Jacqui King took on the role of smiling assassin in Saturday’s Armidale Cycling Club Handicap Race. Taking place on the tougher, extended 40km Boorolong course she rode the entire race solo, finishing 1m:6s clear of the chasers. It was a a well-handicapped race with 12 riders arriving in the next minute, including Scratch rider Dave Munday who still managed to take fastest time after a 25km solo chase.
Jo Wauch and Luke Milan set off after Jacqui with Luke distracted by magpie attacks on the top of the range. He fended them off with consumate ease before turning early, still very much on the comeback trail.
Behind San Remo was a serious quartet of Haydo, Chris Belson, PC and Derek Shirlaw. They were still together at the first time check at the Claremont Rd junction and at the turn but then lost Derek on the homeward leg. Such was the power being put down by the MTB rider that his crank came off. Fortunately Dr John was around to throw his monster plastic bag of tools at him as he charged by, but Shirlaw wouldn’t be rejoining his group and faced a lonely ride home.
Meanwhile a whole series of mid-race bunches had combined and the Hessmonster was taking control of things on the climb up from Toms Gully. Also in that group were Hammy Williams and Andy Robb who were both looking very comfortable and clearly intent on chasing down those ahead.
Still a little over a minute behind them at this point was the block group of Houlty, Wiggle and Kirky with Clint gamely tagged on for the time being. By the turn they’d clawed back another few seconds but were still a minute in arrears of that big bunch ahead.
On the long, homeward slog out of Toms Gully, Alex Thomas and Wilf were going well, Alex targeting some RROTY points to climb ahead of Chris Stace at the top of the league and managing to do what most people can’t – to ride and stay with Wilf on the climbs. Not far behind them at this point was the Hessmeister-Hammy train which would soon be on level terms.
Behind them Houlty was now starting to really power along, Col was managing to sit with him but others were now struggling and Wiggle and Kirky were briefly distanced on the climb.
In hot pursuit of everyone was lone Scratch rider Dave Munday. Along with Brent Rees, he’d pulled back 30s on Block at Claremont Rd but then lost his riding companion before Tom’s Gully on the outward leg. In spite of this he kept on chasing and did narrow the gap on Block to 29s on the way home before finally fading in the final few kilometres, still comfortably nabbing fastest time at a shade over 37kph.
Andy Robb’s group caught the final bunch ahead by the Dumaresq Dam turnoff which slowed the progress of Scratch who were now just 30s behind. Despite some hard riding, and even the odd turn from Kirky, Houlty’s group couldn’t quite close the gap.
Andy Robb still had enough in the tank to comfortably sprint clear in the final metres to take second place, over a minute after Jacqui King had crossed the line. Haydo did well to take third and Chris Belson just edged out Alex Thomas for fourth although Alex still took some bonus RROTY points that see him leapfrog Chris Stace once again at the top of the league.
Congratulations to Jacqui on a great victory and well done to all riders on a tough but enjoyable day of racing. Thanks to Pete Harris for putting the signs out and running the race. Next weekend we switch back to Dangarsleigh and also switch format with a 30km a graded scratch race.
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