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Norwood Cycling Club Tuesday series #14
Regency Park, South Australia February 17, 2004
Biggs wins A-grade after four-man escape
Another warm evening and great for fast racing didn’t see too many breaks form as the pace was too high and kept the bunches together.
E grade kept together with the mixture of new and old and rode at a reasonably high pace. A few of the new riders were a little twitchy and ended up coming to grief in the back straight but we hope they get well soon and back in the racing. After a false sprint the riders rode around again and for the second time Graeme Zucker using his explosive speed came through for the win again.
The large D grade bunch had an extraordinary race but mainly stayed together with the high pace and wouldn’t let any rider attempt a break. Interference on the actual racing circuit near the finishing line endangered the safety of the riders so instead of their 35 minute race ended up cruising for over an hour. Most riders seemed to enjoy this and made the most of their extra time to catch up with a mate. Eventually the sprint was won by a shocked Peter Sabine, who before the race thought it would be too tough on him.
Luckily C grade were able to get their race in prior to any disturbance on the course. One rider who has enjoyed advancing through the grades and always going on the attack is Martin Middlemiss who teamed up with Rik Barnsley to open a good break. Both riders stayed out in front for a few laps before the bunch thought it might be dangerous and bought them back. Matt Grimmond had a lucky ride after hitting a bump and wreaking his bike but managed to stay upright. Eventually Barnsleys teammate Stephen Cunningham easily took the bunch sprint win over an improving Adam Garrod.
One rider who has been on a rampage through the bunches and moved from D grade now into A is Stuart Cathcart. With a quality field of B grade riders he was not holding back in the sprint and easily took the win over Chris dos Santos and Mike Wheeler. Wheeler had earlier made a big break with Victorian Rohan Essex and was eventually bought back but was able to pick up a place in the sprint.
Again A grade had a big field of riders and jumped from the gun as soon as they said go. Graham Rootes back from injury this season teamed up with Peter Mueller, David Holland and German Pro Arne Hinrichsen who opened a good four man break over the field. After they were bought back mountain bikers Chris Jongewaard and Nick Bossy teamed with current State Champion Alan Gill for the second group attack and again opened a good looking break, but were eventually bought back. Then almost the same as the weekend Ben Biggs and Jongewaard attacked and teamed with Mat Rex and Hinrichsen and proceeded to work exceptionally to open a good break. The bunch could not work together and these powerful four riders were able to just ride away. This time it was Biggs who took the win and Jongewaard controlled the others and was able to take second over Rex and Hinrichsen. Chris Luxton made no mistake this week and was able to win the bunch sprint in to take fifth.
Results
A grade 1 Ben Biggs (Mittiga/Norwood Parade Cycles) 2 Chris Jongewaard (JT Cycles/Brighton) 3 Mat Rex (SASI/Rio Coffee/Main North Nissan) 4 Arne Hinrichsen (Germany/Stevens – Vonhacht) 5 Chris Luxton B Grade 1 Stuart Cathcart 2 Chris dos Santos 3 Mike Wheeler (Herb Valley/Art Ceramics) 4 Stephen Sabine (JT Cycles/Salisbury) 5 Todd Rolton (Bicycle Express C Grade 1 Stephen Cunningham (Trak Cycles/Ciombola) 2 Adam Garrod 3 Paul Wainwright 4 Jarrod Cross (Trak Cycles/Ciombola) 5 Rik Barnsley (Bernie Jones Cycles) D Grade 1 Peter Sabine 2 Jake Edwards (Glenelg Cycles) 3 Keith Wong (Bicycle Express) 4 James Davies (Bicycle Express) 5 Craig Lienert E Grade 1 Graeme Zucker (Bicycle Express) 2 Duncan Fairclough 3 Andrew Welsh (Key Home Loans) 4 Sue Ann Woodwiss 5 Bradley Crawford Juniors 1 Edward Petney 2 Tiffany Cromwell (Bicycle Express) 3 Travis Frisby (Trek)
