It was the weekend before Christmas and down at the Mt Gambier Cycling Club, many riders gathered together for the 30km Christmas race.
A total of 30 cyclists greeted the starter with some familiar faces returning from across the border.
The first to begin was the group of Jason Buckland, Damien Buckley, Heath and Hayden Riley and Shane and Matt Fiegert, while 16 minutes later the third and final bunch of Nick Kidman and Dave Bryant set off in pursuit.
After 8km the three first three groups had merged together and a pack of 11 riders working well together.
But the pecking order was shaken up as the riders approached the turnaround where a couple of riders were caught napping and spat out the back.
With the frontrunners operating like well-oiled machines, it was quite clear the other groups would have to work extremely hard to try and catch them.
Eventually they could not be pulled back and in the sprint to the line, Harry Opperman edged out Pru Riddoch and Nikki Menzel to win the Christmas trophy.
In his first race for the club Matt Fiegert finished just outside the podium and was followed by Riley Hill, Pam Menzel and Jen Buckland. Rob Mann led the sprint from the next group, while Nick Kidman (20th) won the duel of the scratch riders, edging out Dave Bryant at the line to take fastest time honours.
Riders returned to the clubrooms after the race to enjoy a sausage sizzle and the presentations.
At the conclusion of the Spring Series, John Cranwell was named as the overall victor.
The club’s junior riders also enjoyed a 10km race along Caroline Springs Road and back.
It was tough for the riders going out into the wind, but they enjoyed a nice tailwind back to the finish line.
Emma Van Niekirk led the charge out, followed by Eddie Buckland two minutes behind and then Molly Opperman.
Lucas Riley returned from a race in Hamilton and started one minute behind Molly, while Jamo Buckley and Elmer Buckland were the last to begin eight minutes after Van Niekirk began.
Two groups had formed by the halfway mark with Opperman catching Eddie Buckland and Riley alongside Buckley and Elmer Buckland.
Both groups worked well together to try and rein in Van Niekirk out in front.
As the riders powered along towards the finish, the breakaway was caught and Buckley finished first and fastest, with an elapsed time of 26:55.
He was followed by Opperman, Elmer and Eddie Buckland, Riley and Van Niekirk.
There will be a short break from road racing until February, when the Summer series begins.
The Mt Gambier Cycling Club now looks forward to two days of track racing at the Blue Lake Velodrome starting on Saturday, January 2.
