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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent Criteriums, Sunday December 10, 2006
By Mal Sawford
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Saturday in Melbourne saw the temperature top 40 degrees, and more of the same was forecast for Sunday. Despite the grey haze in the air from the bushfires raging through the northern part of the state, it was obvious very early on that it was going to very hot ridiculously early, with the mercury climbing through thirties during the early B, D and E Grade races, and peaking at 42 during the A and C Grade session.
The oppressive heat made things even tougher than usual for the A Grade bunch, with most of the early attacks seemingly at half throttle to those in the shelter of the bunch - until the time came to respond, when the chasers found out just how hard it was to make an effort in the heat.
As is becoming the norm, the SHM pair of Peter Barnett and Brendan Rowbotham had a presence in every move, while the other early aggressors included Leigh Howard (VIS), Matt Chessum (Fitzroy Cycles) Frank Cipriano, Jono Lovelock (BikeNOW) and Cam Carlyle (Pro-Motion). Twenty minutes in, Barnett, Chessum and Matt Shea (Inexa Race Frames) shook off the chasers and began to pull away.
Once clear, the trio never looked like being caught, as every acceleration from the bunch saw riders call it a day, until only 15 riders in contention by race end, as the heat became unbearable. Shea's hard work in the break came to nothing when he punctured inside the final three laps, leaving only Barnett and Chessum to contest the finish. The pair drag raced to the line, with Chessum monstering a massive 55-11 gear to the line, and Barnett unable to quite come on terms. Matt King, visiting from Darwin and no stranger to racing in the heat, jumped the survivors to claim third, with Damon De Angelis (Promains) leading the rest home.
An early in B Grade from Josh Morrison (Datacom - Burnley Finance), attracted the big hitters, with Dennis Bowen-Day (Gran Prix Bicycles), Martin Bole, Gary Chamberlain (Bicycle Superstore) and Gary Trowell racing away and building a forty second lead. Just when it looked like the break would lap the field, first Chamberlain, then Trowell succumbed to the pace, and the bunch began to make ground. When Morrison also popped, the break was doomed, and two of his team mates launched their own attack from the bunch before Bole and Bowen-Day were reeled in.
Paul Kelly and Paul McMullan reached the clearly suffering leaders with a little over fifteen minutes to race, and Kelly jumped away almost immediately with a strong surge. With Kelly pounding away on his solo effort, the bunch swept up the other three, but the chase seemed to stall, allowing Kelly to extend his lead. Mark Kotzen and Matt Collins (CBD Cycles) set off in pursuit, chased for the final three laps by Gavin Sittampalan and Tim White (both Quickcycle Coaching), without a serious reaction from the bunch.
Kelly raced clear at the front to take an impressive win, and earn promotion to A Grade, while on the final lap, Sittampalan bridged to Collins and Kotzen, and then outsprinted them for second place. The bunch fought out fifth place, with Mark Gainsmith too quick for Clint McDonnell (Melbourne Bicycle Centre).
Half of the strong women's contingent of ten riders had survived the heat and the pace to fight for their win, with Irish visitor Jenny Fay (Gran Prix Bicycles) and Nicole Whitburn (Mainline Cycles) working strongly all day. Whitburn capped off her efforts with a good sprint to take the win, ahead of Nikki Matthews and Michelle Murrell.
The C Grade bunch was the only one noticeably down on numbers despite the heat, which could suggest that the C Grade riders may have the highest IQ's in the peleton! Brett Cooper took the sprint, crossing the line ahead of Sebastian Hales, Anthony Vaughan and Oliver Le Grice, while Jessica Sloane led the women home.
Alex Franes was a clear winner in D Grade, after spending most of the closing stages in a small breakaway group with Michael McGowan, Greg Lane and Peter Kotsiris. The bunch came back together in the final laps, but Franes kicked clear to take the win ahead of Kotsiris, Alex Geers and Ben Doggett. Chrisabel Prischl (Elk Haus) was too strong in the women's section, taking the win ahead of Leah Paterson and Andrea Bishop.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue every Tuesday evening at Sandown Raceway. Entry is via the Sandown Road entrance (Melways map 80 B6), from 6pm, with all grades racing at 6.30. Sundays are at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80 B2). B, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and C Grade ride at 10am.
All holders of current Cycling Australia licenses are welcome (don't forget to bring your license or receipt!) and non-members can have a go by taking out a day license for $20. 2007 licenses are now available at all CCCC events. All returning riders must resume in the grade they last raced in, unless prior arrangement has been made with the handicapper, Lorraine Collings.
For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts novice racing clinics within the E Grade race at Glenvale Crescent. For further details, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade (1 hour + 3 laps, 51 starters) 1 Matt Chessum (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Peter Barnett (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Matt King (Nothern Territory) 4 Damon De Angelis (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Andrew Stalder (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Steel Van Hoff (Chelsea & Peninsula) B Grade (1 hour + 3 laps, 57 starters) 1 Paul Kelly (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Gavin Sittampalan (Blackburn) 3 Matt Collins (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Mark Kotzen (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Mark Gainsmith (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Nicole Whitburn (Warragul) 2 Nikki Matthews (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Michelle Murrell (Mornington) 4 Sophie Ruderman (England) C Grade (50 minutes + 3 laps, 25 starters) 1 Brett Cooper (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Sebastian Hales (Hawthorn) 3 Anthony Vaughan (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Oliver Le Grice (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Jessica Sloane (Hawthorn) D Grade (45 minutes + 3 laps, 38 starters) 1 Alex Franes (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Peter Kotsiris (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Alex Geers (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Ben Doggett (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Chistabel Prischl (Austria) 2 Leah Paterson (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Andrea Bishop (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade (45 minutes + 3 laps, 7 starters) 1 George Minas (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Suzannah Molloy (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Stefan Imberger (Carnegie Caulfield)
