Battle of Trafalgar begins
The first race of the 2018 season for Warragul Cycling Club members saw the introduction of new circuit.
The Trafalgar criterium circuit provided some fast and furious racing in the Battle of Trafalgar Series. The 1.4km circuit in Trafalgar tests cyclists cornering skills and providers lively and close racing.
First away were B and D grade. The B grade race took a while to warm up. There were many short-lived breaks as Al McCulloch, Jason Tubner and Mark Mason tried to get away. They were quickly chased down each time by Al McCulloch, Jason Tubner, Mark Mason or Paul Yeatman.
With many chasers in the group breaking away was always going to be difficult. Rob Monk tried his hand mid-race a couple of times but got nowhere.
With five minutes left to race it seemed the bunch decided to have a sprint finish. Mark Mason took up the lead out duties and kept the pace high for the final four laps. Rounding the third last corner there was a coming together of riders and Paul Yeatman, Jacob De Klerk and Alan McCullock hit the deck. All riders were relatively uninjured, but their race was certain over.
Jason Tubnor led the remaining riders around the final corner and led for much of the finishing straight. Rob Monk timed his run well and passed Tubnor just before the line to take the win. Tubbs was second with Latrobe City rider Micheal Salerno in third. Leigh Jamison was fourth and George Tambassis fifth.
The D graders lapped in good time and stayed together for the first half of the race. Claire Trembath and Bruce Evanson did lots of pacemaking but Peter McLean and Lea McLean were also doing their fair share.
Kristy Rollinson found the pace a bit tough mid race. Annie Pryjmak held on till near the finish. In the sprint to the line Claire Trembath took the win with Bruce Evanson in second and Peter McLean was third. Lea McLean finished fourth and Annie Pryjmak fifth.
The A grade race didn’t stay together long. Young guns Harry McLean and Mitch Jones were racing in the national championships last weekend, so an A grade club race was always going to be easy picking for them a week later. They got away together after 15 minutes of racing and quickly established a big break.
Glynn Marriott encouraged an organised chase group but Jarryd Jones and Shane Stiles seemed to have other ideas in mind. When the rest of the chase group tired, Jarryd and Shane attacked and bridged across to the leaders. It took them two-laps to get there but when they did it was race over for the chasers. Their cause was not assisted when Graeme Parker punctured.
Shane Stiles was not in a four man break where the other three were all less than half his age. He was always going to struggle. Stiles ability to corner and hide were the only things that kept him in with the leaders.
In the sprint it was Jones quinella. Mitch was first, Jarryd second. Harry McLean rode well to take third and Shane Stiles was fourth. Brett Kennedy won the sprint for fifth a few minutes later.
Simon Baxter was having his first race for more than eight months, but it was clear he’d been doing some serious training. He attacked the C grade bunch after 15 minutes of racing and was never seen again. He went on to lap the field.
Bryce Edhouse, Danny Dilger, Tex Walker and Jarrod Croxford seemed more intent on attacking each other than chasing Simon. It would not have mattered though as they were not going to catch him. Simon won by a lap and a bit more.
In a shameless display of wheel sucking Tex, who’d contributed little to the chase, took the sprint for second from Jarrod. Danny was fourth with Bryce in fifth. Aaron Nash battled some mechanical issues and will be better for the race.
Racing returns to Trafalgar in two weeks’ time for race two of the series.