also caught up with the third scratch group. Only two major groupings lay ahead: C grade at around 2 minutes, and D grade at around four minutes and falling fast as Roger Bell, Allan Hauxwell and Brendan Pridmore tired. A haze of cycling helmuts could be seen by C grade in the distance along Nilma North Road, but their attempts to remain clear were thwarted by heart rates outside their limits. The C grade pace was no match for the large swarm behind who rocketed up the false flats of Stuhrs Road and onto Darnum-Shady Creek Road in almost no time. Defeat was conceded and the C grade trio were consumed as the amalgamated groups turned their focus to the final rogue three ahead.

Without any fuel left, a surge with 3km remaining spelt the end for the podium hopes of D grade riders Bell, Hauxwell and Brendan Pridmore. Brett Rollinson led the field out for the finish as the pack fought for position. Keeping close to his wheel was Scott Keeble, timing well his run for the line to claim victory ahead of Josh Akarsu and Geoff Thomson. Disqualifications for Akarsu and Thomson from illegal use of the road meant the minor podium places were awarded to young Pete Johnson and Thomas Sandner.

There will be no club racing for the next two weeks as the Warragul Cycling Club focuses on obtaining racing permits and risk management plans for the rest of the year. Instead, training rides are scheduled at 2pm on Saturday 7th and 14th of August, leaving from Bike Land. The Club will return to racing with the launch of its spring racing season on the 21st August. Further information is available at the club website www.warragulcyclingclub.org.au.

Results

Handicap, 34km
 
1 Scott Keeble (1.5 minutes)               1.09.42
2 Pete Johnstone (1.5 minutes)
3 Thomas Sandner (Scratch)
4 Mike Brown (3 minutes)
5 Brett Rollinson (3 minutes)
6 John McKenzie (Scratch)
7 Michael Pridmore (7 minutes)
8 Roger Bell (12 minutes)
9 Pete Finlayson (3 minutes)
10 Luke Hanley (3 minutes)
 
Fastest time: Thomas Sandner (Scratch)     1.09.42

Local results 2004

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