Mt Buller VDHS re-scheduled
The MMBCC round of the VDHS which we had to cancel back in January has been re-scheduled! Our race will now be round 5 of the series on Sat 18 and Sun 19 April, which is a week after Easter.
More details soon…
The first race of 2020 for the dirty crew
By Damian Grundy
A reverse time trial two-lap night. The first lap was a mass start lap with a loop of the park climbing to the saddle and lapping around the back of the hill finishing down Rubbish Run.
On the first lap Ned Hall scored his first open race win beating Damian Grundy and Ruby Dobson. It was suggested that an early stick in the derailleur issue for Ruby may have been a ruse though it is not our policy to spread rumours.
Matt Empey led to the top of the climb however succumbed to an asthma attack and had to withdraw.
The second lap started in reverse time and finish order from the first lap.
By the final descent of Rubbish Run it was a line of riders and thick dust as the rule. Ruby Dobson flew through the field from 3rd to last starter to win the overall. Alex Green played a well-paced strategic game to claim 2nd (or possibly he raced his butt off) and James Griffin was 3rd. Youngsters Daniel Biram and Charlie Hall were 4th and 5th.
Overall results summary:
1st – Ruby Dobson
2nd – Alex Green
3rd – James Griffin
4th – Daniel Biram
5th – Charlie Hall
Dodging wind, rain and power!
By Micala Jacobs
With weather cells circling ominously in the sky, the weekly Thursday evening Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club race saw both local riders and welcome ‘out of towners’ dodge wind, big rain droplets and power outages.
Mansfield Mum of three Micala Jacobs claimed a breakthrough win when she took out course 10 in a clear finish on Howes Creek Rd. It was Jacobs’s first win after returning to her original club after 25 years. Helped along early by a strong, but only a recent return to racing this year, Di Condie who claimed second. “We worked well together and today we were able to keep away from the chasing group (Conrick and Wilson) and it’s pretty special to have a win’ Jacobs said.
“To get a win is quite nice before going home and wrangling the kids to bed and organising school lunches for the next day”
“I’m stoked and I think the kids will be really proud”.
Third place was contested out on the course and taken by Will Calvert-Jones in a sprint to the line with Talia Appleton (4th). Craig Wilson held on to claim 5th. Fastest rider for the 25km course was Kuba Szczepanik in a time of 36:43.
On a side note, the race was filled out by some members of the Coburg Cycling Club and friends (Kuba being one of them) and apart from revelling in the spirit of small club racing were taking the opportunity to take in some of the states best riding, hospitality and elite racing.
Since the devastation of bushfires throughout the state and it’s cascading effect into many townships, a big push to get people back into the high country has been taking place in the cycling community. “Across North East Victoria you’ll find seven awesome mountain bike parks, epic alpine road climbs, a huge network of rail trails and gravel routes ready to ride. Most importantly, there are hundreds of friendly businesses that really need your support” quoting Tourism North East’s Ride High Country promotion.
Kuba and co. were able to arrive with an @emptyesky and dine at the Delatite Hotel after the club race before recovering in accommodation in Howqua. Their itinerary for the following days then took them to the Tolmie Tavern for lunch and even a wood chop at Tolmie Sports. The Herald Sun Tour 2020 also passed though a number of local areas of its 108km 4th stage bringing with it racers, support crew, event organisers and crew, spectators and their families.
Thank you to club race marshals and commissaries for the evening and we look forward to racing the infamous Black ’n’ Tan next Thursday 13 February.
Here are the detailed results, including points score, and many thanks to both Tony Copland and Alex Green for the pics.
Simon Gerrans helps promote the Mansfield Subaru Tour
In case you don’t follow Simon, or the club, on Instagram, here is what Simon posted last week on behalf of the club. It’s had over 350 ‘likes’ so far!
simongerrans As ambassador for the 2020 Mansfield Subaru Tour, I’d like to invite you to #RollOnBack to my old home town.
As you know, the east and north east of Victoria has been hit hard by bushfires this summer.
Neither Mansfield nor Mt Buller have been under direct fire threat. And even though we’re still a couple of months away from the Tour, we’re confident it’ll be safe to race here in mid-March.
However, Mansfield and Mt Buller have seen a severe ‘indirect’ impact.
Tourism is the Mansfield region’s largest industry; it’s been devastated by the declaration of a State Disaster Zone - it’s meant visitors had to leave over the peak Christmas/New Year period. And Mansfield’s tourism industry is still really feeling it.
Mansfield would love you to visit for the Tour.
Bring along your friends and family… grab a meal, have a beer at one of our pubs, fill your car with fuel, stock up at the local supermarket… please make an impact!
So #RollOnBack to Victoria’s High Country and let’s see a cycling-led economic recovery!
I guarantee you’ll be welcome.
Visit @mansfieldmtbullercc for more information.
Thanks Simon!
Cycling Victoria hope to have the entry system online this coming week…
(The images Simon used are being produced as a small printed flyer. Once they’re back from the printer, we’d appreciate any members grabbing a few. Then, next time you call into a bike shop, or a cafe frequented by bike riders, please leave a few for riders to see.)
Upcoming events
Mountain Bike Interschools, Falls Creek - Fri 28 Feb
Ride the Ranges Euroa - Sun 26 Apr
