Author Brad Peppinck
Season Points: https://my.raceresult.com/187536/
Week By Week Results: https://my.raceresult.com/groups/4741/
Round 17 of crits was blessed with perfect weather; warm, sunny, and barely a breath of wind.
Indeed, even the kangaroos decided to largely stay away and let the road deciding the racing.
The Junior HC was another exciting affair as CCC’s littlest riders demonstrated their growing bunch
skills with the limit ridings swapping turns nicely to overhaul the early pace setters. In the end, it was
Martin Grande who proved the quickest, attacking down the back straight and staying away to win
ahead of Hugo Williams, Annika Astridge in third after shouldering the lions share of the pace setting
in typical fashion.
E grade and Junior Whites stayed together throughout despite some good attacking riding with Will
Astridge particularly prominent. Taking advantage of her long-range sprint, Emily Watch was able to
hold on for the win just ahead of Hannah Pettit, Will pushing all the way in third.
Peter Coll took up the D Grade reigns early stringing the bunch out single file, juniors Liam Rogers
and Callum Mciver consistently well positioned in the top five riders. Early breakaway efforts from
the likes of Richard Windsor ultimately didn’t amount to much as Nicholas Jeffries led the charge to
neutralise potential threats, ably assisted by Darren Stevens. Undeterred, Richard went again with
around 6 minutes remaining, quickly establishing a sizeable gap. Peddling a big gear and looking rock
solid on the bike, Richard’s lead never looked seriously threatened as he soloed to a very convincing
and impressive victory, putting himself firmly in the cross hairs of the CCC handicapper in the
process. Zeke Findlay beat home Nicholas Jeffries in the bunch gallop for second and third.
B Grade was fast yet orderly with no one able to make much of an impact in the still conditions. Team Tiffen were ably represented up front by serial opportunists Mick Tollhurst and Steve
Blackburn, while Bec Mcconnell, Em Viotto, and Alice Patterson-Robert were particularly prominent
in closing gaps and keeping proceedings tight. On the bell lap, the dialled in bunch sprint kicked off
early down the back straight with Rainer Wilton looking to set up Cartel teammate and series points
leader Stu Griffith for the win. Notwithstanding a few sharp elbows and a brief foray onto the gravel,
Stu powered clear into the home straight as he engaged the hyperdrive and left the rest of B grade
to quietly contemplate their gearing selection. Steve Blackburn got the better of Liam O’Dea in the
race for second, while Em Viotto was able to hold off Josie Pepper and Bec M for the women.
Proving that serious horsepower is an adequate substitute for crosswinds in delivering on attacking
racing, A grade was the standout race of the night as things repeatedly blew apart before briefly
reconstituting, only to shatter again. Early aggressors included Tom Chester, Trekky, Dan Mcconnell,
Reece Tucknot, Dylan Hopkins, Ayden Toovey, and Oscar Chamberlain, while Nick Wilson and Steve
Crispin were prominent in driving the chase. Around the halfway mark, the elastic snapped once
again as three distinct groups emerged; Tom, Trekky, and Oscar up front separated by several bike
lengths from Reece, Torben Partridge-Madsen, and Steve, with Ayden, David Randall, and Dylan a
further 50 meters behind them. As the intriguing and impromptu team time trial format played out
on the track, the gaps stayed largely the same, even after Tom was forced to retire early leaving just
two out front. Out of the final corner and at his ruthless best, Trekky simply out dragged Oscar to
take a dominant victory, despite Oscar pushing all the way and picking up a well-earned second in
the process. Ayden picked up the final spot on the podium after a blistering attack through
collarbone, Reece in forth and Steve C carrying the touch aloft for the Masters with a season best
performance in fifth.
With forecasts for more good weather for Round 18 and the prospects of the ACT Crit Champs on
the horizon, there’s no excuse not to get involved. Look forward to seeing you all for more great
racing then.