Reports

Season Opener at Glenvale
Mulgrave
Oct 04 2009
Mal Sawford

230 shake off the winter cobwebs

The 2009/2010 crit season kicked off with a bang at Glenvale Crescent this morning, with 230 riders across the five races. Although cool, it was a fine and still morning for racing, and all races saw high average speeds and incident free racing.

With the strung out A Grade field covering 23km in the first 30 minutes, the myriad of early breaks were not surprisingly short lived. Busy up the pointy end were regular strong men like Andrew Stalder (2XU/ARC), Damien Turner (Total Rush), Reece Stephens (Prime Estate), Sir Michael Gallagher (Jayco VIS) and Brendan Rowbotham (Richmond Cyclery), but despite a number of more promising breaks forming in the second half of the race, a bunch sprint looked the likely outcome as the bunch always hovered within 10 seconds.

In the final 10 minutes, Danny Kah (CCCC Elite) and Paul Richards (nalini.com.au) combined to open a gap, and when joined for the final three laps by Anthony Smith (Degani) and Stephens pulled clear by the day's biggest margin.

Trent Lowe (Garmin-Slipstream), fresh from lead out duties at the Tour of Britain and sharpening up for the Sun Tour, led the pursuit from the bell to the final corner to put the sprinters within striking distance, but Stephens, Smith and Richards had just enough left to claim the top three places, just ahead of Pete Johnstone (Giramondo), Leigh De Luca (Jamis) and Rowbotham.

The 61 riders in B Grade followed a similar script to the A Grade field, with the hot pace seemingly effortlessly maintained by the bunch spelling curtains for repeated breaks by Bob Kelly (Degani) and a host of Under 17 stars like Clement Boydell (CCCC Elite) and Zane Hunter (Lomo Exercise Physiology).

Late in the hour, Adrian Curnow (The Freedom Machine) escaped with two of the youngsters, Hunter and Michael Hale, and the trio pulled clear, chased only by Trav Nuttall.

Nuttall made contact at three to go, and the leading four became six at the bell when Jono Thompson and Harry Crothers-Bade (CBD/Degani) blasted across the gap. Just when judges thought they would have an easy time of it, the King's Men led bunch charged back into contention through the final two corners, with big Joel Strachan capping of the TKM/Slattery lead out to take the win. Hale fought strongly to claim second ahead of Mark Wilson, with Crothers-Bade and Hunter just ahead of the rest of the sprinters.

Pursuit specialist Helen Kelly (Jayco VIS) led the women's contingent home ahead of Bec Domange (CBD/Degani) and Vic Luxton.

There were ‘only' 41 starters in C Grade, which made it the day's smallest bunch, but still left more than enough fresh sets of legs to chase down every break away attempt. With most of the bunch fancying them selves as budding Robbie McEwen's, the final lap charge saw the fastest finishers close in the tail of the A Grade bunch (and ruin the photographer's chances of capturing the result for posterity), with young Aaron Eynaud B Grade bound after taking an impressive win two lengths clear of the next three  riders.

Fortunately, the finish line camera wasn't obscured, and confirmed the minor places would go to John Vroom, Andrew Killingsworth and Graham McFadries.

Hawthorns' Emmy Huntsman lead the women home, ahead of Leah Patterson and Clare Dallat (Cycling-Inform).

D Grade also finished with a bunch sprint, with around 40 of the 50 odd starters surviving the open frantic salvo once the traditional ten minute neutral period ended.

A much improved Scott Walkerden took line honours and earned a Tuesday night start in C Grade, winning ahead of first timer Josh Kennedy, and un-related juniors Will Thompson and Kyle Thompson.

Melissa Nicholls claimed the women's win with a good sprint to overall Ballarat junior Emily Word-Thompson and new mum Lisa Hanley in the dash to the line.

Thanks to Arnaud Domange for his photos of today's racing. For the full album, visit www.arnauddomange.com.au

Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue on Tuesday evenings at Sandown Park raceway. Entry is via the Princes Highway (Melways map 80 D7). Gates open at 5.45pm, with racing from 6.30pm.  Sundays are at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80 B2). B and D Grades start at 9am, while A and C Grade ride at 10.15am.

For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts novice racing clinics every week at Glenvale Crescent at 8.30am. For further details, go to http://www.carnegiecycling.com.au/.

All holders of 2009 and 2010 Cycling Australia licenses are welcome (don't forget to bring your license or receipt!) and non-members can have a go by taking out a day license for $35 or a 3 Ride License for $50. Licenses are now available at all CCCC events. All returning riders must resume in the grade they last raced in, unless prior arrangement has been made.

Results