Kennedy and Tambassis overcome the cold
It was a near freezing at the start to the Warragul Cycling Club races at Shady Creek on Sunday morning.
With four laps of the Shady Creek circuit to complete the A grade bunch started sluggishly.
Big Jim Timmer-Arennds quickly grew weary of the slow tempo and took off. Only Graeme Parker shadowed. These two quickly established a sizable gap on the field.
The second time up the hill was completed at a solid tempo and Jayman Prestidge and Jason Tubnor lost contact with the bunch.
Both Tubnor and Prestidge had some decent form a few months ago but they have clearly mislaid it now. For them, B grade beckons.
Glynn Marriott only just made it over the climb and contributed little in the bunch’s efforts to chase down Parker and Big Jim. Rob Monk, Shane Stiles, Matt Parkinson, Brett Kennedy, Leigh Hauxwell and Glenn Marriott should have been able to catch the break before the intermediate sprint but they seemed to lose focus on Stuhrs Rd.
The gap went out and despite some solid chasing in the home straight Graeme Parker and Big Jim were able to pick up the sprint points. Matt Parkinson completely demolished himself in the chase and was dropped.
Marriott was insipid; a shadow of his former self and he was also dropped at the base of the climb. Marriott’s “one training ride a week” strategy is clearly not cutting the mustard.
Stiles set a solid tempo and the chasing group of four made it over the top together. They had Parker and Big Jim in sight and plans were hatched. As soon as the catch was made Rob Monk and Brett Kennedy attacked and established a good break. Stiles and Hauxwell contributed little to chase and planned to jump across to Monk and Kennedy on the hill.
Kennedy was not waiting though and dropped Monk on the climb. Stiles tried to get across to Monk going over the top but these two did not have a big enough gap to stay away from Big Jim on the descent. Kennedy was caught soon after and the front of the race was finally back together. That lasted about 30 seconds as Stiles and Monk establish a small break.
When they were caught on Stuhrs Rd Kennedy went and Stiles jumped across to him. By this stage Big Jim was exhausted from doing most of the chasing and the break finally established for good. Kennedy and Stiles rode together to the finish. They put on a show for the crowd at the finish line with a weaving track stile sprint that Kennedy won. Stiles was second.
Big Jim towed the remaining riders to the finish. Graeme Parker was too quick for Rob Monk in the sprint for third. Leigh Hauxwell was fifth with the hard working Big Jim in sixth.
The combined B and C grade fields were under control on the first ascent of three Shady Creek ascents. This would ensure the C graders were in the mix for at least a third of the race. Someone forgot to tell the racers that they could race after that however, as the pace of the bunch sat on 32 kp/h for the balance of the race.
Paul Collins tried to animate the race on three occasions by rolling off the front of the bunch, however experienced chasers Colin Brown, Duane McDonald and Peter Whelan would not let the break go. Sitting middle of the bunch the entire race was recently demoted
A grade rider George Tambassis was looking terrific in the icy conditions, and was so relaxed that he was able to admire the beautiful views of the snow on Mt Baw Baw.
Some excitement occurred at the end of lap two when Daniel Bishop dropped a watt bomb 400 metres from the intermediate sprint. No one had seen him before this as he had sat on the back for two laps, and his surprising and powerful attack saw him take the points.
The final ascent up Shady Creek was steady and only Duane McDonald experienced some difficulty on the final 300 metres of the climb.
Divine intervention looked after one of the great people of the Warragul Cycling Club however, when the ‘hand of God’ gave a little assistance to get him over with the bunch. Duane was inspired by his experience with God and rolled off the front with Paul Collins at the 10km to go mark.
The chasers chased immediately and the race was back at 32 kph until one kilometre to go. Pete Whelan was sitting on big Daniel Bishop’s wheel and launched a strong and surprising attack. He gapped the field by 50 metres.
Daniel Bishop closed much of the gap, with a well-rested Tambassis sitting tight on his wheel. Tambassis won the sprint with ease, with Jason Fritzlaff and Daniel Bishop rounding out the minor placings.
In his desperation for fourth place James Lalor accidentally chopped Paul’s front wheel, with Paul making a miraculous save to prevent himself hitting the bitumen.
The final standing in the series: Mark Mason one, Brett Kennedy, Graeme Parker and Lochie Mushet equal two, Shane Stiles, fifth.
Next week’s race is the first of the handicap series starting at 8.30am Sunday at Darnum. Register online to enter.