With yet another cancelled Dirt Crits due to rain, the only mtb news this week is…
Call for VDHS volunteers
The annual Mt Buller Downhill is being held on 14 and 15 January 2023. This summer’s race will be an Australian Team selection race, be part of the national series and is the first round of the Victorian Downhill Series.
We are again looking for volunteer marshals for the event. If anyone can assist, please email Mel Green.
The event has almost sold out and Australia’s best racers will be in attendance. Hopefully, the weather gods will smile on the event this year.
Team Appleton take a 1-2
By Talia Appleton
After wet and wintry weather, 18 MMBCC cyclists were glad to be greeted with dry roads and the sun shining on Thursday night for the final handicap of the year. Regarded by many as the toughest course on the calendar, the race finished up the gruelling O’Hanlons Road climb, and with a noticeable headwind on Howes Creek Road towards the turnaround it was sure to be a solid night out for all.
First away was Tony Morris, followed by three groups of three riders. The block group consisted of Steve Brown, Talia Appleton and Ruby Dobson, with Josh Hopwood hot on their heels going off Scratch. Brown set off at a blistering pace down Malcolm Street while Dobson and Appleton kept grinning at each other, knowing we were in for a tough race. Our group was working nicely and it wasn't long before the group of Steve Duke, Jarrod Appleton and Dave Moore came into sight in the distance. However, Dobson had a seatpost malfunction and was forced to abandon Appleton and Brown, leaving only the two to chase.
Rolling long turns, Appleton and Brown made the catch before the turnaround, with only Duke and Moore able to stay with the pace. Brown pulled a massive turn to drag Appleton to the base of the climb, motoring past stragglers on the fast tail-wind section. As the four of us hit the base of the climb, all riders were in view - many of whom were already halfway up the climb. One of these was Janine Appleton, who had broken away with Tim Hall. Janine had too large a lead over all of the chasers, taking the win in emphatic fashion.
Mick Pearce paced his climb well, finishing in third. Dave Moore and Steve Duke rounded out the top five.
After a stellar solo effort, Hopwood finished the night with the well deserved fastest time of 37 minutes and 13 seconds.
Thanks to the commissarie and volunteers for another fabulous night of racing to round out the 2022 season.
Following the race, the riders and club members enjoyed a Christmas dinner and celebrations at the Mansfield Hotel.
Many thanks to Tony Copland for his race images and here are the results.
The top ten in the Road Race Summer Series points scores so far…
Ryder Chadd 84, Janine Appleton 65, Craig Wilson 58, Mick Pearce 47, Micala Jacobs 46, Rob Skinner 38, Steve Brown 37, Steve Duke 36, Andrew Garrett 30, Bella Green 28.
Merry Christmas
That’s it for MMBCC News for 2022. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all…