Post date: Feb 09, 2015 1:9:51 PM
Hello Vets,
In this week's Bleat;
• Farewell to a Cycling Legend
• Road Marshal training
• Handicapping
• Interstate Events
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton
When it was proposed last year that a road race to honour Cadel Evans was being organised it was without hesitation that we signed up. The concept for a "Peoples Ride" on the Saturday morning, an elite women's race in the afternoon and a UCI 1.1 ranking elite men's race on the Sunday ensured a cycling feast awaited. The course designed by Cadel was to pay homage to his own stomping ground where he would do some of his training during his illustrious career.
Roll on Saturday 31 January and along with 3500 (the field limit) other cycling worshippers we set off. The course started in Geelong, onto Barwon Heads, along 13th Beach to Torquay, past Bells Beach with a brief journey along the Great Ocean Road. After covering 62kms to this point it was a relief to change direction and head back to Geelong with that head wind now becoming your friend if you had any petrol left in the tank.The conditons were difficult, with a stiff head wind for 62km. Not familiar with the terrain it is little wonder Cadel favoured this as a training ground. Undulating best describes this terrain and when you think you have scaled the last climb, look up and there is another one to crest. I couldn't wait to return to Geelong thinking the climbing might be done with but there were more to come as part of the course followed the roads (and hills!!!) used during the 2010 World Championships. It was a relief to cross the line after 111 km.
That afternoon we watched the women's elite race which apart from an unfortunate crash early on was an exciting spectacle with a strong finish by Racheal Neyland prevailing and showing her second place behind Marianne Vos in 2012 was no fluke. It was by Cadel's insistence that this event be included as part of his farewell celebration and the field was of a high calibre.
The Sunday was the main event, again over the same course with three laps added in Geelong over the World Championship course. The weather was not so kind with occasional showers but luckily for them the wind was not as strong. As a UCI 1.1 ranked event, and being one week after the Tour Down Under it ensured there would be a good field, as well as being included on the National Road Series Calendar. It was exciting watching the last three laps and with Cadel doing his usual dogged best to go out on a winning note adding more excitement. Alas he finished a very respectful 5th, but showed his class by fighting to the finish line. The Great Cyclist bid farewell to the crowd for the last time in his professional career.
It was a great weekend (weather apart) and well worth an inclusion on your cycling calendar in the future years. Maybe you might get the opportunity to ride alongside Cadel in the People's Ride.
Dale Teddy
We still need to increase our cohort of accredited Road Marshals to officiate at the club's ACT road cycling events to better ensure rider safety. If you are able to commit to providing this valuable service to the Club, at least a few times per year, please nominate for the next round of (free) training. Details below:-
The ACT Government has agreed to run another completely subsidised Road Marshalling training course on 21 March 2015.
When: Saturday 21 March 2015
Address: Level 2 Macarthur House, 12 Wattle street Lyneham ACT
Time: 9am to 4pm
What to bring: Morning & afternoon tea will be provided, however you will be required to bring your own lunch or purchase it (off site) during the break.
At the completion of this training, candidates will have the appropriate qualification, recognised by the ACT Government, to undertake Road Marshal Traffic Control Operations at cycling events.
Vets club members wishing to register can do here:- https://eventdesq.imgstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=11984&OrgID=4426.
Regards
Alex O'Shea
President
A bumper crop from the Handicapper this week;
• Craig Appaneal B -> A
• John Stokman D -> C
• David Turner E -> D
• Steven Stolk D -> C
• James Mills E -> D
And a reminder that riders are not to downgrade themselves without approval from the Handicapper.
• 2015 Riverina Rush Cycling Classic - Narrandera
- 28 Feb - Twilight Criterium
- 1 Mar - Road Cycle Classic
for more information contact Gerry Daly
• 2015 South Pacific Veterans Cycling Championships
- 3,4,5&6 April
Road Championship & State Title, Straight Line Sprint Championships, Individual Time Trial, Criterium and Road Handicap.
Enquiries to Tom Finning tfinning@ncable.net.au
Online registration www.veterancycling.com.au
Where: Stromlo Forrest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
G Grade@ 5:45 - 13min + 2 laps; A/B Grade@ 6:07 - 36min + 2 laps; C/D Grade@ 6:49 - 29min + 2 laps; E/F Grade@ 7:26 - 24min + 2 laps
Race Director: James Meredith
Contact: Email: JamesMeredith5@bigpond.com Ph 0427477521
The nominated marshals for this event are;
• Ben Vagnarelli
• Braham Hart
Please confirm with the Race Director that you are available. If you unable to make the date that you have been rostered please find a replacement.
The Program for Wednesday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 14-lap Graded scratch race;
6.20pm – 7.10pm: 4-Lap Handicap;
7.10pm – 7.20pm: 6-Lap Pursuit;
7.20pm – 7.40pm: 6-Lap scratch (All in with B Grade early start).
Where: Observation lookout on Tidbinbilla Road .
When: Starting at 8:00 am
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description: TBA once we have road approvals.
Race Director: Ian Morton
Contact: Email mortoni@optusnet.com.au Ph 0411 112 007 or 6258 7493
The nominated marshals for this event are;
• Des Brown
• Richard Gorrell
• Tom Hartley
• Mark Harris
• Peter Harding
• Phillip Walker
The nominated marshals for the next two weeks are;
- Feb 17 @ Stromlo: Sue Frost, Luke McGowan
- Feb 22 @ Uriarra: Simon Milnes, Belinda Wren, John Paul DeSouza, Marc Vroomans, Bruce Jones, Terrence Merrigan
- Feb 24 @ Stromlo: Christophe Barbaret, Ed Pellegrino
- Mar 01 - No Race
Perfect race conditions drew a large field of more than 100 riders for the Tuesday crits at Stromlo and the racing was fast and furious for most of the night. Newcomer Glen Colusne (visitor) attacked from early on in A grade, with his second break sticking. Despite the best efforts of the bunch Glen hung on for a brilliant solo victory. Sean Ifland and Steve Jones filled the placings. B grade was also an entertaining affair, with plenty of attacks. Andrew Yates was at the pointy end of the race when it counted, with Simon Junakovic and Marcus O’Toole taking the minor placings.
C and D grades were also fast paced affairs with John Barnes, Sean Smith and Colin Kelley greeting the judges in C grade, while Steven Stolk, James Curran and Wayne Kenner led the D graders in. James Mills showed a good turn of speed to head David Turner and Luke McGowan across the line in E grade. James Meredith was too strong in the sprint in F grade, with Nigel Wines and Tony Sheehan also on the podium. Mike Spoljaric and Pauline Thorn showed a clean pair of heels to the rest of the field with a well-worked break early in G grade. Mike beat Pauline in the sprint to the line with Lindsay Graham taking third spot.
Thanks very much to Henry Beaverstock, Damien Obst and Alex Sommariva for making it a well-run event.
Mick Donaldson
There were 18 starters for the Wednesday 4 February track session. The weather was overcast but dry with a fresh headwind causing difficulty down the front straight.
With the season maturing, the A and B Grade scratch races were extended to 12 laps. The longer event provides more opportunities for tactical riding. This was born out in A Grade as Ben Robey and Kerry Knowler put in an early attack that established a handy lead. In due course, the break was brought back and a late break established by a group that included Andrew Peel, Ben Robey, Michael Langdon and Steve Jones. Steve Jones took the sprint from Michael Langdon and Andrew Peel. In B Grade, Aaron Rockey, Phil Anderson and Bruce Griffin proved strong, as usual. However, James Meredith put in a great performance stuck on the lead group like a limpet. Ultimately Aaron Rockey pipped Phil Anderson and Bruce Griffin for the honours.
The 2 Lap handicap had some surprises. In A grade, Kerry Knowler put on a great show from a front mark and could not be caught. Michael Langdon and Alan Bontjer took second and third place. In B grade there was a dead heat for the win between Phil Anderson and Bruce Griffin, to the great satisfaction of the handicapper. James Meredith was having a good day and took some catching before taking third place.
The next event, a 6 lap Snowball, was a challenge to score. The first lap was neutralised, after which there were gradually escalating points for places on each lap. It is a tricky event tactically. Various riders made good attempts to garner early points. However, with the first few laps down, Steve Jones asserted his dominance by taking the sprint in each lap. Steve took a win followed by Aaron Sedgemen and Michael Langdon who were both very enterprising in this race. In B Grade, yours truly tried to compensate for lack of form by taking a flier after the neutralised lap. The effort was run down easily by Phil Anderson. From that point Phil Anderson, Aaron Rockey and Bruce Griffin garnered most points on offer. Ultimately Phil Anderson took a well deserved win from Aaron Rockey and Bruce Griffin.
The track session concluded with a 6 lap race in which B grade were given a very handy start. A grade were well aware that the pursuit was a challenge, so Alan Bontjer sacrificed his chances with a solid three lap lead out that put A grade in the box seat. B grade worked well initially, but the earlier races had taken a toll, so their pace and form could not be held. With B grade caught, Steve Jones, Aaron Sedgemen and Ben Robey took first to third places.
Major place getters were as follows:
10 Lap Scratch: (A Grade) Steve Jones, Michael Langdon; Andrew Peel (B Grade) Aaron Rockey, Phil Anderson, Bruce Griffin.
2 Lap Handicap: (A Grade) Kerry Knowler, Michael Langdon; Alan Bontjer (B Grade) Bruce Griffin & Phil Anderson (dead heat), James Meredith
Snowball Race (A Grade): Steve Jones (11 pts), Aaron Sedgemen (9 pts), Michael Langdon (8 pts) (B Grade) Phil Anderson (14 pts), Aaron Rockey (10 pts), Bruce Griffin (6 pts).
6 Lap Scratch (with B Grade early start): Steve Jones, Aaron Sedgemen; Ben Robey.
Graeme O'Neill