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Riverland Cycling Club
handicap road race, Cooltong, Sunday, August 26, 2007
Stevens blitzes the field
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The latest Riverland Cycling Club race was held at Cooltong on Sunday with numbers for the event again low. Although only five riders completed the 42km (6 lap) course, the competitive nature of our cyclists continued to rate highly.
John Eshman and Angelo Ylia started off-limit this week, 2-minutes ahead of Peter Weston and Peter Evans. As Gordon Lawton was to complete 5 laps he left 2.5-minutes behind limit duo. Mick Gray, the lone chopping block rider, had a two-minute buffer to scratchman Lee Stevens who had 8.5-minute gap to Eshman & Ylia.
The end of lap one saw the time gaps dramatically reduced with Weston and Evans only 30 seconds off catching Ylia and Eshman. Lawton crossed a mere fifty seconds ahead of Gray whilst Stevens reduced his margin by 1-minute.
Ylia, Weston and Evans crossed the line together heading in to lap three, followed by John Eshman. Just 1minute 45 seconds separated Gray with a further 30 seconds back to Stevens.
Lawton retired early due to illness and Evans had a mechanical and was therefore unable to recover the lost ground. Eshman may have dropped off the pace but recording a twenty-minute lap was very unusual. It was later noted that the club's former secretary had stopped to assist his fellow cyclist. Four men now made up the main bunch and remained as a tight group entering the bell lap. Un-fortunately Ylia was dropped at the hill climb with Gray and Weston leading the charge. Although Stevens struggled to stay with them for the climb the three re-grouped and continued the race to the line.
Cooltong's relentless head wind made conditions tough for the riders, however the tail wind along the back straight and the down hill section leading to the finishing line was just what the riders needed to cap off Sunday's handicap event. Stevens started his sprint from the bend with Gray and Weston forced to chase from behind. A thrilling sprint saw Gray claim his second win from the last two races followed by Stevens in second place and fastest time in 1:20'02". Weston claimed third place, six minutes ahead of Ylia followed by Eshman.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Janelle Stevens
- Angelo Ylia, Peter Evans & Peter Weston (hidden).
- AngeloYlia, Peter Weston, Mick Gray & Lee Stevens.
- Mick Gray.
- Peter Weston & Peter Evans.
Results
1 Mick Gray
2 Lee Stevens
3 Peter Weston
4 Angelo Ylia
5 John Eshman
DNF Gordon Lawton
DNF Peter Evans
