Updated: 18-October-2014 – check out Dave’s official race report on Drift Bikes

Armidale Cycling Club rider Dave Rugendyke delivered an incredible performance on Saturday in the latest round of the 2014 National Road Series, the tough 273km Melbourne to Warnambool Classic. Clearly not just there to make up the numbers, Dave was racing  against the big NRS teams yet he finished just 6 seconds behind the winner in 36th position out of 189 starters averaging 38.7 kph and the 5th non-team rider over the line. Full results are available online here.

Dave was competing in the 99th edition of what is Australia’s oldest bike race and the second oldest in the world behind Liege-Bastogne-Liege. It was first run in 1895 with just 24 entrants and has since established itself on the Australian annual race calendar as a grueling classic where conditions can play a major role in the outcome. Check out the SBS video of this years race here

The achievement is even more remarkable when you find out that Dave punctured at 120km and had to do a wheel change. The 40 mins where his heart rate sits at 190bpm (below) is where he chased back to the bunch having found out that riders who aren’t part of an NRS team aren’t allowed to be paced back on. “I thought my day was done but I was angry and just kept thinking of the Armidale club slogan – Never ever give up”.  What a story – well done Dave!