New club kit
Cycling Australia have organised a new version of our club kit for MMBCC Life Member Simon Gerrans. You can get one of these too!
All you need to do is win a stage (and wear the leader’s jersey) of each of the Grand Tours, win a couple of one-day Monuments, a couple of Australian Championships and a few Tours Down Under and Cycling Australia will likely order you one with YOUR name on it.
CA had this one produced by Seight Sports and presented to Simon at a luncheon in Melbourne last week.
Racing this week
By Anthony Plummer
Last Tuesday saw an Irish Handicap with 15 entrants tasked with riding anywhere between three and six laps on a new, fiendishly designed lap.
In an almost complete ‘junior domination’ Ruby Dobson led home the field ahead of the younger Dan Friday and Kody Appleton. Old Damian Grundy finished fourth and normal transmission resumed with James Griffin finishing fifth ahead of Elise Empey and Talia Appleton.
Here are the results. Next week is a Teams Race at Riflebutts.
Thursday night was the final road race for Spring and riders gathered on the Midland Highway for the Stump Hill Classic.
A southerly awaited the riders, the tailwind ensuring a fast out leg for the race. Plus a large Scratch group was going to ensure the remaining groups had to work well together to stay away on the return leg with a headwind.
The group consisting of Nathan Pelling, Tim Hall, Matilda Reeve, Anthony Plummer and John Lazarov started well, but unfortunately for Matilda the fast speed and restricted gearing found her alone. After riding strongly just before the turn Hall selected reverse gear on one of the rises and quickly went off the back of the group.
Nearing the turn around, all the groups were still in starting order and working well together but the race was starting to come together.
The reduced group of Pelling, Lazarov and Plummer closed the gap to the group of Craig Wilson, John Eisner, Di Condie, Talia Appleton and Bella Green on one of the final rises. Green found a burst of speed to lead the group towards the Limit riders who had by this time started to spread apart up the road. Unfortunately for Lazarov who had a great ride, got lost in the action when overtaking and was distanced from Pelling and Plummer.
Behind the scratch group the Block had come together and were chasing in earnest and mopping up riders who had been left behind.
Nearing Aldous Lane and the final rise, Judi Duke was finally caught after riding strongly alone at the front. This left Pelling and Plummer who worked well together at the front with only the fast run to the finish. Plummer finally getting the better of Pelling in a close finish.
Ruby Dobson continued her good form from Tuesday night with a strong third.
As the groups came to the line, Eisner finished strongly to beat the rest of his group over the line. Close behind the large group of Scratch and Block sprinted for the finish and had Damian Grundy winning the bunch sprint and collecting fasted time.
Many thanks to our officials and volunteers.
Results will hopefully be posted soon; once they’re found. Thanks to Tony Copland for the race pics.
Elise second!
Congratulations to Elise Empey who finished second at the EWS race at Mt Buller on the weekend and is now second in the series.
Christmas Break-up
Make a note in your diary for the club Christmas Party… it’ll be held after Dirt Crits on Tuesday 18 December. More details soon. And bring your bathers!