Buckley gets the job done on Caves Road

Kidman just pipped in a sprint to the line in round three of the Summer Series

The third race in Mount Gambier Cycling Club’s 2023 Summer Series was raced along a 30km out and back circuit at Caves Road. Nineteen riders prepared for the opportunity to race, with a cross wind expected to play a role, particularly in the run to the finish.

Before the senior riders began their race, three junior riders took to the road for their 10km race. Molly Opperman was first away, followed 75 seconds later by the pairing of Ethan McKenny and Sean Tye. The young riders continued to improve their race craft, with Ethan pulling away in the final kilometre to finish ahead of Sean, and then Molly.

Following the completion of the junior race, the senior riders prepared for their race. First away was a group consisting of Graham O’Gorman, Dianne Major, and Jason Buckland. They were given a 10 minute head start over the next group that included Ainsley Curtis, Troy Mustey, Jen Buckland, Dave Delaland and Michael Dethmore. A further three minutes elapsed before the next group, consisting of Dean Zeven, Spek Peake, David Tye and Chris Kennett, began their chase, followed another three minutes later by the second last group which included Elmer Buckland, Patrick Langsmith, Colin Weatherill, Malcolm Tirabassi and Craig Andrae. The final pairing of Nick Kidman and Jami Buckley waited a further two minutes before they were allowed to begin chasing everyone else down, a monumental 18 minutes later than the first group.

As the riders made their way to the turnaround point, a tailwind early had some riders unable to hold on to their groups, exacerbated by a cross-headwind once the road turned southwards.

Out in front Di and Jason made the turnaround marker first, but as they began the journey back to the finish line they were able to see how much of their earlier lead had been eroded. The back pairing were slowly but surely reeling in each of the other groups, with Elmer, Patrick, Craig, Chris and Malcolm keeping up as they passed, and with 6km to go caught and passed Di Major to assume the lead of the race.

In the sprint to the line Jami Buckley was able to finish ahead of Nick Kidman to take first and fastest time, then Elmer Buckland, Craig Andrae, Chris Kennet, Malcolm Tirabassi, Patrick Langsmith, Dean Zeven, Troy Mustey, Michael Dethmore, Ainsley Curtis, Jen Buckland, Dave Delaland, Di Major, Jason Buckland, David Tye, Colin Weatherill, Spek Peake and Graham O’Gorman.

SENIOR PODIUM: (Above) Elmer Buckland (3rd), Jami Buckley (1st and fastest) & Nick Kidman (2nd)

JUNIOR RIDERS: (Left) Molly Opperman, Sean Tye & Ethan McKenny