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Latrobe City Cycling Club
Club Championship, Willow Grove, Victoria, May 13, 2006
Jim Peachey was crowned the 2006 LCCC Road Champion at Willow Grove this afternoon after just getting over the top of Darren (Eric Zabel) Spiteri in the last metre of the race. Peter Verhagan took third place in a tight finish from pre race favourite Jim Timmer- Arends. B grade support race was won by Phil McNeil. A strong field was at hand to contest Latrobe City Cycling Clubs Road Championship at the tough 75Km Willow Grove circuit. The first 30 km, riders were content to roll turns at a fast but steady pace which made it hard for riders to attempt solo efforts out front. With the pace high, several riders were unable to keep in contact with the main bunch dropping off and left to ride at their own pace.
At the 45 km mark, Allen Timmer-Arends was the first to create something, but with the bunch working well, they were able to reel in the break away rider. James Timmer-Arends was the next soon after to make a break to no avail with David Shanahan chasing hard with the bunch in tow closing down James advantage down. Chris Joustra then went out front gaining a break .With the main bunch not showing much interest in chasing, Joustra drifted back into the bunch. With around 15 km to go , Allen Timmer-Arends put in a big effort to gain a good break. The bunch responded working together to keep him in their sights. Heading down the decent with 10 km to go , James joined his brother out front. David Shanahan unluckily broke a spoke ending his chances in the race. With time and km running out, Darren Spiteri made his move to join the breakaway riders out front. Peter Verhagen the only rider able to go with Spiteri.
These two passed Allen Timmer-Arends who was unable to go with them as Spiteri was pushing hard to catch James. With these three looking dangerous out front, the bunch started to work to reel them back. Jamie Johnson made a move with Jim Peachey, Chris Joustra and Allan Beveridge making a break from the main bunch. These four worked hard to get close to the break.Out front the three riders started the last 3 km ascent in to Willow Grove via tough Davey's Rd climb. James Timmer-Arends setting a strong steady tempo with Spiteri and Verhagen on his wheel. Chasing rider Jamie Johnson cramping at the bottom of the last climb ending his chances with Allan Beveridge running out of legs also, leaving Jim Peachey and Chris Joustra to bridge the gap to the break. Spiteri seeing these two closing in went to the front to lift the pace now with five at the head of the race. 500 meter left on the climb, Peachey jumped hard gaining a break, Spiteri chasing hard and catching Peachey as they turned for home. In a close sprint for the title, Jim Peachey was able to take the win from the grasps of Spiteri. The sprint for third also close with Verhagen just getting over James Timmer-Arendswith Joustra fifth.
The C grade support race started at an easy pace with everyone in the field settling into race mode and all doing a turn on the front. At the foot of the short but nasty climb on O’Brien’s Road Sue Elsdon led the bunch with Wayne Tunks on her wheel followed by the rest of bunch. Half way up the climb Duncan Orr rode past the two leaders making it look easy and sending a message to Elsdon and Tunks that they were in for a hard race once the long gradual climb up to Willow Grove began. Youngster Shannon McCurley was with leading group also. With speeds reaching 40 – 45kms along O’Brien’s Road the leaders soon established a clear break and had the race to them selves. Turning onto the Moe – Willow Grove Road and as thought by Tunks and Elsdon, Orr with younger legs began to show his climbing ability and soon established a break over both of them and McCurley. On the small incline up to the Tangil South tennis courts, Elsdon opened a gap for herself from McCurley and Tunks. Meanwhile up front Orr was widening the gap and was set to take good win. Back in the race McCurley, after competing in Cranbourne at the new Cardinia/Casey Criterium Circuit this morning against some of the States top U/15 & U/17 girls, finishing second overall in that combined event started to find the going tough that left Tunks on his own to chase down the leaders. With about three kilometres to travel Tunks managed to tack back onto Elsdon and sat behind to regain his strength. With one kilometre to go Elsdon tried to shake the passenger but was unable to do so. Orr having his first road race since competing the Summer Criterium Series went on to win the race from Tunks some distance back in second place with Sue Elsdon crossing line third. McCurley put in fine ride to finish fourth.
