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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Hell of the West, AARC Proving Grounds, Sunday May 28, 2006
Attack gives solo win to Chessum
By Mal Sawford
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Carnegie Caulfield returned to the private roads of the AARC for the second time, for a rare opportunity for riders to race on a traffic free circuit which had something for everyone. A combination of roads within the extensive grounds yields a gently rolling five kilometre loop and a tougher seven kilometre loop containing a fast descent, followed by a two kilometre long 5% climb and 1000 metre dirt road before returning to the bitumen for the dash to the finish line.
Wet weather in Melbourne had a few hesitant about making the long drive out past Geelong, but those who did were rewarded with fine weather. Many of the A Grade bunch had tackled the Macedon Ranges teams race the day before and were expected to ease into things, but the attacks came immediately after the opening neutral lap.
Local rider Reece Van Beek, a Deaflympic gold medallist, took off with Matt Chessum (Fitzroy Cycles) and Warren Nelson. The trio stayed clear for a handful of laps of the rolling circuit before a concerted chase saw the bunch back in contact. After a lap together, Chessum attacked alone and built a handy lead.
All eyes turned to Inexa Summer Series winner Pat Shaw (VIS), to lead the chase, but his efforts were frustrated by a lack of support, and Chessum turned onto the first of six hill loops with over a minute's lead. With partner Kerrie Howard calling the time splits from her vantage point at the start of the descent, Chessum monstered a huge gear, and extended his lead on every lap, eventually taking the win by almost two minutes.
Shaw led out in the race for second, but was challenged at the line by Brian Sing and Guy Green (Le Tour Cycles). Shaw did cross the line first, but officials ruled he had impeded the path of Sing and Green and relegated him to fourth place.
B Grade also saw an early attack go clear, led by veterans Kurt Jensen and Bob Kelly. Marc Prutton (Kathy Watt’s Personal Training) and Gareth Martyn were able to bridge the gap, but once the lead group swelled to half a dozen the bunch lifted and pulled things back together.
As the rolling laps ticked by, Trent Brown, Jensen, Martyn and Matt Edsall escaped, while Andrew Dorman (BikeNOW) and Darren Cathie looked threatening. Blazevic led the bunch onto the first climb, but the strongest climbers were clearly eager to show their strength. Mountain biker Jamie Pauley took over half way up the hill, and lifted the pace significantly and had half the bunch in trouble straight away.
Martyn was able maintain the pace when his companions cracked, and looked headed to a solo win before Pauley escaped the bunch on the penultimate climb. Pauley bridged the gap to the lone leader with just over a lap remaining, and shot past. Martyn chased bravely, but couldn’t hold the wheel, but the pair’s pursuit match over the final five kilometres ensured they would claim the top two places. Dorman made light work of the sprint for third, with Blazevic best of the rest.
Under 17 rider Pat Lane (The Freedom Machine) may have been the smallest rider in the C Grade bunch, but once the bunch tackled the hill, his climbing prowess decimated the bunch. Only Gary Rosengarten, Neale Adams and Peter McDonough stayed close enough to keep in contention and get back on terms once the road levelled out.
Lane attacked every time up the climb, but the efforts took their toll, and on the final climb he wasn’t able to open a winning gap. Rosengarten’s strength showed in the finishing straight, as he lead all the way to the line, with McDonough just holding off a late charge from the plucky youngster for second. Tarna Schmidt soloed home to claim the Women’s win, ahead of Clare Vlahopolous and Michelle Murrell.
The D Grade race followed a similar pattern, with five riders in contention at the base of the final climb. Ike Collings was first to fall off the pace set by junior rider Matt Collins, who went on to take the win ahead of Adrian Sinnatt, Michael Milewski and Calvin Watson. Radele Berriman (Terry Hammond Cycles) took the Women’s section, ahead of Melissa Nicholls.
Carnegie Caulfield’s next road race is the Jack McGowan Handicap at Modella on June 11. There are two opportunities to race on Melbourne’s new dedicated crit circuit at Casey Fields in the interim, on June 3 and 10, hosted by Blackburn and Chelsea respectively. For further details, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade, 100km 1 Matt Chessum (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Brian Sing (Dirt Riders) 3 Guy Green (Blackburn) 4 Pat Shaw (Ballarat-Sebastapol) B Grade, 85km 1 Jamie Pauley (MTBA) 2 Gareth Martyn (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Andrew Dorman (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Tom Blazevic (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade, 70km 1 Gary Rosengarten (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Peter McDonough (MTBA) 3 Pat Lane (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Neal Adams (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Tarna Schmidt (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Clare Vlahopolous (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Michelle Murrell (Mornington) D Grade, 60km 1 Matt Collins (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Adrian Sinnatt (Blackburn) 3 Michael Milewski (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Calvin Watson (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Radelle Berriman (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Melissa Nicholls (Carnegie Caulfield) Juniors, Omnium 1 George Vissariou (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Bryce Marquardt (Brunswick) 3 Jack Marquardt (Brunswick)
