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Results and Reports from Australia
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Riverland Cycling Club
Loxton, South Australia, October 30, 2005
Stevens wins 50km road race
Cool and windy conditions didn't deter members' enthusiasm for the Riverland Cycling Club's Club Championship 50km Road Race in Loxton on Sunday. With five times Club Champion Hamish MacKirdy not racing due to wife Lara racing at the Australian Veterans Championships in Ballarat, Lee Stevens became favourite.
Racing got underway into a slight headwind that would soon turn into a persistent crosswind. After 5 kilometres the group of twelve became seven with Stevens, Angus Boase, Mick Grey and Josh Steele pushing the pace whilst Mark Kershaw, Amanda Steele and Angelo Ylia worked on the back. The first 25km saw little action other than short surges from Boase, Stevens and Grey which kept the group alert with anticipation.
The leading group stayed together until the 25km turnaround point when Boase and Stevens surged away from the group. Grey quickly got himself into the big gears to successfully regroup with Boase and Stevens whilst Kershaw, Josh and Amanda Steele, and Ylia chased hard but were unable to bridge the gap. It wasn't long before Ylia dropped off the the Steele's and Kershaw continuing the chase. The 41km mark saw Boase lose touch, unable to match the fitness of Stevens and strength of Grey.
With the finish line in sight Stevens pulled away to win his first R.C.C. Club Championship road race from Grey, then followed a few minutes back was Boase in third. Amanda Steele picked up forth, not long after Boase, coming from behind to out-sprint husband Josh (fifth) and Mark Kershaw (sixth). Ylia crossed the finish alone soon after followed by a fast finishing Peter Weston.
Next week sees the conclusion of the club championships with a 9.6km time trial at Winkie (9am start) followed by a 60 minute criterium at Monash. Presentations to be held at the Berri Golf Club on Sunday evening. For more details visit http://www.riverlandcyclingclub.com
