On Sunday I decided to head down to Warragul for the "Baw Baw Classic", which incorporates Victoria's Mountain Climbers Championships.The race is run by the Warragul Cycling Club over a tough undulating 103km course starting in Warragul and finishing on top of Mt Baw Baw,which in itself is a reasonable challenge,the final 6km averages at a 13% gradient and peaks at 21%.As I was already in Melbourne, having driven down Saturday, and there were two local riders,Matt Clark and James Boal competing in A Grade, it was the perfect opportunity to check out this prestigious event.The A Grade honour roll includes names such as David McKenzie,Simon Gerrans and Simon Clarke to name a few.
The weather was perfect when I arrived at the start around 9 am,around 20 degrees and a light ENE wind with hardly a cloud in the sky.The place was buzzing with bikes being unloaded from all different shapes and sizes of vehicles, nervous riders picking up their race numbers and timing transponders and making final preparations to their machines.I found the Clark brothers parked pretty close by,I was keen to get some inside info on the course as they both have competed in this event previously.Brad was very helpful on where it might be possible to see the race and then jump in front again for more opportunities to watch and take photos. Unfortunately I would only be able to see A Grade as I wanted to keep up with what the locals were doing.
Brad Clark pins on his brother Matt's race number
I got in trouble for not getting any shots of the podium girls at the TDU so thought I better mend my ways.
James Boal ready to start.
Matt Clark in position at start line
Getting close to start time for A Grade.
After a brief delay when the lead car wouldn't start and had to be pushed out of the way (the woman in charge was so cool in handling this) it was time to get A grade underway.As I wanted to follow the local riders in A Grade I made for the trusty Hilux. Driving out to Neerim South where I could set up and wait for the race,take a few photos,jump back ahead of the race and drive out past the feed zone for another pass.By the time A grade arrived there were a small group off the front with maybe 30 seconds on another bunch of maybe 10 or so including James Boal with the rest of the peloton breathing down their necks. I hadn't spotted Matt Clark at this point but it is nearly impossible to take photos and pick out riders at the same time.
This was from my first photo stop at Neerim South.
Brad Clark waiting at the feed zone.
Cathy Boal waiting for James at the feed zone. (Don't tell her I put this photo online)
1km after the feed zone
After stopping to take a photo of this sign with my iPhone, I was trying to send out some info on twitter about the race as well.The first bunch of A graders came hurtling past,I managed to jump in behind them and travelling at speeds of around 90kmh followed them to the bottom of the descent where I pulled over to wait for the peloton.
Genesys seemed to have riders everywhere.
I got this shot of Matt and an unknown rider at the bottom of the descent.
The road pretty much went uphill at this point into a climb known as Vespers which is the first major climb of the race. I hadn't seen James at the bottom of the descent but had photographed Matt riding right at the back of the main A Grade peloton. As I drove up Vespers it was like a bomb had gone off in the bunch with riders dropping off in small groups as the force of gravity had it's way.I was a little shocked when part way up the climb I overtook James who had dropped off the pace from the front group,this was surprising as James goes uphill very well.As I pressed the button and lowered the window of my Hilux,expecting to breath in the beautiful mountain air I was instead struck with a very pungent smell of something that reminded me of fish meal and something dead,this lasted for ages and I could only think of the poor riders gasping in that air as they sufferd up the hill.
From this point on I couldn't really get past the riders, only the ones being dropped,so was caught in with the convoy of riders and following vehicles.You had to be really careful as some of the riders who had been dropped on the climb were bombing the descent and weaving through the cars getting back into the race.
The road soon became pretty much a one lane,quite narrow and if another car came in the opposite direction you had to get 2 wheels right off the road.With riders cutting corners all over the place, it's a little dangerous I reckon.This was the status quo for the next 30-40km and the good thing was Matt was still ahead somewhere.I figured I'd seen him, and a few other riders,go off the front of the main group I had been following.
When we hit Mt Baw Baw proper I could instantly see riders getting dropped left, right and centre as the road appears to go straight up. Eventually after passing a reasonable number of weary riders I came behind a group of 4, containing Matt Clark.the other riders in this group were Blake Hose (Geelong CC),Jason Spencer (Blackburn CC),Robbie Hucker (Bendigo & District CC. I thought I was close to the front of the race but couldn't see the lead car so wasn't sure at this point how many riders were ahead.Trying to decide whether to drive to the finish to get some shots there I could see Matt was struggling to stay with the little group he was with.Now I have only met Matt a couple of times so was not sure if he would appreciate my coaching,or maybe encouragement, is a better way of putting it. But I decided to stay behind him and do my best to keep him pushing and focused.So I put my windows down and kept yelling encouragement for the next 4km. He hung on to the four ro a while but slowly started losing ground.One of the other riders,Robbie Hucker, also dropped off which left 2 riders ever so slowly moving further ahead.
It was tough going and on the steepest parts the GPS in my car was reading about 10kmh, and these guys are the best of A Grade. Eventually the kilometers clicked over and with end in sight I was directed into a parking area.
Jumping out of my car the first thing I had to do was find a tree.Relieved,I headed for the finnish to find out the results. Matt had finished 5th behind some of the best climbers in the country.He had recently won the Mansfield to Mt Buller race ahead of a quality field so was expected to do well. The winner for the 3rd time in 4 attempts was Nathan Earle (Hobart Wheelers CC) who apparently had only been back on the bike 6 weeks after breaking his ankle. Full results available here. Also below is the Strava segment of the race that you may find interesting.Also check out my image gallery from the race.
From this point on I couldn't really get past the riders, only the ones being dropped,so was caught in with the convoy of riders and following vehicles.You had to be really careful as some of the riders who had been dropped on the climb were bombing the descent and weaving through the cars getting back into the race.
The road soon became pretty much a one lane,quite narrow and if another car came in the opposite direction you had to get 2 wheels right off the road.With riders cutting corners all over the place, it's a little dangerous I reckon.This was the status quo for the next 30-40km and the good thing was Matt was still ahead somewhere.I figured I'd seen him, and a few other riders,go off the front of the main group I had been following.
When we hit Mt Baw Baw proper I could instantly see riders getting dropped left, right and centre as the road appears to go straight up. Eventually after passing a reasonable number of weary riders I came behind a group of 4, containing Matt Clark.the other riders in this group were Blake Hose (Geelong CC),Jason Spencer (Blackburn CC),Robbie Hucker (Bendigo & District CC. I thought I was close to the front of the race but couldn't see the lead car so wasn't sure at this point how many riders were ahead.Trying to decide whether to drive to the finish to get some shots there I could see Matt was struggling to stay with the little group he was with.Now I have only met Matt a couple of times so was not sure if he would appreciate my coaching,or maybe encouragement, is a better way of putting it. But I decided to stay behind him and do my best to keep him pushing and focused.So I put my windows down and kept yelling encouragement for the next 4km. He hung on to the four ro a while but slowly started losing ground.One of the other riders,Robbie Hucker, also dropped off which left 2 riders ever so slowly moving further ahead.
It was tough going and on the steepest parts the GPS in my car was reading about 10kmh, and these guys are the best of A Grade. Eventually the kilometers clicked over and with end in sight I was directed into a parking area.
Jumping out of my car the first thing I had to do was find a tree.Relieved,I headed for the finnish to find out the results. Matt had finished 5th behind some of the best climbers in the country.He had recently won the Mansfield to Mt Buller race ahead of a quality field so was expected to do well. The winner for the 3rd time in 4 attempts was Nathan Earle (Hobart Wheelers CC) who apparently had only been back on the bike 6 weeks after breaking his ankle. Full results available here. Also below is the Strava segment of the race that you may find interesting.Also check out my image gallery from the race.
I've never been to a bike race and not seen Tim McGrath,he raced in Masters 4+,which is my grade for next year :-)
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