Race for Ray rounds out cycling season

EUREKA Cycling Club travelled to Myrniong to stage the final race for the 2022 on Sunday, 11 December – the Ray Hodgson Classic sponsored by Shane Cook Homes.

The riders were pleased to race in sunshine, however the strong north wind was received with much less enthusiasm.

That wind made it a race of attrition and only half the field completed the 49-kilometre course.

Limit riders Alana Forster and Peter Lamb held the lead until being caught by the five-minute group made up of John Blyth from Eastern Cycling Club, Greg Ley and Tony Mirabella just five kilometres from the finish line.

Rob Ellis and Dean Wells, both riding off second scratch, were closing fast but the race leaders made it around the final turn with a small margin on the chasers.

The strong tailwind made for a fast finish, when a slight pause by the leaders enabled Wells to make the catch with one kilometre remaining.

He went for home soon after and tried to ride the others off his wheel, however Mirabella proved too strong on the final rise and took his second victory in the race for Ray.

Ray Hodgson Classic (49 Km Hcp at Myrniong) – 1st – Tony Mirabella (5 mins), 2nd – John Blyth Eastern Cycling Club (5 mins), 3rd – Dean Wells (1 min), 4th – Greg Ley (5 mins), 5th – Peter Lamb (12 mins).

Fastest Female – Alana Forster (12 mins) in 1h 40m, ave. 29.4kph

Fastest Male – Dean Wells (1 min) in 1h 29m, ave. 33.1kph