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Warragul Cycling Club Handicap
March 6, 2004
Handicap homework handsomely rewards A Graders
By Monique Hanley
Some careful calculations by race director Staf Duncan finally paid dividends for the scratch markers after recent race dominations by C grade in the Warragul Cycling Club's final handicap race for the summer season. The Labour Day holiday weekend and the Club's Mt Baw Baw training camp scheduled for the Sunday did little to deter the fifty cyclists who rolled up to race the 45km Gainsborough course based at Cloverlea.
The large D grade field was split into two groups, the first of which departed 16 minutes ahead of the scratch riders. This group consisted of Kim Spunner, Greg Williams, Emma Beveridge, Steve Jackson, Glenda and Brendan Pridmore, and returning from a long break off the race bike, John Coffey with his son Sean. Although having an extra few minutes to organise themselves, an impatient Brendan Pridmore took off on a solo break from the front which forced the group to think about chasing, rather than thinking about being chased themselves. Glenda Pridmore was an early casualty of her son's manoeuvre, as was John Coffey who were both behind the pace after the first lap.
The remaining five D grade riders departed two and a half minutes later and were considered pre-race favourites by race director, Staf. With 'Captain' Kylie Richards dictating race tactics, Lloyd 'Wheelie Bin' Harrington, Helmut 'Cool-Turn' Korab, Allan 'ITT' Hauxwell and James 'Doc' Brown all toed the line as they completed their first lap on par with Staf's prediction for a win and in a time of 19.11.
Depleted C grade ranks compared to previous handicap wins kept the bunch sober as they departed 7 minutes ahead of the scratch riders. Alongside the usual suspects was a welcomed Paul Yeatman, happy to stay with a bunch longer than 200m from past rides with B grade. With only seven riders to share turns on the front, the group noticed immediately the effects of anyone trying to shelter more than their share. Although completing their first lap together, the pace was considerably slower than previous efforts, and in a time of 18.11 group morale was not strong.
A blessing was due B grade's way and was granted in the form of an extra two minutes start on the scratch riders. The field of nine included self-promoted Allan Beveridge fresh from his C grade win from last week. The four minute buffer wasn't enough incentive to drive the pace hard, and they completed their first lap in 17.19, significantly slower than previous first lap times for their grade.
Also departing with B grade were Loretta Mackay, Sian Williams, Zoe and Sam Atkinson, and David and Ian de Bruyne. Led by Ian, they formed a solid group to work into the south-west wind and after sharing turns finished their first of three laps in 24.28.
A grade had for a rare occasion the largest field of all grades competing. The 16-man field included Thomas Sandner from B Grade and Glen Gibbon from LaTrobe Valley. With more riders than normal to share driving the pace, their first lap was completed in 15.44, one of the fastest times ever seen on the circuit.
By the end of lap two, the D grade groups had combined with the pace taking a toll on Kim Spunner and Steve Jackson. An unfortunate flat at the start of lap 3 saw D grade lose Kylie Richards, and with it the leadership that drove the field. Meanwhile C grade lost Monique Hanley and B grade lost Tim Lee, both from feeling poorly. A grade continued on its scintillating form and swallowed up B grade early on lap 3, before finding C grade not too far ahead and repeating the move. This left D grade as their only rogue bunch, somewhere ahead up the road.
The combined D grade field crossed the start/finish for their final lap with a 2.21 buffer on the chasing peloton. They would need to produce one of their fastest lap times to hold off the chase bunch, and would also need to rely on the combining chase groups losing time from re-organising themselves. But the A grade scratch markers sitting at the front of the bunch were able to control the pace, and their sheer number kept driving the pack forward as if there were no headwind to contend. Success arrived at the turn into Hazeldean Road where a tired D grade was finally caught. The entire field was finally able to relax and think strategically about the impending large bunch sprint finish.
A small hill rise on Hazeldean Road allowed Thomas Sandner the opportunity to stretch his legs out of the saddle. Unaware of a developing fracture in his handlebar, the additional pressure on the bars caused his left handlebar to completely break off. Disaster was avoided by a brief spell in the gravel as he fought to control his bike, with Shane Stiles sitting behind him also forced to spend some time off-road. Regaining composure, Thomas simply hung onto the main head stem and continued on, before reasoning that he would have little chance in a bunch sprint, thereby rolling home on his own.
Such a large group to contend the final sprint meant early positioning was vital. Like a rolling washing machine riders swapped places, hung onto the sides or were flung out the back. Amongst this, John Salton kicked hard and found himself on his own to roll across for the win. Murray Fenwick had to push to place second just ahead of strong finisher Luke McDonough from B grade. They were followed by scratch riders Geoff Thomson, Glenn Gibbon, Steve Sandner, John McKenzie, Vic Spunner (from C grade), Shane Stiles, Wayne Chester (from B grade) and the rest of the main bunch in a time of 1.22.59. With the top placings featuring a range of riding abilities, Staf couldn't be happier with the outcome of his calculations.
The second bunch sprint followed one minute later, and was lead home by Ian de Bruyne, James Brown and Loretta Mackay. Behind them, a string of solo riders suffering from the race pace crossed intermittently.
Next weeks racing is a scratch race based at Picnic Point.
Results
1 John Salton (A grade) 2 Murray Fenwick (A grade) 3 Luke McDonough (B grade) 4 Geoff Thomson (A grade) 5 Glenn Gibbon (A grade) 6 Steve Sandner (A grade) 7 John McKenzie (A grade) 8 Vic Spunner (C grade) 9 Shane Stiles (A grade) 10 Wayne Chester (B grade)
