A field of 22 cyclists fronted up to the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club's weekly race last Thursday with the longer, challenging distance possibly deterring a few potential starters.

Sue Hall started first on the 34km haul out the Whitfield road and was followed nine minutes later by Craig Wilson,Di Condie, Andy Browning, Tony Williams and Peter Ellett.

Allan Gerrans, David Bock, John Lithgow and Tony Ryan set off in hot pursuit three minutes later with mark Calvert-Jones, Euan Friday, Will MacDonald and John Eisner a further three minutes back.

The Top two bunches of Josh Hopwood, Jock Brega, Bruce Halket, Robbo, Steffan Vaivars, Tim Ross, Mitch Greenway and Darren Bakker condensed more or less by the turnaround but in great riding conditions, most of the teams rode solidly and didn't threaten each other. Block and scratch managed to catch and pass the team of Friday, Eisner and Calvert-Jones with MacDonald managing to hang on to the top of the big hill.

"One Hill" Craig Wilson managed to stay in touch with his group up the Barwite hill and as a result, emerged to take control of the final sprint, edging out Tony Williams and Andy Browning on the line with Di Condie coming fourth. Josh Hopwood continued to show strong form coming a close fifth, leading the scratch group home.

Results - CLICK HERE.

Ladder after Round 8 - CLICK HERE.

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