Winter racing heats up

THE weather gods finally smiled upon the Winter Aggregate Race Series, with Eureka Cycling Club staging round three in rather good conditions for late June, with a light breeze and just a sprinkling of rain at the end of the race.

Division 1 saw six riders contest a tactical and spirited race.

Relatively evenly matched, each of the riders found themselves off the front of the pack during the event.

Stu Brien tried multiple times to get a break, closely marked by Ash Braszell, Tony Mirabella and Jason Birch. Darryn Reed and Dean Wells spent much time managing their efforts.

All six riders were still in the hunt with five kilometres remaining. Brien launched an uphill attack and only Braszell and Mirabella could respond quick enough.

The trio held their 50-metre advantage to the last few hundred metres where Braszell skipped away for an easy win in the falling rain.

Divisions 2 and 3 were combined for the race and nine riders rolled away from the start line.

Peter Livitsanis was determined to put early pressure on the pack, with visiting rider Simon Bell from Northern Cycling Club, and Jeremy Humber keen to assist.

Dennis Shaw, Renee Clapham and Geoff Edwards worked well together to limit losses, whilst Evan King, Roger McMillan and Rick Calvert looked to be making up numbers.

All attacks were nullified during the race and the field only split on the final climb up to Weatherboard as the rain swept in.

Bell was able to kick clear over the final kilometres and take a comprehensive victory, while the bunch set themselves for a sprint.

King proved strongest in the final kick to the line for the minor placings in Division 2, while McMillan’s determination was rewarded with claiming line honours for the Division 3 race.

As always, the riders and committee thank the volunteers who made racing possible. Lois Goldfinch for managing the clubrooms, along with road marshals Shane Clarke, Scott Keating and Patrick Shaw and race officials Bill Goldfinch and Graeme Parker.

Mount Misery (45km) Graded Divisions results – Division 1 – 1st – Ash Braszell, 2nd – Stu Brien, 3rd – Tony Mirabella. Division 2 – 1st – Simon Bell, 2nd – Evan King, 3rd – Peter Livitsanis. Division 3 – 1st – Roger McMillan, 2nd – Geoff Edwards, 3rd – Renee Clapham.

– BY DEAN WELLS