With no obvious effects from too much chocolate, both Juniors and Seniors put on some very competitive racing on Easter Saturday.
In the juniors, Angus Swan rode the fastest time trial with a time of 1:57, followed by Rogan McPhie (1:59), Sam Jenner (2:02), Adam Bourke (2:05), Lewis Wheatley (2:17), Angus Wheatley (2:18), Lachie Harris (3:39), and Olivia Rubie (4:09).
Next up was a 5 lap handicap, won by Sam Jenner who out-sprinted Rogan McPhie on the line, just ahead of Lewis Wheatley in third and Angus Wheatley in fourth.
Angus then turned the tables on his big brother in fine style in a two lap wheel race. Having been overtaken by Lewis, he worked hard to get back on his wheel before overtaking him on the last hill and riding away on main strait for the win. Lewis held on for second ahead of a fast finishing Sam.
The final event of the day was a seesawing Italian pursuit, with the two teams anchored by Angus Swan and Rogan too close to call at the finish.
The senior race was a 45km handicap on Longswamp Road. Everyone seems to be getting used to the tough course because there was some excellent riding from the large field of 27 starters.
Starting off 1 minute, Aylie Allen (having her first race for at least a year) and Chicka Russell quickly overhauled the limit riders and now in the lead worked well together for much of the race.
The chasing groups were gradually reeling each other in with the scratch riders led by Geoff Straub catching the next group just after the 30km mark. Now reinforced, the chasers brought the race together just after the final turn.
The pressure increased on the final climb past Imbota Forest, with Straub building up what turned out to be the winning lead. Jamie Stanley, Dave Munday, Cody Burton and Rob Tindale then formed the next group on the road and were riding strongly, but Phil Thomas showed his strength by dragging several riders back to the group.
Straub’s lead was too great however, and he took the win comfortably, also recording fastest time. Cody Burton burst out of the chasing group to take second place from Jamie Stanley, with a fast finishing Chris Jones in fourth. As a mark of the level of competition, the first 10 riders were separated by just over a minute on the tough uphill finish.
Full results below:
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