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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent, Mulgrave, April 4, 2004
Mactier joins A Grade in track world's build-up
By Mal Sawford
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Good autumn weather brought another big turn out to the weekly speed fest at Glenvale Crescent, including many of the gold medallists from the Victorian Criterium Championships held the previous day. On the start line were Simon and Cheryl Walker (Elite Men and Women), Zac Dempster (Men 19), Tess Downing (Women 17), Pete Johnstone (Men 15) and Danny Kah (Masters 2), together with many other medal winners. None of the medallists was able to pull off another win, testament to their extreme efforts the day before and the quality of riders in today's field.
Katie Mactier (Fitzroy Cycles) continued her build up for the World Track Championships with another fantastic effort in the A Grade race. She joined the early break with Paul Kelly (SBR), Josh Vanderveen (Le Tour Cycles), Karl Wood (Pro-Motion Bicycles), Michael Tolhurst (Richmond Cyclery) and Nick Sheard, and when Ray Turner (Bianchi), Dempster (Hardings Cycles) and O'Mara Cycles team mates Justin Davis and Warren Knevitt bridged up it appeared she had picked the winning move.
With the O'Mara boys slowing the chase, the race was more than half gone before the big bunch began to close in on the leaders. The bunch regrouped briefly with around twenty minutes to race, before a never ending series of attacks started. Martin Bole, David Sturt (Colnago), Mitchell Docker (Drapac - Porsche), Michael Ford (Gran Prix Bicycles) and Todd Wilksch (Fitzroy Cycles) were all prominent before Sturt launched the winning move, joined by Simon Clarke (BikeNOW), Murray Spink (Giant), Bole and Andrew Ward.
The five were quickly out of sight, and had timed the move perfectly. Despite the experienced Sturt's best efforts to unload Clarke, he had little trouble staying with the break, and attacked out of the final corner to claim his second win in succession, ahead of Spink, Sturt and Bole. The battle for the sixth place cash went to Dylan Boone (Team MG-ZT), ahead of Walker (Victorian State Home Loans), Wilksch, Joel Leonard (Giramondo) and Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy Cycles).
The B Grade race saw the field split midway, with most of the work horses unsurprisingly making the front group. Jim Gallagher (Team Alex), Mick Hollingworth, Geoff Whiter, and Garron Buckland forced the pace, and quickly had the second group out of contention.
Tim Joiner (Flemington Cycles) proved the quickest, taking the win ahead of Dale Woonton, Tyrin Simpson and Sam Brown (Terry Hammond Cycles). Back in the chase group, Belinda Goss (TIS-cyclingnews.com) took out the Women's division, too good on the day for Cheryl Walker (Victorian State Home Loans) and Apryl Eppinger (VIS).
Sean Bourke returned to racing after a coach mandated layoff, and tried repeatedly to split up the pack. First time riders Tony McLean (Bicycle Superstore) and triathlete Allison Chui (CBD Cycles) also featured in a number of breaks, but the surprise of the day came from John Walker (Victorian State Home Loans), who despite regularly weekly pleadings to ride in D Grade found the strength to ride away from the bunch in the final laps.
In the end, Walker was unable to maintain the tempo, and it all came back together for a bunch kick. David Thornley went early and held on to take the win ahead of Richard Reynolds, McLean and Bob Kelly, while Gemma Goyne sprinted well to claim a strong women's division ahead of Louisa Judd and Amy Phillips.
Daniel Atkin scored his maiden win in D Grade, with a good sprint to hold off Ariel Grana, Andrew Rolland (SBR) and James Rudolph. Melissa Kah took out the Women's section, ahead of Louise Bourke and Andrea Bishop.
With three round remaining in the $7000 Team Alex Series, over 900 riders have points on the board! Simon Lancaster has sewn up first place - a Nexus X-3 frameset - and sits on 174 points. The battle for second place is still wide open, and the Nexus X-1 frameset could go to Warren Knevitt (141), Cheryl Walker (140), Simon Walker (135) and Matt Jensen (133).
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue every Sunday morning in April at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2). All holders of 2004 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. For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts racing clinics in E Grade. For further details, including information and standings for the Team Alex series, check out www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade 1 Simon Clarke (BikeNOW) 2 Murray Spink (Giant) 3 David Sturt (Colnago) 4 Martin Bole 5 Andrew Ward B Grade 1 Tim Joiner (Flemington Cycles) 2 Dale Woonton 3 Tyrin Simpson 4 Sam Brown (Terry Hammond Cycles) Women 1 Belinda Goss (TIS-cyclingnews.com) 2 Cheryl Walker (Victorian State Home Loans) 3 Apryl Eppinger (VIS) C Grade 1 David Thornley 2 Richard Reynolds 3 Tony McLean 4 Bob Kelly Women 1 Gemma Goyne 2 Louisa Judd 3 Amy Phillips. D Grade 1 Daniel Atkin 2 Ariel Grana 3 Andrew Rolland (SBR) 4 James Rudolph Women 1 Melissa Kah 2 Louise Bourke 3 Andrea Bishop
