UCI codes explained

Results and Reports from Australia

Promoters wishing to submit results should send them to Cyclingnews

Norwood Cycling Club Criterium Series

Regency Park, South Australia, November 25, 2003

Biggs hits the big time

Beautiful weather greeted the large fields in tonight's racing, it was warm with a light breeze. The A grade bunch had something to prove tonight with the dressing down of some riders over the weekend and some put on notice they also would be dropped if they didn't perform. One of those riders Lucien Keene put on a brilliant display when he forced the first break of the night with State Criterium Champion and the most experienced rider Alan Gill. After some time they were caught but again another break went, this time junior youngster, sixteen year old Russell Gill (Alan's son), Steven Hedley, Ben Biggs and Darren O'Grady, these riders again opened a large break. At this time though the bunch was just cruising behind them at around 45 km/h.

The bunch came together again and they had a light reprieve whilst waiting before they could proceed past the C grade sprint. Once they resumed with 20 minutes to go the pace was on again and a break formed with Ben Biggs, Shane Gill, Dave Kenning, Russell Gill, Steven Hedley, and Darren O'Grady. Mat Rex was chasing a short distance behind between the break and bunch. Now the bunch was racing about 55 km/h and Rex caught the break. With two laps to go the seven man break still had a good gap on their chasers but if the main bunched worked it would all come together.

After one to go Ben Biggs, who is not the quickest sprinter, took the gamble and jumped the break as they were playing cat and mouse in the back straight, no one wanted to lay it down and the chasing bunch was also catching. Biggs was the first rider into the finishing straight with a lead of 100 metres over the break group, then 100 metres to the main bunch. Everyone was sprinting with Biggs out in front turning around and looking to see where his chasers were, but no problems as he pushed his 54 x 11 across the line for the win. Mat Rex led the chasers home to take second, having placed in every A grade criterium this season to date. No less than 40 metres behind came Chris dos Santos leading the main field.

In B grade, Joe Underwood and Nick Shipp wanted to prove a point after being dropped from A grade. Both riders opened a big break in the first few laps and both were away most of the time. When they did get caught they rested and went again. In the end Joe Underwood chose a solo break and was never headed. Nick ship won the bunch sprint flicking Adrian Stevens on the line for second in a photo finish.

C Grade stayed together most of the night but the pace was also kept quite high. Riders were strung out in a line quite often but it all came together for a bunch sprint. That is until the final sprint when all hell broke loose and riders not holding their line caused an accident where five riders came down. The riders that came down 50 metres from the line in the sprint were Jonathon Heysen who needed stitches to his arm, Daniel Smith who lost the tips of his fingers, Peter Bice who took a bit of skin off and two others who weren't as bad. The mass bunch sprint went to a fast finishing Brendan Handel who has now found a bit of form.

D grade had a fast race as well thanks to the ever increasing form of Paul Wilson. Not much thanks though came from those riders who were dropped. Sam Warden who won the race last week was one of those early casualties, as was specialist sprinter Keith Wong. After two second placings in a row Stuart Cathcart was finally able to take the event out with a comfortable win earning himself a ticket to C grade, a very happy Stuart Smith took second over seasoned veteran Steve Zucker.

Peter Winter also forced the pace of E grade all night and led the bunch out with two laps to go but his legs gave way half way up the finishing straight. Unfortunately Winter did not make the placings. Michael Pearce-Cane took the honours over Duncan Fairclough.

Results

A Grade
 
1 Ben Biggs (Mittiga/ Norwood Parade Cycles)
2 Mat Rex (Bicycle Express/ SASI)
3 Steven Hedley (Herb Valley/ Art Ceramics)
4 Shane Gill (Bianco Cycling)
5 Dave Kenning (Weatherall Fire Protection)
 
B Grade
 
1 Joe Underwood (Fairmont Homes)
2 Nick Shipp (Tyco)
3 Adrian Stevens
4 Bryce Alexander
5 Michael Davies
 
C Grade
 
1  Brendan Handel
2 James Ross (JT Cycles Brighton)
3 Darren Roberts (Main North Renault)
4 Daryl Margrate (Bianco Cycling)
5 David Peake (Main North Renault)
 
D Grade
 
1 Stuart Cathcart
2 Stuart Smith
3 Steve Zucker (Bicycle Express)
4 Martin Middlemiss
5 Paul Wilson
 
E grade
 
1 Michael Pearce-Cane
2 Duncan Fairclough
3 Scott Goodwin
4 Ben Tolstoshev
5 Matthew Kohler
 
Juniors Division 1
 
1 Jack Rhodes (Bicycle Express)
2 Jake Edwards (Glenelg Cycles)
3 Craig Mattingly (Trak Cycles/ Ciombola)
 
Juniors Division 2
 
1 Christos Winter
2 Bianca Rogers (Bicycle Express)
3 Tiffany Cromwell (Bicycle Express)