Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Bayern Rundfahrt Photo ©: Schaaf |
Results and Reports from Australia
Promoters wishing to submit results should send them to Cyclingnews
Mildura - Coomealla Cycling Club
Club Championships July 31, 2004
Whoa Errol! - Schmidt does more than Aussie Crawl
By Jack Lokan
Club legend and born again champion Errol Schmidt celebrated the 21st Anniversary of his last salutation on club championship day with a powerhouse display of controlled riding. Schmidt just lasted to "pinch" the prize on the line in a desperate throw of the bike to stave off evergreen sprint king Mark Busch. Judges were put to the sword over their decision, but the grandiose display of sportsmanship from Busch showed yet again that the club is bigger than the individual (regular AFL football cliché!) Well done Buschy!!
How it unfolded
22 riders and 4 Juniors brought out their Saturday best to contest this years championships, with some riders notably absent on duty in South Oz at "My Lang".
Under instruction from Air Force One, riders clicked in their cleats for a neutralised one lap warm up before cranking up the pace on lap two. First rider to stretch his legs was apprentice coach Jack Lokan who meandered out front for a while as the bunch was sorting itself out. Dion Basse-Anstee and Stephen Fenwick jumped across to join forces but this move was easily covered by the peloton, and the local media (you guys inspire us to do silly things!!).
Calm returned to the race, with the occasional surge stretching the legs of the A graders, and the lungs of everyone else, before usual suspect Ian Brade decided he wanted to practice his 40km time trial surges for the coming summer series. Brade was left to dangle out the front for a good lap before the peloton became a little stirred and covered the move. Not to be content with just one move Brade countered again, and slipped into the 97% comfort zone to again assume some control "tete a la course". But again , with the monster 180mm cranks of Schmidt starting to wind up Brade was reeled in. About this time Air Force One had to depart on his regular maintenance schedule at Riverside to repair a puncture to be joined by support crew member Peter Mills, and together they rode out the remaining distance with beer and snags on their mind. Back to the action and repeated attacks were now coming in the closing laps with the A graders asserting their authority at the front. Schmidt at this point was wondering how he could overcome the elastic bands of the bunch, lamenting that it was turning into a day for the sprinters, of which he was not. He also craved a possible relieving neck massage from Millsy after cranking his head a few dozen times to check on the state of health of his fellow riders while he led from the front.
At the bell, it was obvious to all and sundry that a bunch sprint was on the
cards, and the jockeying for position at Golf Club corner would be vital for
a podium finish. But at the top of "Gooch"s hill", big Errol went feral, and
broke away from the bunch who surprisingly failed to counter. It was now a case
of who wanted to sacrifice and who wanted to sit, a recipe for disaster!!! With
3kms to go Schmidt had a good 200m break and he was in time trial mode, and
for the uninitiated this is the race of truth! And so it was that turning down
Park Lane a mad scramble began to reign in the breakaway, with riders now desperate
to salvage the situation. In the final charge down the home straight Buschy
emerged from the marauding pack of hungry wolves to charge at the tiring Schmidt,
just missing by the proverbial tyre.With the festivities done it was time to
retire
for the formalities with resident chef Kris Cerini in the luxurious surroundings
of the Riverside Golf Club, and debate the shortcomings of the handicapper.
Ps Dave Digby did finish, in front of a massive crowd of 3, who happened to be on trailer duty!!!
Results, 80km scratch
1 E. Schmidt 2 M. Busch 3 K. Tankard 4 N. Floramo 5 R. McNally 6 S. Giles 7 M. Shipsides 8 I. Brade 9 R. Hale 10 G. Scott 11 G. Mitchell 12 J. Lokan 13 R. Akkermans 14 S. Frawley 15 D. Bassi-Anstee 16 A. Twaddle 17 P. Mulhearn 18 P. Mills 19 D.Digby 20 A. Wightwick 21 T. Athorn 22 S. Fenwick Juniors Long course 1 Sam Priest Juniors Short course 1 Ryan Digby 2 Luke Mcmanus
