After a brief break encompassing the State Track Championships, the Mt Gambier Cycling Club resumed its Spring Series with a 20km ‘shotgun’ handicap race along the Caves Road course.

All riders began at the same time, but had a variety of distances to ride ranging from the full 20km to 14.2km.

A total of 17 riders lined up on the start line in seven groups and Michael Dethmore and Jason Buckland provided the rabbit bait for the greyhounds chasing behind.

However, the pair managed to hold off its rivals to finish first and second respectively. 

With 10km to go Nicholas Kidman, Matthew Opperman and Ash Herrewyn had reeled in the second scratch team of Robert Mann and Gerard Coote.

Mann and Coote were hot on the heels of Dean Zeven and Niel van Niekerk, who were chasing John Cranwell, Mike Bakker and Bruce McLaughlin. 

With 2km to go all the bunches were caught apart from the frontrunners and an intense race for the final podium position was on. 

Ash Herrewyn won the final sprint to take third place followed by Mann, Kidman, McLaughlin and Zeven, while mechanical issues slowed van Niekerk’s push.

The format was repeated for last weekend’s race on the same course.

A field of 16 riders took part with Matthew Opperman and Ash Herrewyn completing the full 20km distance.

They were trying to chase down five strong groups, but in the end were unable to get there. 

Starting 1.5km ahead was the group of Robert Mann, Malcolm Tirabassi, Colin Weatherill and Gerard Coote, with Bruce McLaughlin, John Cranwell and Richard Schilling a further 500m ahead.

The front groups began with Harry Opperman and Jen Buckland 4.9km in front of the back markers with Michael Dethmore and Jason Buckland a further 500m ahead, while the rabbit group of Jami Buckley, Spek Peake and Mike Bakker racing 13.2kms.

By the turnaround with 10km to go, the race was began to tighten.

The front group worked well and in the end kept themselves away for the whole race, with young Buckley taking the win. 

The groups of Harry Opperman and Jen Buckland, Dethmore and Jason Buckland joined with 4km to go and the former managed to hold off the fast-finishing group to claim second.

Dethmore was caught right at the line by Rob Mann, who grabbed the final spot on the podium.

Next Sunday the more traditional handicap format returns for a 20km race along Caves Road.

(Harry Opperman (2nd), Jami Buckley (1st), Rob Mann (3rd)