Cycling road series finishes with a bang

The final race of the Mount Gambier Cycling Club Spring Series, as well as the Glencoe Country Post and Bistro Super Series, was held over 20km, beginning on the Overland Track, but finishing with a climb up the Eastern side of Range Hill.

Fourteen riders signed on and met guest Commissaire Rick Jordan and then prepared in groups to tackle the race.

The first group to depart consisted of Jen Buckland, Michael Dethmore and Martin Farmilo, followed four minutes later by Sandra Parsons.

Sandra was due to be joined by Molly Opperman, but in a case of technology being great when it works but extremely difficult when it doesn’t, Molly’s bike was unable to change gears and she did not start.

The third group to depart had to wait a further eight minutes, but contained the largest contingent of riders, including Spek Peake, Mike Bakker, Ethan McKenny, John Cranwell and Chris Neave. Matthew Oapperman, Craig Andrae and Elmer Buckland waited another two minutes before they joined the chase, and a further four minute wait ensued for Jami Buckley and Patrick Langsmith before they also began the chase, some 16 minutes after the initial riders had taken off.

A reasonably strong south-easterly wind made for a very quick start for the riders, with speeds reaching more than 50km/h on the outward leg.

The groups generally managed to stick together to the turnaround marker, as having help from the group would be imperative to maintain speed on the return leg into the wind.

Notably Elmer Buckland’s heart concern would flare up, and he chose to exit the race at the turnaround mark, whilst Mike Bakker did not quite have the legs this weekend and lost touch with his group just before the turnaround.

Ethan McKenny was enjoying the tailwind so much he nearly rode well past the turnaround marker, having to work hard to catch back up to his group after overshooting.

As the riders made their way back along the Overland Track toward Range Hill Road, gaps began appearing as riders approached their personal limit and fell out of the draft created by the riders ahead in their group.

Jami Buckley powered away from Patrick Langsmith in order to try and chase down the groups ahead of him, whilst out in front Martin Farmilo lost touch with the other two leading riders with 5km still to race.

Michael Dethmore and Jen Buckland were the first to make the turn and begin the climb to the top of Range Hill, with Martin and Sandra not too far behind, but the rest of the riders far in the distance.

Even though the hill proved a difficult test for the earlier riders, they were still able to power up it enough to stay away from the chasing packs.

Michael Dethmore crested the hill first and crossed the line ahead of Jen Buckland in second place, and Sandra Parsons in third.

Martin Farmilo finished fourth, ahead of Jami Buckley who had powered up the hill ahead of the rest of the riders, even putting on a burst of speed to ensure that Ethan McKenny was unable to hold in his draft.

After Ethan came Chris Neave, John Cranwell, Craig Andrae, Matthew Opperman, Spek Peake, Patrick Langsmith and Mike Bakker.

Presentations for the race and the series were held at the Glencoe Country Post and Bistro, sponsors of the Super Series, where the podium placings were given vouchers, as well as Michael receiving the Christmas Race Trophy.

Craig Andrae was rewarded for his consistency in racing with the overall series win, as well as the Super Series, with Spek Peake and Ethan McKenny tying for second place in the Super Series. .

There will now be a break from racing until the new year when cyclists will return to the track and road.