Yes, it’s that time again, the long-awaited, much-anticipated race series that everyone in Armidale Cycling Club desperately wants to win. It’s time for the Road Racer of the Year competition! Now firmly established in its fourth year, the 2017 series starts this Saturday and is going to be an absolute cracker with a more focused, shorter handicap season where every race and every hard-fought point counts.
We’ve had some great contests so far, starting with Luke ‘San Remo’ Milan’s emergence from early season obscurity in 2014, taking the championship by storm with a monster 137 points despite Jo Wauch’s seemingly unassailable mid-season dominance, and who could forget Dene Bourke’s last race of the season effort on Boorolong in 2015? Needing one bonus point, he just beat Dave Harris on the line for 5th place, grabbing that magic point and sealing the championship victory on the last race of the year. That one really is worth another read if you’ve forgotten just how dramatic the finale was and make sure you don’t underestimate either of those cunning Bourke Sisters in 2017. Last year it was Richard Wilkinson who topped off a hard and consistent season, eventually winning comfortably but only after being pushed hard during the last few rounds following a late charge from Dave Munday.
Just as a reminder, the competition is open to any Armidale Cycling Club members who automatically qualify for entry and is fought out over many rounds (no one ever knows how many until it ends) with points being awarded as follows:
1st Place 10 points
2nd Place 9 points
3rd Place 8 points
4th Place 7 points
5th Place 6 points
Turning up and racing but not placed 1st to 5th, 3 points
Signs duty and running the race, 4 points
If a non-club member is racing in a RROTY event, they do not qualify for bonus points. If they finish in the Top 5 places, bonus points will be awarded down to 6th position.
2016 Road Racer League Final Position
2015 Road Racer League Final Position
2014 Road Racer League Final Position
Maybe this year it’s you that will be crowned as Road Racer of the Year 2017? See you out there on Saturday for Round 1, Dangarsleigh Road, first rider off at 4pm!