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Lidcombe - Auburn Cycling Club
Horsley Park, Sydney, July 2, 2005
By Steve Isaksen
Race five of Lidcombe-Auburn CC's Western Sydney Road Series was fought out on the roads of Horsley Park amongst the market gardens and palatial mansions on acreages. After some well needed rain through the week, Saturday was fine and mild, with little breeze; ideal conditions for road cycling. The road surface was a little worse for wear as a result of the rain - smart riders at Horsley Park go for strong durable wheels rather than the almost spokeless, deep carbon rimmed wheels which look so fast in the ads .
Some fast, hard racing was assured when 20 riders signed on for the A grade event, our best field so far. Coming through the finish line for the first of five laps, already a break of four had gone off the front. David Evans (East Subs), David Rae (Marconi), Peter Milostic (Penrith) and Luis Trueba (Macarthur) had worked hard for their 20 second gap. Some strong chasing by Adrian Estrich (Penrith), Ben Isaksen (Colnago-Caravello) and Eddie Salas (Penrith) kept the gap to a controllable 20-25 seconds. At the end of lap two, Evans had drifted back to the bunch. Up the "double bunger " hill on lap 3 David Whyman (Randwick-FRF) poured the pace on, with Craig Gordon (WSMTB) and Isaksen going with him. This brought the chasers close enough for Salas and Gordon to jump across to the lead trio at about half race distance (35km), making an extremely dangerous front group.
Surprisingly, the race regrouped as one on lap four, but this was A grade at Horsley Park and more racing was yet to come. At the bell, it was Milostic and Gordon off the front together, with the chasing bunch strung out in a long line. This was not to last for long as they came up the double bunger for the last time - at 12km to go, it was Salas, Gordon and Trueba with a 15 second gap; not a lot, but we all know the national and world class exploits of Eddie & Craig and they were going for it - they were fully committed. Gordon particularly was pushing the pace and had Trueba in trouble by the top - the break was down to just two; Milostic and Rae were off together in pursuit and soon reeled in Trueba.
Just before the long turnaround (8km to go) the gap was 22 sec to Milostic, now chasing solo, a further 10 seconds to Rae and Trueba and only six seconds to the bunch, driven by Anthony Bennett (LACC), Pete Hackney (Penrith) and Whyman - Isaksen was in trouble with a separating chain and withdrew. The race result was finalised at this point but the lead duo just kept pushing the pace all the way to the finish - Salas took out the sprint from Craig Gordon, with Milostic chasing all the way to the finish about 25 seconds down.
Alex Arias (LACC) got the bunch gallop for fourth, edging out the ever consistent David Rae to round out the prize winners. It was the one of the fastest races we have seen at Horsley Park and many A grade hopefuls just never got a look in. Well done riders, some fine racing!
The B grade event over 56km was a much less frantic race. Serial attacker Glen Evans (LACC) tried his hand several times but today just couldn't get the break he was after. Several times other riders tried to attack solo or in small groups, including Christian Homann (LACC) and Davis Bermejo (Bankstown), but at the end it all held together for a bunch finish with the consistent John Mulligan (Macarthur) taking a well deserved win from Albert Tallone (LACC) and Victor Pacciocco (LACC).
New rider Fabrizio Tettoni (LACC) showed some fine form with a strong win in C grade over the longer 56km journey. Evergreen and in-form Robbie Dowdall (LACC) was the strong driver of the bunch, picking up some good form for next weekend's Coonabarabran-Gunnedah-Tamworth races. Joe Zumbo (LACC) was also aggressive in parts, with the race finally ending in a bunch finsh. Visitor Kevin Turner (Penrith) was second, just ahead of Bruce Wyllie (LACC), gradually getting back to better form.
Longer race distances this week saw D grade cover 3 laps (42km). LACC social organiser Katrina Haddrill was always prominent on the front, along with Sharon Hughes and Nigel Routh (both (LACC). The last 2km saw some frantic attacks by Haddrill but these were covered well by (LACC) Club President Warren Potts. A smart ride by Steve Burman (Penrith) had him take the win from Hughes and Potts.
A long overdue return to the E grade event over 28km. A good mixture of older riders, "less fit" riders and new riders is always a good recipe for this type of race. Chris Wilkins (LACC) obviously benefited from the morning warm up coffee ride with a win from Hector Salas (Penrith) and Waratah Veterans stalwart Alec Lazich.
Next (LACC) races at Horsley Park are on Saturday 23rd July. LACC also conducts regular training rides at Sydney Olympic Park from 6am Tuesday and Thursday mornings + other regular rides starting in the Inner West. Refer to our web site for further details (www.lidcombe-auburn.cc). New riders are always welcome.
Results
A Grade 70km 1 Eddie Salas (Penrith) 2 Craig Gordon (Western Sydney MTB) 3 Peter Milostic (Penrith) 4 Alex Arias (LACC) 5 David Rae (Marconi) B Grade 56km 1 John Mulligan (Macarthur) 2 Albert Talone (LACC) 3 Victor Pacciocco (LACC) 4 Christian Homann (LACC) C Grade 56km 1 Fabrizio Tettoni (LACC) 2 Kevin Turner (Penrith) 3 Bruce Wyllie (LACC) D Grade 42km 1 Steve Burman (Penrith) 2 Sharon Hughes (LACC) 3 Warren Potts (LACC) 1st Unplaced Woman Katrina Haddrill (LACC) E Grade 28km 1 Chris Wilkins (LACC) 2 Hector Salas (Penrith) 3 Alec Lazich (Waratah)
