This week updates from both Dirt Crits and the road ITT, news from the Preston Mountain Classic and other stuff.
Racing last week
Dirt Crits at Riflebutts MTB Park last Tuesday was a bit different to usual; the 18 starters were faced with a mass-start Irish Handicap. Usually, the handicaps dictate the start order, this time the handicaps added to times after the finish.
Perhaps this ‘backwards format’ produced the bump in the space-time continuum which saw Bruce Halket take the win ahead of Bella Green and Ruby Dobson. Then came Jack Hogan, Jason Parker, Alex Green, David Jagger, Damian Grundy, Peter Coffey and Georgina Landy (welcome along Georgina!) rounded out the top ten.
No one has yet explained how a rider finishing almost last after 6 laps, who hardly overtook anyone, managed to be awarded the win after most of the field had already finished.
However, accusations of bribery have been strenuously denied by all involved.
Here are the results.
Many thanks to Damian, Kate and the other volunteers.
The road race on Thursday was an Individual Time Trial, starting and finishing on Graves Road and including both sides of the dreaded ‘Coombesberg’ on Old Tolmie Road.
While this race was not a mass start race - each rider races alone and the fastest time wins - it too had handicaps included afterwards to calculate the real winner.
The ITT is supposedly The Race of Truth but the general consensus is that’s a lie. It should be called the Race of Pain and we had 29 masochists in Mansfield who entered for their dose of domination.
Showing great consistency, two of the podium placegetters on Tuesday also ‘medalled’ on Thursday - Ruby Dobson triumphing ahead of Bella Green and then Tilda Reeve. They were followed by Judi Duke, Justin Berry, Allan Gerrans, Craig Wison, Steve Curnow, Ross Hopkins and Rod Manning.
A dedicated team of officials ran the race very efficiently and safely… many thanks to Di, Donna, Cam, Robert and David. Here are the results and many thanks again to Tony Copland for the pics.
Next week’s race is a handicap race from the Botanic Park, up to Sawpit Gully Road and around to Graves Road - entries via SMS to John on 0428 503 437 by 8pm Wednesday.
Preston Mountain Classic
Congratulations to Josh Hopwood for a great result in the Preston Mountain Classic on Saturday, finishing 9th - only 36 seconds behind the winner. Congratulations too to two of our local officials for helping run the race: Di Condie was Chief Judge and Jodie Batchelor Chief Commissaire. However, it has to be asked… why didn’t they disqualify the first 8 finishers?!
Finally…
The top three runs of the 2018 Red Bull Rampage.
A good wrap-up of the season of Mitchelton-Scott.
The 2019 Tour de France route has announced. Both Cycling News and Cycling Tips covered it in detail.