Aquality field of riders converged on Mount Gambier on the weekend to compete in a host of cycling events for a packed purse of prizemoney.
On Saturday all eyes were on the 86th running of the She’s Apples 100 Mile Men’s Classic and the Pristine Skin & Laser Clinic, Fennell Forestry and GT Bobcat 111km Women’s Classic before cyclists rode around the Blue Lake Sunday for the SA Kermesse Championships honours.
Michael Kepka won this year’s She’s Apples 100 Mile Men’s Classic with a four second lead ahead of runner up Paul Collins.
The two riders broke away from the pack at the infamous rises between Mount Schank and the Blue Lake with the main group containing 16 riders all vying for the final position on the podium.
Matt Burchell claimed third ahead of local rider Dave Bryant and Olympic cycling coach Tim Decker.
Brendon Davids claimed the fastest racing time honours, just shy of three minutes behind Kepka.
In the fifth running of the 111km Women’s Classic last year’s victor Katelyn Nicholson took out the title one minute ahead of Eloise Sandow (who took the podium for the third year straight) while Nicola MacDonald claimed third.
Liam Underwood won the ASW Lawyers U15/17 Junior Classic followed by runner up Hunter Wood and third place Elmer Buckland.
Jami Buckley claimed fastest time honours, edging out William Brown by less than half a wheel.
The U11/13 race saw Joel Gooley finish ahead of Molly Opperman while Jack Pentland from the fastest group came in next, completing the podium and taking fastest time honours in the process.
Bright and early on Sunday morning, the focus for cyclists changed to the surrounds of the Blue Lake as Mount Gambier Cycling Club hosted riders for the South Australian Kermesse Championships.
The junior riders were granted the opportunity to race first on the course, with the U11 and U13 riders kicking off proceedings.
Lyndon Winter completed his two laps ahead of Diesel Petz to be awarded the medallion as SA U11 State Kermesse Champion.
The U13 race finished with Nicholas Lowrie well in front, but a hard-fought sprint down the hill to the finish line ensued to determine the rest of the podium placings.
Jack Pentland crossed the line ahead of Molly Opperman and Joel Gooley to tumultuous applause from the gathered spectators. Lowrie received his medallion as U13 Boys State Kermesse Champion while Opperman claimed the medallion as U13 Girls State Kermesse Champion.
At the completion of those races, the U15 and U17 riders took their opportunity to race five laps around the Blue Lake.
The U17 Men were first to leave, just ahead of the U17 Women, then followed by the U15 combined boys and girls.
The pace for the U17 Men was high from the beginning, lapping the Blue Lake in less than six minutes.
A group of five riders stuck together throughout the race and the final sprint to the line was hotly contested.
William Brown crossed the line first, just ahead of Jamison Buckley, Maxx Nuspan, Zachary Bryant and Ewan Landman, receiving the medallion as U17M State Kermesse Champion.
In the under 17 women’s race, the four riders rode the first three laps together, before Leani Van Der Berg and Madeleine Wasserbaech made a decisive break.
In the final sprint to the line, Van Der Berg proved too strong, taking the victory and receiving the medallion as U17 Women State Kermesse Champion.
With Freya Miller being the only U15 girls rider, the decision was made for the boys and girls to ride together, with the results separated.
Liam Underwood rode away from the chasing pack of riders in the second lap and was never headed to cross the line well ahead and be named U15 Boys State Kermesse champion. Jett Petz and Hunter Wood rounded out the podium positions, with Billy van Hout just missing out.
Freya Miller rode a strong race and deservedly received the U15 Girls State Kermesse Champion Medallion.
The Open Women’s State Kermesse Championship saw Nicola MacDonald take victory ahead of Elizabeth Nuspan and Eloise Sandow, with Women’s Classic winner Katelyn Nicholson close behind.
In the Men’s State Kermesse Championship Liam White emerged victorious in the final sprint to the line ahead of Aston Freeth and Louis Perriman.
