The third race in the Mount Gambier Cycling Club’s Summer Series was held in cooler, though still windy, conditions around an 8.5km loop taking in Kongorong township and surrounds.
With the junior riders involved in their induction to the Limestone Coast Track Academy, a group of 12 riders signed on to race the course over four laps, with a couple of riders new to racing swelling their ranks.
The structure of this race meant the riders would experience some headwind and tailwind each lap, with the tailwind section pushing the riders toward the finish line.
Dave Delaland put his hand up to be the hare in this race, expecting to be caught by the hounds chasing afterwards.
He was given a five minute head start over Sandra Parsons and Matthew Opperman, with a further six minute gap to Tegan Kuhl, Phil Stasiw and newcomer to road racing Dan Whitehead.
Three minutes elapsed before Callum Morrison (in just his second road race) and Chris Neave were allowed to begin their race, followed two minutes later by Malcolm Tirabassi and John de Pree.
Dave Delaland then passed the start-finish line, completing his first lap, before regular backmarkers Nick Kidman and Dave Bryant began their chase of all ahead of them, four minutes after Malcolm and John had departed.
Soon after Nick and Dave Bryant had left, Matthew and Sandra rode past the start-finish line to begin their second lap.
Dave Delaland was soon overtaken by the faster pairing, hoping that he would not see them again before the race was completed.
By the time the second lap was completed, Dave D had also been caught by Matthew and Sandra and was trying to match their pace.
Callum and Chris had also been caught by Malcolm and John and were working hard to try and keep Nick and Dave Bryant at bay.
They were not quite able to do it, though and as the group began their tailwind section toward the line to end the third lap, Nick and Dave B swept by.
Initially Malcolm, John and Callum were able to match their pace, but Chris was not able to latch onto the fast-moving train, with John and Callum also finding the increased pace difficult to maintain.
As the bell was rung to signify the last lap, Matthew and Sandra were still working well out in front with Dave Delaland just in front of Phil, Tegan and Dan.
Malcolm, Nick and Dave Bryant were still chasing hard, with Callum and John working together ahead of Chris.
When the first riders came into view for the final time, Matthew and Sandra were still well ahead of the other groups, with Sandra Parsons winning the race to the line ahead of Matthew Opperman.
They finished almost three minutes ahead of the next group, with Tegan Kuhl finishing ahead of Phil Stasiw and Dan Whitehead.
Dave Bryant was only 20 seconds behind, taking fastest time honours ahead of Nick Kidman, followed by Dave Delaland, Malcolm Tirabassi, Callum Morrison, John de Pree and Chris Neave.
Next weekend’s race returns to the Attamurra Road course for a 30km handicap.
