Apologies for my lack of blog entries of late but for some reason,there has been other things taking precedence. It's interesting writing a blog and sometimes getting stressed because you've not been posting anything, then wondering does anybody really care anyway?

I could probably write a novel on the last few weeks,but I will spare you from that, which included a trip to the Goulburn area to compete in the Australian Masters Time Trial Championships.Whilst reasonably pleased with my ride from a personal point of view there is plenty of work to be done if I'm going to be competitive at the pointy end of that competition. I placed 15th from the 23 riders who started in my category, Masters 4. Special thanks to Tully Lyster who was my travel companion and competed strongly to finish 6th in Masters 2.We also were given help and support by Shane Miller ,who blitzed Masters 1 and also claimed fastest time of the day,his Fiance Von Micich who finished 3rd in WMasters 1 and Stephen Lane ,2nd in Masters 1.

Returning from the Masters the dust had hardly settled and it was time to line up for the Keith Esson Memorial Road Race.This race is run by Shepparton Cycling Club is 147km long, starting and finishing in Dookie.Riding well in the C Grade bunch I was involved in a crash on the second major climb and came down heavily on my LHS.I was pretty gutted afterwards and without the help of Laurie Lyster, who towed me most of the way back to Dookie I would probably have abandoned the race.

So last week I couldn't get interested in riding and decided, with the advice of others, to have a few days off the bike.
Coming into the weekend I could feel the urge to jump back into it and with the Tour of Bright on the horizon,I didn't want to miss a weekends racing. On Saturday. the Wangaratta Cycling Club's Spring series continued and was a great hit out with 2 climbs over Taminick Gap.I was unable to sprint past Dr. Gav on the line and had to be content with second place in B Grade.


   

This race was held over a course I'd never ridden and was basically 1 lap of a 44km circuit and then 1 lap of a 22 km circuit.Pretty much flat as a tack with the only incline the freeway overpass.Not my preferred terrain but you have to work with what your given.My bunch contained 3 other riders I'd ridden with before in handicaps and I knew we would have a good group.My group,Block,were given 5 minutes start on a well credentialled four man scratch group with 15 minutes to the middle markers and the two out marker groups, 20 and 27 minutes.
Before the completion of the large loop scratch has lost Grealy due to a mechanical which reduced their fire power but the group had reduced the 5 minutes deficit to just over 2.
My Block group managed to catch the 15 min group just nearing the end of the first lap, which increased our strength, but were still 8 minutes behind the leaders with just 22 kms to go.
Next to be caught, the 20 minutes group as they turned into Emu Bridge road, but scratch were making no impression on us now, with our reinforced strong, 11 man/woman bunch.
Turning back onto Kilfeera Road with 8 kms to the finish we were still 4 minutes down from the limit group and the race was really on, trying to hold scratch at bay and also catching the limit pair who were travelling strongly.
I put my head down and pulled some really solid turns along Kilfeera Road nearly popping  myself in the process.I knew the pace had to be lifted if there was any chance of catching limit.We could see them in the distance but were starting to run out of road.
The freeway overpass is about 600 metres from the finish and it was just after this when limit succumbed and had to watch the race lead get snatched from them.I'd found myself on the front with around 300 metres left in the race with no other choice than to lead out the sprint.At around 150m to go I hit out for the line with every ounce of energy that was left in my body, expecting to be swamped on the line by the following riders.It seemed to take an eternity to ride that last 50 metres and Dr Gav came through right on the line.Neither of us could be sure of the verdict, with the line judges initially giving Dr Gav the victory.However the camera revealed that it was 15 cms that separated us and getting the judges verdict was me with Morley a bike length back for 3rd in one the most trilling sprint finishes the Club has seen for a while. Strang sprinted in well for 4th just ahead of Davison with limit man Lea home in 6th place and the other limit rider Cathie held on for 8th spot.

Scratch, who’s firepower was reduced still did exceptionally well but didn’t make any more ground on the eventual winning group in the last 12 kms finishing just on 2 minutes down with visiting Northern Vets rider Simon Welsh (Team Kosdown) taking out the Fastest Time honours at an average speed just under 40kph.

Last weekend's racing was the second weekend with back to back racing. Wang CC club race on Saturday and then a drive over to Eildon for the Damian McDonald Memorial which was held on Sunday.I would be racing in C Grade which would also incorporate the woman's A Grade in the same bunch.After the Wangaratta Club Race I drove over to Eildon where I'd booked accommodation at the Golden Trout Hotel which was one of the race sponsors.

There was just enough light left in the day for a drive down Skyline Road which would be the major climb of the race and more than likely where the major action would start.The KOM sign was just being erected so I made some mental notes on it's unusual position.1.5km after the main climb finished was what my speedo showed and almost on a downhill section.

The start time for our bunch was just after 10 am and me being an early riser there was heaps of time to get organised. We would have around 10 C Graders and 5 Women in their A Grade race.Everything seemed very well organised and I'm pretty sure everyone started on time.There were a couple of Wangaratta riders in my group,Chris Howard and Trent Hyde, also included,Thomas Slingsby and Michael Stringer, a couple of young 17 year olds whom I raced against earlier in the year at the Wangaratta club tour.    

Our race began with a 25 km circuit of what's known as the Pondage Loop which is largely flat with some very gentle undulations, but nothing that would create any selections in the race.There were a few attacks but nothing that looked likely to succeed.Eventual race winner William Key had several attempts to get away including riding off the front of the bunch at the start.
That would all change however when we hit the Skyline Road climb.
Four of the C Grade bunch,Key,Slingsby,Stringer,Hyde, and Amy Bradley from the women's A Grade group, managed to gap the rest of us initially, but after delving into the "suitcase of courage" 3 more of us,Howard,Everard and myself managed to ride across and make contact with the front group about two thirds of the way up the climb.The further the climb went the better I felt and we all crested the major part of the climb in our small group.There was no sign of other riders behind us and knowing where the KOM point was I put the hammer down.After a glance over the shoulder, and seeing only empty road, gave encouragement that I may be able to get the KOM for our group.I was disappointed when passing the KOM sign there was nobody there so my attack had been for nothing but it felt good.
At this point the decent had started and I love descending,it takes me back to the days of riding my 1982 900SS Ducati in the mountains around Bright.I could sense another rider on my shoulder, so without really thinking about it tried picking the best lines and keeping off the brakes as much as possible.It was great fun and I only wish I knew the road better so as to be able to really lay into the corners.By the time we reached the bottom I was alone again but was soon joined by Slingsby and Stringer.Our little trio rolled a few turns together but were eventually joined by the balance of our climbing group minus Chris Howard.Bugger,Howie is a good friend and I hadn't given any thought to the fact descending is not his strong point.Talking with him after the race, he had to come to a virtual standstill on the descent, trying to avoid another rider who had taken the wrong line into a corner.As he's quite experienced and we'd of had our 3 Wang riders in the bunch that would of been handy.
This was not to be however,with our group riding strongly into a head wind there was nothing to do but keep rolling turns.
After the climb, it's around another 40 km until the finish and our group worked pretty well for most of it.The young riders were pulling through pretty hard causing the bunch to surge which made it tough at times.I ended up saying to young Key that if he wanted me to come around him at the front then not to pull through so hard.This helped, and made life easier for me at least.We had one rider sitting on the back of the group, not contributing, which was a little concerning but I wasn't about to make a big deal out of it.That pretty much remained the Status Quo for the remainder of the race.There was a little excitement when my rear derailleur and somebodies front wheel came together in a hell of a clatter which apparently nearly caused a fall.I didn't position myself well near the finish and was caught behind at the roundabout which is around 300metres from the finish.Not that it would of made that much difference as the young trio bolted to take the first 3 places.Replaying the finale in my head the only way I could have made a difference is to have tried to attack with about 1km to go and hit the roundabout first.But it had been a tough race and after Saturdays club event I didn't have the legs anyway.The young riders deserved their results and all have a bright cycling future ahead of them.Amy Bradley came in with us in the front group so taking out the Women's A Grade race.     




Men's C grade
-------------

1. 52  KEY, WILLIAM1:59:001:59:00Ballarat/Sebastopol C C
2. 53  SLINGSBY, THOMAS1:59:00stPreston Cycling Club Inc
3. 51  STRINGER, MICHAEL1:59:00stBlackburn Cycling Club Inc
4. 84  HYDE, TRENTON1:59:00stWangaratta Cycling Club Inc
5. 57  REECKMAN,ANTHONY1:59:00stWangaratta Cycling Club Inc
6. 56  EVERARD, CRAIG1:59:00stBlackburn Cycling Club Inc
7. 55  WEBBER, VAUGHAN2:04:455:44Blackburn Cycling Club Inc
8. 29  HOWARD, CHRIS2:04:485:47Wangaratta Cycling Club Inc
9. 54  O'SULLIVAN, CRAIG2:06:307:29Blackburn Cycling Club Inc
10. 28 JEHU, NICHOLAS2:09:3810:37Wellington CC
11.50  WOODING  DREW2:21:0622:06Blackburn Cycling Club Inc

Full results here.

Read about Damian McDonald here. 

Thanks to the Blackburn Cycling Club for organising the event and all the helpers and volunteers who make these events possible.
Also the Wangaratta Cycling Club had a large involvement in the day bringing Damian's Race(Under 17 men) across from Wangaratta.

Racing has returned to the Wangaratta Cycling Club and this weekend sees the first race for points that will count for the 
McDonald O’Brien sponsored WCC Spring Series Aggregate 2012

$1500 Series Prize money – 
1st -$500, 2nd -$300, 3rd - $200, 4th- $100, 5th - $100
+ $100 for first unplaced rider in each grade

Graded Scratch Races – A, B, C, D

It's been a while since my last post, while to some this may be a relief,I thought it was time to kick off the Winter series.Today was also the first bike race for me since early June and Dookie was where the action was. Shepparton Cycling Club  were running their annual Cameron Gray Memorial road race on a great circuit near Dookie, and along with a few other Wangaratta members, I'd entered.

Now it's been rather and odd weekend to say the least.I started out Saturday morning with a touch of Gastro, and things only went downhill from there.After deciding at the last minute to drive into Wangaratta for the Saturday morning bunch ride I found myself on the wrong side of the law.Cruising towards town I didn't slow down quick enough when coming into the 80km zone and ended up with a speeding ticket.I know I was in the wrong and it was stupid,especially when every time I drive that road I see highway patrol cars along that stretch.But bugger me I haven't had a traffic infringement for at least 10 years and I was shocked when I received this one for $282.Could of bought a new SRAM Red casette for that.

Saturday afternoon I was asked to do some family portraits for a friend who lives nearby.His 2 boys live in Canberra and he wanted some recent shots taken with them.I love taking photos for friends and was hoping to get some decent shots for him.

I know I've digressed a little from my Dookie trip but I'm coming back to that.On awakening Sunday morning, to the sound of rain on the roof, thoughts of staying in bed were inviting.However after reaching for my Iphone and looking at the local radar I could see the last of the rain wasn't far away.Still not feeling 100% with the thought of a 54km race I gingerly climbed out of my warm bed.It's about 100km's to Dookie, so I wanted to leave home around 8am.I'm not the type who can jump out of bed and walk out the door,my preference is at least and hour from horizontal to getting in the car,90mins is even better.

The drive over to Dookie is pretty easy on quiet country roads,some with pretty unusual names,see pic above.Also on arriving at St James I was greeted by a headless St James on the edge of town.I was hoping this was not a bad omen for the race.

About this time I had a text from Tully Lyster regarding the day's handicaps.I have learnt to largely take no notice of the mark he suggests I will be riding off.Also the previous days brush with the Highway Patrol had left me very nervous about the town speed limit.Needless to say I stopped before replying to his text.

By the time the race had started my little group had shrunk to 4 riders and as we rolled out of town one of the Shepp guys in the bunch was telling us to do track turns.Now I'm not a novice but I guess in my 3rd year of racing there is still plenty left to learn.So I had to ask what the bloody hell is a track turn as I cant see any velodrome on the horizon.After a brief explanation it was pretty simple.Rather than continually rolling over,the rider on the front would stay there for as long as they felt comfortable, then flick the elbow for the next rider to come through.My little group was a beauty and everybody participated pretty much like clockwork.We caught the limit riders on the first lap and were never headed for the rest of the race.The result came down to a bunch sprint between 5 riders(we'd picked up one of the limit guys).I was on the front with about 250metres to go and jumped with all I had. The line was coming and I was still in front.But then,in the last 50metres I was swamped,and ended up fourth.Not my finest hour but happy all the same.Gave my all and came up short,can't be too unhappy about that.All this on top of one of the biggest training weeks I've ever put in, so I'm pretty satisfied.Also thanks to Laurie Lyster for the on course encouragement,it's nice to get a race under the belt again and I'm looking forward to a great spring series of races

Pencil the weekend of the 25th and 26th of August into your diary.Thats when the Sam Miranda Road Race,Gran Fondo and Handicap will be held. What promises to be a fantastic weekend in beautiful North East Victoria with plenty to keep non cyclists entertained as well.The area is full of excellent wineries,wonderful restaurants and is also just a stones throw away from most of Victoria's Ski fields.Sam Miranda owns one of the areas best known wineries. The Sam Miranda cellar door is open 7 days from 10am - 5pm with lunch available 12pm - 3pm.    

A special thank you to Marty Tobin for providing most of the information and photographs.
I was quite interested Sam Miranda's interest in cycling and Marty provided me with the following.  

Sam has been a cycling tragic for quite a while, long before he moved to North East Victoria from Griffith.
He still has his classic custom made 1990’s Zanella Road bike that he got made when on a trip to Italy, sitting in the shed.  
Sam’s involvement with cycling in the north east came after a chance meeting with some local club members at the winery in about 2005.He then started  donating a few bottles of wine to the Wang CC for the Club tour, then it grew. The next year Sam was the Sponsor of the Wangaratta Cycling Club tour.In 2007 Sam became the major sponsor of the Wangaratta CC. 
Also in 2007 Sam became the major sponsor of the High Country Road Race (Mansfiled to Oxley) a joint club run event with Mansfield CC, in 2008 the race became bigger with a criterium added to make it a weekend.
2010 saw Sam Miranda King Valley take over management of the event. 

There have been some big changes made to the format of the event from previous years with some very exciting additions.A Road Race and Gran Fondo will be held on Saturday with a Handicap Road Race held on Sunday.

"The ROAD RACE has been changed from the point to point circuit to one big loop(See map below). We feel the circuit is just as challenging as the old course. We have kept the distance to 100km, like previous editions, and have incorporated some fantastic roads not previously used."

"This year we have two KOM’s. The first as riders come into Myrrhee (km 50) and the second is the infamous ‘Strade Nero’ which will take riders from Myrrhee up towards Whitlands (km 60) is sure to test and some have said “this will make the race”. Just like the Italian classic ‘Strade Bianche’ this climb is on dirt! The surface is in really good condition so you don’t need your Paris – Roubaix wheels!" 

There will be an intermediate Sprint and a teams category has been introduced for A Grade Men.
Minimum of 3, maximum of 5 riders per team.
Riders who are not part of a team, who wish to ride A Grade will be placed into a composite team by Cycling Victoria.
The Teams Classification winning team will be taken on the combined times of the first 3 riders in each team.

Champion Systems are on board again to provide Race Winners and KOM Jerseys for all grades.

Another first this year is the Sam Miranda ‘Grand Fondo’ over 100km to be ridden over the same circuit(see map below) before the Road Race.
The Grand Fondo is a participation ride and will start at 11:00am  one hour before the first riders set off in the 2012 Sam Miranda Road Race. 
In true ‘Grand Fondo’ style this ride has full event timing and is a mass participation ride preceding the Sam Miranda Road Race. The circuit is a mix of quiet country roads, unique climbs including the famed ‘Strade Nero’ to Whitlands, a great descent into Whitfield and rolling country side and vineyards.


SATURDAY 25th AUGUST
SAM MIRANDA ROAD RACE:
DISTANCE:     100KM
GRADES:        A, B, C MEN
                       A, B WOMEN
                      (A GRADE MEN – TEAMS CATEGORY)
START TIME: 11:00 AM ‘GRAND FONDO’
                     12:00 PM C GRADE
                     12:10 PM WOMEN B
                     12:20 PM WOMEN A
                     12:45 PM B GRADE
                     1:00 PM A GRADE
KOM:             2 PER GRADE
                     50KM MYRRHEE SCHOOL
                     60KM ‘STRADE NERO’
SPRINT:        15 MILE CREEK 35KM
PRIZEMONEY: MINIMUM $5,000 CASH & PRIZES
WINNERS / KOM JERSEYS ALL GRADES
ENTRY FEE:    $60.00 – INCLUDES DINNER SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER PRESENTATIONS.

                       EXTRA TICKETS FOR THE DINNER ARE AVAILABLE FOR $25.00

On Sunday the 26th the inaugural SAM MIRANDA HANDICAP will be held.

DISTANCE:           85KM
GRADES:             Open to all riders U19 and above
START TIME:        10:00AM
COURSE:               Oxley, Moyhu, Greta, 15 Mile Creek, Myrrhee, Moyhu, Oxley(See map below)
PRIZEMONEY:        PRIZEMONEY for the weekend exceeds $6,000 in cash and prizes
                                Prizes for 1st Unplaced U19, Woman, Fastest Time
ENTRY FEE:             $45.00

PRESENTATIONS:    AT CONCLUSION OF RACING 
                                AT SAM MIRANDA CELLAR DOOR

Should you require any further information a race website has been set up www.sammirandaroadrace.wordpress.com

Follow on Twitter - Sam Miranda RoadRace
 
Cycling Victoria’s race listing http://vic.cycling.org.au/?ID=46867

The past weekend saw the hotly contested Wang. CC 2 day tour featuring 4 stages of racing.The A Grade field was seriously strong with many competitors with National Road Series credentials.As I race C Grade my blog will mainly cover our race.
I also really appreciate Steve and Helen Bean from the infamous "Captain's Crew for making the effort in coming up from Melbourne,as did many others,to attend the weekends racing.Steve won just about everything in D Grade so looked pretty pleased with himself on Sunday arvo. 

On Saturday

Stage 1.Road race over 52km depending on your Grade.
Stage 2.14km Individual Time Trial  

On Sunday
Stage 3.  25km road race with a hill top finnish.
Stage 4. Kermesse over a 6km course.2-6 laps depending on Grade.

A chilly morning greeted us in Wangaratta as we rolled up to register around 9am.I was in C Grade and checking through the field I recognised many of the names and new it would be a competitive weekend ahead.
                                                                        C GRADE FIELD
 Zane Douglas, Wayne Reid,Dr.Gav(Gavin Frawley),Geoff Morley,Geoff Damm,Aaron Smith,Tony Reeckman,Mick Carmellotti Andrew Doyle,Michael Stringer U17,Thomas Slingsby U17,Stephen Damm U17,Gifford Crosswaithe, Stephen Field  


Stage1.
I've had many a good tussle with Dr.Gav, and knew this weekend would be no exception,with the other strong riders in the field any victories would be hard earned.We rolled off somewhere around 10.30am for the first stage, which is the Under 17 Road Race course.This meant 2 climbs over Taminick Gap, which would help sort out who made the finish for the sprint.For the first few km's there were a few attacks but everything was chased down.As usual I messed up the intermediate sprint and with generous bonus points on offer, these are important.Managing to stick with the first 6 over Taminick the first time, the race was on.We rolled turns most of the second lap to ensure we stayed away,the 6 of us got over the gap again for the second time together.Knowing sprinting is not my strongest point I was wondering if I could get away solo.First attack turning into Warby Range road, unsuccessful,hit them again on the run down Shanley St,gap opened maybe 30metres but I was again closed down.Ended up finishing 6th for the stage as the last attack had hurt.
 
Stage2.
Would be a 14km Individual Time Trial with no time bonuses,a race against the clock.Pure and simple,no hiding.I love them in a weird love /hate kind of way.They hurt big time and you have to look deep inside yourself and be prepared to suffer the whole way.In some way I reckon it's a spiritual experience and I always get very anxious before the start of a TT.
Rolling off at 1min. intervals we were underway around 2.30.Remembering the golden rule of the ITT,dont start to hard,dont start to hard,dont start to hard I tried to keep the excitement under control until the Warby Range Road turn.Managed this partially well and was pretty well at full effort by the first turn.Passed my minute man before the first turnaround and pushed hard into the head wind.Rounding the first turn around I was in too big a gear and laboured a little to build up speed(mental not,dont do this at next one) coming back along Warby Range road the pace was much quicker with a tail wind helping matters.Passed another rider,good.Head down passing Shanley St and next second I'm off the road in the gravel,shit,that's not in the race plan.Hold on and slowly look to get back onto the black top.Relief, I'm still upright,put that out of the mind and keep pushing.Around the next TA point in a better gear and back up to speed.Rounding Shanley St corner managed to pass another rider from my grade and all out for the run to the finish.Trying to hold top gear the legs were burning.Finish,relief.
Official time 22min 42secs and first on the stage by 54 seconds from DR.Gav and Gifford Crosswaithe a further second back in 3rd. 

I had the big guns from "Team Kosdown" staying with me over the weekend,so we had a great evening on Saturday eating home cooked lasagne and toasting a few marshmellows on the open fire.The big Lama can toast a wicked marshmellow( and is also especially handy on a TT bike blitzing a star studded A Grade field in their TT).  

Sunday's weather forecast was not promising with showers predicted for Sunday afternoon,after checking the BOM radar upon waking,a band of showers was just to the east.

Stage 3.
A 25km hill climb.After the ITT I'd managed to be leading the GC for C Grade by 20 secs on who else, but my favourite nemesis,Dr. Gav.Time to play the game.I glued myself to his wheel and didn't go to the front once.This caused the reaction from some in our group.I heard"you should be up front protecting your lead","the way you can TT why are you not driving the pace?" Well the answer to that was,"there is a hill to climb at the end and I'm planning to go up it as fast as possible". Intermediate sprint came and the points were won by others is the bunch with myself and Gav getting none.Suits me fine.
All together at the base of the climb and this is it.We had 2 under 17 riders in our bunch and boy could they climb.They took off like scolded cats leaving us mature aged gentlemen gasping.Me and the Dr. going head to head for the minor placings.

Now at this point I must digress.Back prior to the start I noticed Jake Morgan and Ash Baines looking on.So I wandered over to say g'day to these likeable fellows.Their instructions"after the last left hander on the climb,hit it in the big ring,nobody will be able to go with you"I'd been chewing this tactic over all race and had decided to give it a go.

With the 2 under 17's up the road it was also important not to lose too much time as one of them was not to far back from Dr Gav on GC.So with this is mind as we rounded the left hander I applied the required pressure with the left index finger to shift the chain into the 54.This is gonna hurt.Out of the saddle and go for the finish about 350metres away.Dr Gav is holding,we are side by side,another 100m passes in slow motion,I have half a wheel,another 50m the doc is gone and I'm looking at third.It's hurting now and I'm not sure if I can make it in this big gear.No negative thoughts, c'mon of course you can it's not much longer, 200m,100m finally the top, 3rd,happy,stuffed.  

Stage 4.

The Kermesse,4 laps,24km.I have a 20 second lead in GC to Thomas Slingsby,one of the U17's,and Dr. Gav another 11 seconds back.We roll off a little early it seems and Dr. Gav is not on the start line.Bugger,he has missed the start. My plan is to stick on young Slingsby's wheel and not let him get any time.With sprint bonus points on offer at the intermediate sprint and the finish he could still win the race for GC.His young friend Michael Stringer road a gutsy race pulling some big turns on the front helping close down any breaks.I had others to watch my back too shall we say, and had also been offered good advice from my more experienced riding friends.Also Dr Gav had turned up and was allowed to join the race after one lap. Young Slingsby won the intermediate sprint and I could do nothing about it,wow,that boy can ride.He picked up 10 seconds so had narrowed the gap by half.After the intermediate sprint Mick Carmelotti went up the road which was fine by me,he was no threat to GC and I would be more than happy for him to win the stage and get the 20 second bonus for the win.It was up to the younguns to chase and the efforts of Michael Stringer were nothing short of outstanding.However when he took off again and his young team mate failed to go with him this also was good for me.All I had to do was sit on and not let the others get to far up the road.When Geoff Damm took off from the bunch this was also great for me,I expected my young counterpart to go with him, but it never eventuated.Along the back straight of the final lap Dr. Gav's bike started to make some unusual noises and it appeared he was in trouble.By this time I had ridden to the front as I wanted to asses the lead of the 3 riders up the road.Making a quick calculation, they had about 13 seconds, all I had to do was make the finish line with the others and the GC was safe.Rounding the final bend the group go a little ugly and I bumped another rider pretty heavily but we managed to stay upright,not to stressful but you never know what can happen until you cross the finish line. 
   

The weekend was a great success for me personally and the Wangaratta Cycling Club ran another wonderful event. I heard nothing but praise from fellow riders who attended the weekend with many talking about next year's race already.

You can also check out Wangaratta Cycling Club's facebook page for more.

Shane Miller also has a write up of his experience in our neck of the woods here
Shane is Australian Masters 1 ITT Champion and races at plenty of events.

"From the secretary Paul Lane who should also be thanked".
THANK YOU : John Myles, Rob Greenway (Mansfield) Dave Wohlers, Ros and Geoff Clarke, Suellen and Frank Loki, Maureen and Ian Bott, Meredith and Rosie Lane, Mal Kay, Bill McKay, Jim Samon, Fred Pane(Brunswick), Cathy Boal, Sarah & Dean McDonald, Graeme Rose, Jeff Little and anyone else that I didn't see or escaped my failing memory. Great team effort.  Our Race Director was Frank Loki and our Commissionaire was Ian Bott.  Top job by Both. 

A hardy group turned up for Wangaratta Cycling Club's long ITT today.Intermittent light showers and a reasonably strong westerly wind greeted the participants.40 km is long for a club ITT with most of our club's other Time Trial's are around 16-20km in length.I was slotted into the A Grade group and finished at the bottom of the leaderboard (sounds better than last).
It was a great course with a few changes in direction and some gentle up and down gradients thrown in.I'm pretty content with my effort and realise there is plenty of room for improvement.

Below are the details of this years club tour. As I know a couple of people are considering the trip up from Melbourne,have a read of these particular paragraphs.
 "This is a club tour and riders from outside the combine area must provide written approval from your club to
race at alternative club or combine event. An email, with proper identification from a club president or secretary
at time of entry will suffice".

Clubs in the combine area include: Albury-Wodonga, Lavington Panthers, Alpine, Mt Beauty, Mansfield-Mt
Buller, Benalla, Shepparton, Cobram-Barooga, Echuca-Moama.

                                                     A little more on the above from the Club Secretary. 
This is a Cycling Vic requirement.The club tour is a club race.  ie it's not an OPEN.
Clubs will have no worries with letting their rider ride, so it's just a formality really.  
Most of our other club races, usually only draw from our nearby areas.  This one, tend to draw from a wider field and so we just need to follow the CV requirements.

Today was my third attempt at this race which runs from Benalla to Wangaratta. The first year I was in the limit bunch and got dropped after 20km,last year I was in second limit and made it through with my group to the finnish and this year I was in the group in front of what is called block and managed to ride with the group pretty well.I ended up losing contact a few kms from home whilst trying to hang on the back of a long line a little after the scratch riders flew past. Considering the quality of riders in that group I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed.  

This is Frank Loki's take on the race.Thanks Frank for forwarding this to me.
We had 49 starters for todays Ian Bullus Memorial – Benalla Wangaratta Handicap race over 64km (Tomarsh’s SRM) with fantastic NE Vic weather, partly cloudy mid teens temp,

Limit (5 riders) set off just after 10am from Tekkers Rest in Kilferra Rd Benalla.

Other groups were 22 minutes – 9 riders, 16 minutes – 12 riders, 11 minutes - 10 riders, 5 minutes – 8 riders and scratch – 5 riders.

Riders from Melbourne, Albury Wodonga CC, Lavington CC,Mt Buller Mansfield, Cobram were in the race (hope I haven’t missed any).

The race goes via Lurg, Greta, Glenrowan and on to the Wangaratta CC club rooms in Shanley St.

All groups stayed in their respective groups until the left turn from Greta to Glenrowan, although the gaps started to diminish.

At the right turn in Glenrowan into the old highway, limit riders were still 3 minutes ahead of the next group, who were only a bit over a minute ahead of the 16 min group. Scratch were 8 minutes from the lead at this stage and most riders in that group felt that they had, probably, too much work ahead of them, with such a short distance, about 15km to go.

Along Warby Rang Rd, with less than 5km to go the 16 minute and 22 minute groups got together and were fast closing on limit, who were engulfed along Shanley St making for a bunch sprint.

Ian Strang (Wang CC) prevailed over Ryan Allen (AWCC), Tomarsh Loki (Wang CC) Damian Christian (AWCC), Cullum Dwyer (AWCC) and Rob Greenaway (Mt Buller Mansfield CC).

Best over 55yo went Dave Wohlers.

Winning time was 1:46:37, 2nd & 3rd 1:40:37 and fastest time going to Matt Clark (Wang CC) 1:27:03,

Big mention to Maurs & Suellen for BBQ, ambience and refreshments for riders & spectators.

Below is a Strava segment I created for today's race. I cut a little off the start and finnish of the race, just to make sure the start was a little after the official start, so there wouldn't be any mistakes with others times and for the future in case we don't quite start in the exact same place. 

This is one of Wangaratta Cycling Club's biggest races of the year.This will be my third year in a row entering the race.I think last year we had about 70 entries and the competition is very strong.So if you enjoy country racing get on board to help make this year's race the biggest so far.