MMBCC Road Race - Black 'n' Tan - Thursday 28 Jan
by Ian Conrick.
The Black and Tan course was ridden last week. It's a grueling and feared ride, known as the Hell of the NE. The race starts on the 'tar' and includes a 'tan' or dirt section of the course.
Pre starting time a heavy cloud storm appeared in the west which released its contents in a blast that made the start damp and humid.
A total of 15 riders started for championship points from the BP Roadhouse; first off the mark were Ian Conrick, Craig Wilson and John Eisner followed by David Jagger, David Bock and Steve Flew; then came a lonely Will MacDonald after Jason Parker's late scratching.
At the Graves Rd turnoff the front three grades of riders settled into a steady pace with Jarrod Appleton, Dave Moore, and Alex Green 3 minutes behind with Rob Skinner, Jock Brega, Bruce Halket and Darren Bakker followed by the two guns Tom MacMunn and Kian Lerch-MacKinnon.
From the Graves Rd turnoff the riders climb up 'Coombes Hill' and down to Barwite Rd. At this stage the Conrick-Wilson-Eisner group had a clear lead on the field with all the others groups now heading into the Mansfield Whitfield Rd.
Lerch-MacKinnon, Brega, Moore, Flew and Conrick were starting to lift their workrate and plan on closing the gap on the finishing line as the dirt of Mt Battery Rd was looming. That section of road has the challenges of any country road with livestock, dust, potholes and loose gravel. The descent onto Graves Rd being the final turn then back onto the 'tar' with asprint to the finishing line.
Lerch-MacKinnon was an easy winner followed by Conrick and Flew.
Many thanks to Damian, Will, Tim, Tony C, Tony W and Margaretanne for officiating. And big thanks to Talia and Kody for the cow bells and cheering. Good work!
Next week's race is on the 32km long Course 6 - entries via SMS to 0428 503 437 by 8pm Wednesday.
It will be followed by the club's first Sunday morning race in a long time on 7 February… and it's a ripper: 42km around the Old Tolmie Road loop!
Dirt Crits start again Monday
First race on Monday 1 February is a Mass Start race with concealed handicaps.
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Upcoming MMBCC road races
Sunday 7 February sees the first race on the Old Tolmie Road Loop. The race starts on Graves Road and finishes on Whitfield Road near the Botanic Park. If you don't feel like racing up the Old Tolmie Road, please come along for a look as we could do with a few extra marshals for this race.
Thursday 18 February will see the Bakker Plumbing Handicap held in Jamieson. This will be a late start (Rego from 6pm, racing at 6.30) to allow everyone time to drive out to Jamieson. Dinner afterwards will be at Mingo's… Thursday night is pasta night - $18.
Volunteers
Once again, many thanks again to all of you that volunteer for the VDHS round at Mt Buller. We hope you like the t-shirt too!
Didn't get one? More t-shirts will be up for grabs if you volunteer to help out at the Mansfield Tour on 19 & 20 March. Please contact Di on 0438 513 355.
Other upcoming events
Great Ocean Road Race Sunday - Go Gerro! 11am to 4pm on Channel 7. It's also meant to include highlights of Saturday's Women's Race, won by Orica-AIS' Amanda Spratt.
Cyclo-cross World Championships - from Heusden-Zolder, Belgium can be live streamed here.
Get into the atmosphere by setting the a/c to about 8°C, wear an inadequate coat, make up for it by drinking lots of beer, eat piles of frittes (hot chips) and heckle the riders as they go past the TV! What could be more fun?
The Herald-Sun Tour - Stage 1 will start and finish at Healesville this coming Thursday. Simon Gerrans won't be riding (GreenEDGE will be in South Africa on a training camp) but reigning TdF winner Chris Froome will! More details here.
The annual Gravity Oz Women's Mountain Bike Skills Weekend is coming up on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February. This weekend is the perfect way to get into mountain biking, instructed by the best female coaches in Australia. To book, head to the Gravity Oz website.
See below the flyer from Cycling Victoria about a Life Cycle Program they're hosting for older riders on Saturday 6 February, in conjunction with the Sun Tour.
Cycling Victoria are also holding 'The Women's Ride' on Sunday 6 March. The MMBCC hope to host a ride on the day… more details soon. In the meantime, please visit the website.