After being postponed for a week following the threat of torrential rain for the race, the 2021 Kidman Cup was held under beautiful blue skies along a 35km course at Coonawarra last weekend.
Three junior and 21 senior riders took to the start line to see who could claim the coveted Kidman Cup.
The junior riders were first to leave with the support of a 5km tailwind followed by the brutal return leg into a headwind of approximately 22kph.
The usual riders were joined by first time racer Simon Nicholas in his first ever road race and was given a four-minute head-start over Eddie Buckland, who was in turn given a further 1min 30 gap before Molly Opperman could begin her chase.
Speeds were high as the riders and their chaperones charged downwind for the first 5km, trying to make the greatest benefit of the wind at their backs.
As the riders made the turnaround point, Nicholas was just in front, with the chasing pair trying to reel him in.
The brutal headwind made the trip back much harder and average speeds plummeted with the lead relinquished with 4km still to travel.
Each pedal stroke was becoming laboured but Opperman was able to maintain the higher average speed to ride past Buckland and win by 27 seconds.
The main race began soon after with Damian Buckley and Jen and Jason Buckland leading the way.
They tried to make the most of the nine-minute gap to the next group, while some 20 minutes after the final pairing of Nick Kidman and Matthew Opperman were given their orders to begin the chase.
The pace was high as the riders flew towards the turnaround, with average speeds mostly in excess of 40kph.
This made it difficult for the faster riders to peg back much time on the groups ahead of them and the first group arrived at the turnaround point still eight minutes ahead of the others.
The group out in front were making slow headway into the wind, halving their average speed from the outward leg, but hoping to stay away for the victory.
Alas their hopes were dashed within sight of the finish line as a group of six riders from the middle groups surged past them.
The pace quickened towards the finish to try and negate some of the sprinter’s power, but at the line Harry Opperman had surged clear followed by Madalene Cleary, with Spek Peake rounding out the podium.
Dean Zeven, John Cranwell and Mike Bakker followed in the bunch, then Jen Buckland, Damian Buckley and Jason Buckland.
Rounding out the top 10 was Nick Kidman, who also clocked the fastest time.
The post-race chats had riders commenting on the brutality of the headwind on the return journey, but were buoyed by the amount of spectators who cheered each rider across the finish line.
Post-race formalities were held on the grounds of the sponsor for the Kidman Cup, Banks Thargo wines along with a barbecue dinner, while rider fees collected for the race were donated to Nick Kidman who has been cultivating a moustache as part of Movember Foundation’s fundraising campaign.
