Hi all,
Had 20 starters today for the race over the U17 States course – 57km. 3 riders in A grade, 13 B grade and 2 each C & D. Including 2 riders from Albury Wodonga CC, 3 from Mansfield Mt Buller CC & John Kent from Alpine CC.
A & B rode together as a bunch of 16 as did C & D in a bunch of 4.
First time up Shanley St Thomas McDonald flatted, for the 2nd time, and his day was over. The bunch was together at the cross roads, but this had split significantly first time over Taminick Gap, where the fast boys had split the bunch in 2. The front consisted of Tully & Rhys Lyster, John Kent (all A grade), Heath Mullavey(AWCC), James Fox, Ryan Allen (AWCC), Tomarsh Loki & Gavin Frawley, closely followed by Tony Reeckman and Jason Desailley with the rest scattered..
This bunch got together not long after turning R at the crossroads for their 2nd loop.
Meanwhile C& D Grade got together at the top of Taminick Gap for the their 2nd loop.
Up Taminick the 2nd time Tully Lyster held a slight advantage over Rhys, John Kent, Heath Mullavey & Tomarsh Loki, with the others in order being Frawley, Allen, Fox, Desailley and Big Tony all dropping off and the gaps increasing.
Along Warby Range Rd the front group had splintered with Tomarsh riding off the front of the other 4. Turning into Shanley St Tully bridged to Tomarsh & these 2 fought out the finish with young Loki (B Grade) prevailing for a 2nd week with his mentor Tully (A Grade) close behind. The best of the rest was a sprint won by Rhys (A Grade)ahead of John and Heath following in 4th & 5th (or 3rd A grade & 2nd B Grade). Then followed Gavin (3rd B Grade), some time later with Ryan(4th B grade) close, a gap to James, Jason & BIG Tony rounding out the top 10.
The winning time was 1Hr 31.07 (faster than last years state U17 race)
C & D Grade rode in together with Nicci doing only one lap
Juniors, Alex Little, Aiden Corke, Riley Corke, XJ Loki & Nick Metcraft, did laps of the carpark and some straight line sprints and a secret handicap race all in prep for the Tour Of Wang in the 1st week of June.