Mount Gambier Cycling Club held its fourth race of the Spring series and first race in the Glencoe Country Post and Bistro Super Series on the weekend.
It was a group of four races within the wider series on a 20km out and back course from Tantanoola toward the Lake Bonney Wind Farms.
The course is quite affected by the regular breeze and includes a punchy climb at the 7km mark and consequently also at the 12km mark on the way back.
Late in the week it was determined the race would be a 20km race instead of the usual 34km, allowing our junior riders to participate in the handicap race along with the senior riders.
With Jami Buckley away at the Junior National Road Cycling Championships, there was a chance for someone else to take fastest time honours.
Twelve riders were divided into five groups and prepared to set off under the instructions of the Commissaire.
The first group included Xavier Farmilo, Molly Opperman and Jen Buckland, with a two minute head start over last-start victor Sandra Parsons paired with Mike Bakker.
They had a further one minute gap before Spek Peake, Ethan McKenny and Chris Neave were given their orders to begin the chase.
Craig Andrae and Elmer Buckland joined the race after a further two minutes had elapsed, while the final group to leave containing Malcolm Tirabassi and Matthew Opperman had a long three minute wait until they too could join the fray, some eight minutes after the first riders had set off.
With the wind behind their backs for the first part of the race, speeds were high and with the carrot of riders close in front of them some riders worked themselves quite hard on the outward leg to make inroads to the gap.
Mike and Sandra were the first group to be caught by the group behind them, with Spek, Ethan and Chris passing them just as they crested the climb about 2km shy of the turnaround mark.
The turnaround mark gives the riders a good opportunity to gauge how close the riders behind were getting or how much more work needed to be done.
As the first riders turned they were confronted with the view of riders very close behind them and the knowledge the return leg would be very hard into the wind.
After the turn, the groups started fracturing as riders tried to keep up with other riders as they passed or others increased their pace to try and catch those ahead.
Out in front, Xavier was able to hold on to Spek and Ethan as they passed with about 6km remaining in the race and it was that group of three that would compete for the podium.
In an exciting sprint for the line, Ethan Mc Kenny finished ahead of Xavier Farmilo, with Spek Peake finishing third.
Elmer Buckland was only 22 seconds behind in the end, finishing ahead of Craig Andrae, then Mike Bakker, Molly Opperman, Chris Neave, Sandra Parsons, Jen Buckland, Malcolm Tirabassi and Matthew Opperman.
After a few quick sums, Malcolm was named as the fastest rider on the day with a ride time just over 30 seconds faster than Elmer.
Riders, officials and spectators then went across to the Glencoe Country Post and Bistro for post-race drinks and presentations to the first, second and third riders, fastest rider and first female.
Club racing will take a break over the school holidays with the next race coming on October 21 to coincide with the coaching weekend led by Olympic coach Tim Decker.
