Steve Brown leading the way in the finial few kilometres
Windy Howes Creek Road Race
By Allan Gerrans
The first race for this summer after a delayed start due to COVID restriction and subsequent delays in obtaining race permits. It was going to be a hectic race with the new handicapper and Mother Nature providing fantastic tailwinds and shocking headwinds.
Dave Moore has taken the role of handicapper from John Eisner, and had the difficult task of ranking the riders, without any preseason form guide, it’s hard to know who has been in hibernation during COVID and who’s been sneaking out and training!
John Eisner was the sole limit rider, whilst he had a 5 min start, he was faced with riding alone into the wind.
The next group of Janine Appleton, Alex Green, and Dave Jagger took off strongly in pursuit of Eisner, and they were followed a minute later by Rob Skinner, Andy Setchell, and Allan Gerrans.
Whilst the Skinner group could see the others ahead, it was not until they neared the turnaround at Cummins Rd, that the catch was made.
Setchell had been dropped before catching the Appleton group but was able to catch them again, whilst the others waited for Appleton after she decided to take a detour along Cummins rd.
Eisner was still out in front, but now struggling into the headwind, he was caught soon after passing Campagnolos Rd.
As the now front group, of 6 riders approached the Lakeside Caravan Park, everyone knew the next 3 short sharp hills can make or break your race!
Gerrans went to the front over the first hill and subsequently split the group leaving Setchell and Jagger behind, and then Green made a tactical decision to wait with the others.
Gerrans and Appleton worked together over the next 2 hills with Skinner in tow. Once over the last hill, Skinner sacrificed himself to keep the pace up on the long descent and then had nothing left when the road headed up again.
Appleton and Gerrans were side by side as they passed the Malcom St corner, with the finish in sight Gerrans dropped into Appleton slipstream and sprinted passed her to take the win.
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