Handicapper wins, then forgets to shout


A 40km Dangarsleigh handicap race held on Saturday 6 April was won by Col Maciver, with Rob Tindale in second place. The two riders were part of a strong group riding off “block”, also including Rob Hale and Dene Bourke.

The race started with Ray Phillips and Georgie Harwood off scratch. Riding strongly Ray set a pace that was too much for Georgie, and he quickly found himself on his own and in the lead for much of the race. Behind him, Jo Wauch was doing her best to time trial across the gap, while Jack Parker and Wilfried Keller jumped out of their group in pursuit.

But with the early groups splitting up, the Maciver group found themselves in the lead just after the final turn for home and from there were never threatened.

The large scratch group rode a very fast race but it wasn’t enough to make up the difference. Dave Rugendyke rode strongly for the whole race, putting the pressure on the other riders every time the road tilted upwards, but was just pipped on the line for fastest time by Harrison Munday.

Two riders in scratch with brand new bikes had less than successful outings, one missing half the race after his Di2 battery fell off, and the other getting a flat tyre!

The suggestion made at the finish that when the handicapper wins he should shout everyone a beer was cheerfully ignored…