disqualifications at the Team Time Trial
Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club held its annual Team Time Trial on the Buller Road on Thursday 10 December.
Unlike our more frequent Individual Time Trials, it's up to the group to ride together as a team. And unlike our much more frequent Handicap Races (where groups race as 'teams' until just before the finish, when they then race for individual glory) a TTT means they have to stay together for the whole course - the team's result is based on the fourth rider across the finish line.
This means there's no point the faster riders in a team leaving a slower rider behind… the point is for the whole group to work together for the whole race. Handicaps from our usual races are also taken into account so each group has a chance to win.
With so many work and school Christmas break-ups on the calendar, the field for the TTT was a little thinner than usual with only three teams of four on the start list. Team one was the likely fastest group of Josh Hopwood, last week's winner Tom Macmunn, Darren Bakker and Mauro Brega. They were followed one minute later by Alex Green, Aaron Peterson, Dave Moore and David Jagger as Team two. Team three was the last group to start, containing Craig Wilson, Rod Manning, Ian Conrick and Louise Hopwood.
The blustery night suited the tightest team formation and Team one showed great teamwork throughout. Despite being held up by a few cars at the turnaround, and despite Darren dropping a chain on the way up to Hearns Lane, they stayed together and posted a very quick 33 minutes and 56 seconds.
Team two also stayed together well but didn't seem to have the same intensity as team one. They posted 40.10.
Team three were headed for a good result, posting 41.36, which gave them a chance on Handicap. However, two riders from the team were disqualified for disobeying the turnaround marshal, meaning the whole team missed out on a result.
The win went to team one on a corrected time of 40.56, ahead of team two on 43.10.
Many thanks to Di, Tony, Margaretanne, Tony, Dave and especially Deb, for a great job at the turnaround.
The final race of this year will be the 32km Handicap from the Botanic Park to Sawpit Gully Road, then around to Graves Road. (Entries via SMS to 0428 503 437 by 8pm Wednesday.) This is followed by the club Christmas break-up at 7.30.
MMBCC Xmas Break-up Barbecue
Thursday 17 December - 7.30pm - Jock & Di's place,
Riflebutts Road (2nd house on the left after the bitumen finishes, not far up from the Reserve.)
Salads and dessert provided by the club. To give us an idea of numbers for catering, please let Jenni know you're coming either by email here or SMS on 0400 896 364.
Bring your own meat, drink, chair, bathers and towel (Jock and Di have a new pool!)
Santa will be coming along with something for the kids too. Just not sure if he'll actually arrive on a bike.
Everyone welcome!
The Cycling Glossary Word of the Week
Casually Deliberate // The easy sense of style and calm exuded by a Velominatus.
This is true whether they are on the bike, off the bike and is exhibited by a sharp dress sense and air of confidence. Details here.
Finally, something for roadies taking to the dirt this summer...