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Norwood Cycling Club Tuesday series final
Regency Park, South Australia, March 23, 2004
Rex takes final criterium
What looked to be one of the most hotly contested races of the season to finish off the point series between Mat Rex and Stuart Cathcart just turned in to a no contest. Unfortunately Cathcart punctured after about twenty minutes to end his chances of winning the series, he was also riding with two broken ribs and Rex attacked the bunch and just rode away. Rex won the series by eleven points and now looks forward to receiving the big cash prize.
In E grade it was the ladies again who enjoyed a strong race with Gemma Kernich and Rebecca Ormsby controlling the pace. They probably did a little too much work on the front because young Michael Karp came through to beat them in the sprint finish with Ormsby second and Kernich third.
After not finishing for the last two week due to mechanical failures Tom Baxter was just itching for a hard ride in D grade so he tried and early solo breakaway. He didn’t really last too long but was able to finish the event this week. Scott Hudson of the Barossa Valley rode a hard race throughout and was just too good and again took out the sprint win this time ahead of Peter Sabine and Paul Shepherd.
Syd Carter had his first ride back in C grade after a few years off riding the vets races. Despite being ‘almost’ 51 he showed the strength of someone half his age and powered up a number of breakaways. Carters first effort was with Tony Mingorance and Martin Middlemiss and certainly stirred the bunch up, but they were just testing their legs. After 25 minutes of their 40 minute race Carter went again this time with a few more hanging on to his wheel. Six riders started the break and two more joined, Carter, Bryce Alexander, Greg Ford, Mark Smith, Gavin Nugent, Mingorance, Alan Braggs and Chris Taylor. This time they never looked back and the race was over for the remainder of the bunch. The break contained too many strong riders and they all stayed together for the sprint. The sprint was closely fought but Nugent was too quick for Carter second and mark Smith third. All eight riders deserved a placing.
The conditions suited the sprinters for a bunch sprint but across all grades being the last evening crit they were all going for the breaks having nothing to lose. B graders Brad Allen, Jarrod Cross and Nigel Willoughby all were the first to go in their grade opening a good break, but they were caught. Then Alex Dimitrivich and Marcus Bird attacked in very fast style, chasing them were Allen and Matt Stephens. The four worked together and were looking good but ended up dropping back to the bunch. Another attack straight away, then caught, then another and another until finally four got away. Julian Blackwell was the driving force of this last break teaming up with Bird, Stephens and Dimitrivich. Now with a comfortable lead they got their last few laps but Bird was once again too strong in the sprint and came home over Dimitrivich Blackwell and Stephens.
A grade was a very well controlled race by the teams involved. An early break went to James Russell and peter Mueller but the bunch just let them stretch their legs out in front. Mat Rex had no intention of letting anyone beating him tonight and didn’t want to worry about a bunch sprint. When Stuart Cathcart went out with a puncture Rex went on the attack. The riders that went with him had no bearing on the points and all chose to work hard and fast to establish a break. Alan Gill, Chris Luxton and Ben Biggs all had a chance of gaining a few positions and extra cash but gave no reaction to watching Rex and the others ride off. Not content to sprint the other riders in at the finish Rex chose to attack the attackers and was off again by himself. Rex easily took the win with Williams chasing hard behind him and the others dotted out in a line chasing. For his first effort in A grade Michael Ward had a terrific result placing fifth.
There is now one more race left for the season and that is at Whitmore Square this Sunday 28 March starting at 9.30 am. Riders can nominate on the day itself and there is over $4000 in prizemoney. See you there!
Result s
A Grade 1 Mat Rex (SASI/Rio Coffee/Main North Nissan) 2 Russell Williams (UK/Bicycle Express) 3 Peter Mueller (Rio Coffee/Main North Nissan) 4 Michael Ward (Bernie Jones Cycles) 5 Ryan Milton (Polar Heart Rate Monitors) B Grade 1 Marcus Bird 2 Alex Dimitrivich (United Water) 3 Julian Blackwell (Bicycle Express) 4 Matt Stephens (NT) 5 Michael Lampp C Grade 1 Gavin Nugent (JT Cycles Holden Hill) 2 Syd Carter (Bianco Cycling Team) 3 Mark Smith 4 Bryce Alexander 5 Greg Ford D Grade 1 Scott Hudson 2 Peter Sabine 3 Paul Shepherd (Mittiga/Norwood Parade Cycles) 4 Scott Goodwin 5 Bradley Crawford E Grade 1 Michael Karp 2 Rebecca Ormsby 3 Gemma Kernich (Bicycle Express) 4 Claire Stevens 5 Andrew Panazzolo Juniors 1 Craig Mattingly (Trak Cycles/Ciombola) 2 Lee Chesson 3 Russell Taylor 4 Tiffany Cromwell (Bicycle Express) 5 Michael Davis (Bicycle Express)
