No joking - there’s a lot to catch up on this week. Updated now with Bocky’s road race article…
STOP PRESS!
Congratulations to Talia Appleton who won the Oceania Championships in Brisbane yesterday. She broke away with 20km to go and won by over two minutes! Awesome work Talia - we’re all really proud of you.
A great night at the Mansfield Hotel after the final road race of the season!
Speaking of the pub on Thursday night, did anyone pick up or see a black Mountain Designs puffer vest? Please contact Micala Jacobs if you did.
A big final night of Dirt Crits
by Dave Empey
The final Dirt Crits for summer 2023 was held on Tuesday night amidst thunderstorms and failing light.
We had 16 riders turn up and again racing was tight at the top of the table with Ant Bateup taking the win by one second ahead of Matt Empey closely followed by Archie Smith.
There was a little bit of uphill this week and a longer track was utilised. Judging by the times there were some tired legs in the group this week.
This season has been a little up and down with poor weather characterising most of the season and the deteriorating condition of Rifle Butts MTB Park not helping the player comfort level. But hats off to everyone who has turned up every week and put in.
Here are the detailed results.
Here’s to another season… well done everyone!
There’ll be an announcement here in the News Pages soon about an upcoming presentation night.
Social road ride on Sunday
This is an unsupported ride on open public roads in Jamieson area to be held on Sunday 2 April 2023, with five stages. You don’t have to complete all five stages, choose your own adventure. Maybe one is enough, or maybe three, or if you’re still on a coffee high, do them all!
Stage 1 - Mansfield to Jamieson, 36 km
Stage 2 - Jamieson-Licola Rd to end of bitumen and return, 13km
Stage 3 - Jamieson-Eildon Rd to Bald Hill Gap and return, 25 km
Stage 4 - Jamieson to 10 Mile return, 31 km
Stage 5 - If you’re still keen (and Darren Bakker ha ha), return to Mansfield 36 km
The intention is to meet at Jamieson township between 10-11am for coffee and again after the ride at Jamieson Brewery, Lakeside Hotel for lunch at 1pm.
For more information and to confirm your intention (either riding or helping out) please contact Allan Gerrans on 0427 250 035.
Working Bee soon
There’ll be a working bee soon to help clean out the shipping container and tidy up the soccer field shed.
Keep an eye out on WhatsApp for details.
A Night For “The Bunny” Racing to Save Daylight.
by David Bock
Seventeen riders fronted up to contest the last MMBCC Thursday race before Daylight Savings ended.
First out on the road was Tony Morris, the club`s perennial “bunny”, that everyone else would try to chase down. That chase started two and half mins later with David Jagger, David Bock, and John Eisner, off and going, with the trio of Ian Conrick, Steve Curnow and Craig Wilson, on their way three mins after that; with four mins separating them from the quartet of Darren Bakker, Adrian Dowd, Elise Empey and Tim Ross.
Out on Graves Road, with Tony Morris just visible heading over the next crest, Bocky took a turn leading up the rise from the ford, and was disconcerted to look behind and find John and Dave had dropped off his wheel. Waiting up, he was told to “just go”, so the chase of Morris resumed.
Back near the start, the “block” group of Steve Duke, Mick Pearce, Bruce Halket, Ryder Chadd and Dave Empey were on their way, eleven and a half minutes after Tony; and with an advantage of only 45 seconds ahead of lone Scratch rider, Chris Miller. Dave Empey’s first turn on lead caused fear and consternation, setting a pace the rest of his group found difficult to match. Fortunately for them, Dave’s subsequent turns were less blistering.
Descending the “Coombesberg” at the northern end of Old Tolmie Road, Bock could see Morris appearing ever closer and likely to be overtaken in the next kilometre or so. However, this was an illusion - the overtake occurred ten km later at the bottom of the descent of the Barwite Hill, coming back into town, on the Mansfield-Whitfield Road.
Motivated by not wanting to write this article (an honour bestowed to second-place getters) Morris re-took the lead on the last rise to the finish to take the win from Bock.
The chase group of seven had gotten so close that Bock and Morris should’ve felt them breathing down the back of their necks; Chris leading them across the line to pick up third and fastest time, just ahead of Darren Bakker, Mick Pearce, Dave Empey, Steve Duke, Bruce Halket and Elise Empey. Nineteen seconds later, John Eisner crossed to round out the top ten, just ahead of Steve Curnow. The final six came in individually within the next two minutes, demonstrating the closeness of the handicapping. So thanks Dave Moore, the Handicapper, and to all the Committee members and volunteers who have enabled the season’s racing to happen.
Many thanks to the Mansfield Hotel for their support too - keep any eye and ear out for news on Presentation Night soon.
Here are the results and many thanks again to Tony Copland for his great pics.
Club Member Discount on Crankworx tickets
Crankworx Cairns - where the world's elite and Australia’s best freeride athletes shred the iconic Smithfield tracks in a head to head battle.
There's plenty to do on both sides of the tape, with elite and CWNEXT racing, Kidsworx for the groms, a pumping mtb expo, food, drinks, and an all-round epic festival.
It’s 5 days of bumper vibes and the highest level of freestyle mountain biking – what more could you want?
There are multi-day and single day passes available – buy yours now and use code ‘CLUBS15’ at checkout to get 15% off your passes! Buy yours here.
Upcoming events
Northern Cycling’s Chooka’s Wheelrace, Broadford, Sunday 16 April.
Shepparton CC’s Euroa Town Crits, Saturday 22 April.
Northern Cycling’s Benghazi Handicap, Lancefield on Anzac Day, Tuesday 25 April.
Tour of Flanders tonight
One of the best pro races of the year is on Sunday night, De Ronde van Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders. Here’s a really good explanation and preview of the Men’s race.
It’ll be live on SBS Viceland from 8pm Sunday, from 6pm on SBS On Demand. It’ll be followed by the Women’s.
The forecast is for rain which will make the cobbles and steep bergs all the more challenging and entertaining.