Thirteen riders signed on for the fifth race in the Mount Gambier Cycling Club’s Spring Series.
The race was a 28km out and back ride along the Overland Track at Glencoe, followed by a right turn onto the eastern side of Range Hill and a 2km climb to the finish line.
A northerly wind kept all riders honest on the outward leg and helped some of the riders to their fastest time up the hill.
The first rider away was Jason Buckland, hoping to stay out in front as long as possible, with a 4-minute head start over Jen Buckland and Damian Buckley.
They had a further 10-minute head start over a group containing John De Pree, John Cranwell, Dean Zeven, Patrick Langsmith and Elmer Buckland.
After another four minutes had elapsed the group consisting of Matthew Opperman, Jami Buckley, Niel van Niekerk and Craig Andrae were allowed to begin their chase, another minute ahead of Nick Kidman, who was tasked with the job of chasing everyone down (19 minutes behind Jason).
Riding along the Overland Track, with the open farmland, the head wind on the outward leg was noticeable and Damian found himself in trouble early, giving Jen the green light to solo away from him.
All other groups were working hard, with Cranwell another to lose touch with his bunch on the outward leg.
Speeds increased markedly after the turnaround, with the wind at the riders’ backs.
As the riders approached the end of Overland Track, the front runners were caught, and Langsmith launched away from his bunch in order to try to make the turn onto Range Hill Road first.
The groups were close together as the turn was made, allowing those with high power to weight ratio to shine as they climbed to the finish line.
van Niekerk was the first up the hill, closely followed by Jami Buckley and Kidman, rounding out the podium with fastest race time.
They were followed by Langsmith, Opperman, Andrae, Elmer Buckland, de Pree, Zeven, Jen Buckland, Cranwell, Jason Buckland and Damian Buckley.
Following the race, the riders enjoyed heading back down the hill, with most continuing on to the shop at Glencoe for a well-earned coffee.
