Summer Criterium Race Report #3

Warm and windy conditions greeted riders for Round 3 of Summers Crits, the threat of cross winds likely playing on the minds of those present and racing. 

The junior HC was a ‘mano-a-mano’ contest between George Williams and Alex Steele, the latter kicking off a lap down. Despite working hard to close the gap to just a few bike lengths, George was just too strong piloting his new Specialized bike to his second victory of the season. 

B Grade was dominated by some early attacks from the Cartel Racing Team but despite a promising break away involving Rainer Wilton, nothing gained much traction. Andy Blair was attentive in chasing down any potential threats as the pace yo-yoed through the early phases, Toby McLenaghan also showing some strong early-season form with excellent positioning throughout. Calvin Coobs eventually managed to snap the elastic and establish a potentially race winning margin but tired in the closing stages, Matt Corby doing the lion’s share of the chasing to bring it back to level pegging. Down to the bell lap and the bunch was completely strung out with Andy Blair setting a furious pace to position old mate Rainer Wilton perfectly for the sprint. Despite a late surge from John Forrest to nab the racing line into the home straight, Rainer held his nerve to surge clear and stay away for his first win of the season. A fast-finishing Connor Ward and Matt Darling rounded out the podium while Lauren Thomas just edged out Kim Pederson in the Women’s sprint finishing also on bunch time.       

A Grade saw Macca Edwardson off the front from the whistle and quickly stretching his lead out to the length of the home straight. As Macca settled in for a long night of suffering, Hayden Stevens looked to bridge with Trent Smyth leading the chase behind. Mick Tollhurst, making a return to A Grade after several years in the B Grade wilderness, was also proving more than up to the challenge and didn’t shirk his responsibilities when it came time to hit the wind. Sensing danger up front, Ben Hill made the move across to the leaders before Josh Bilski put in a monster turn through collarbone to bring everyone back together with 11 minutes still on the clock. With the memory of Hayden rounding him up down the home straight still fresh in the mind, Tom Chester, sporting a beautiful new Trek Madone, looked to put the race beyond doubt well before the final sprint with a huge solo in the closing stages. Despite a brave effort, Tom was caught with three minutes to go only to see Eddie Mungoven, making his season debut, counter down the back straight, Bailey McDonald desparately trying to get on the wheel. Big pulls from Mitchell Westhuizen and Trent Smyth all but sealed the fate of the erstwhile escapees, only to see Toby Stewart make a last-minute bid for glory. With Josh B again shouldering responsibility for the chase and Ben Hill positioning Tom nicely for the run to the line, the scene was set for another Stevens v Chester showdown. But as the leaders emerged from behind the wattle tree darting left onto the home straight, Tom was having none of it as he powered decisively clear to make it one from one on the new rig. Ben carried the lead-out momentum through to hold on for second while Hayden ensured the contest would remain tight at the top coming home in third.  

D and E Grade rolled away with a thirty second gap between them, Samuel Barrett among the first to up the tempo with a strong attack. But despite several attempts by would-be-escapees, the bunch was kept in check thanks largely to the work of Michael Straffon in chasing down each move, Daren Stevens also setting tempo at the head of affairs. Back in E Grade, Tara Holmes and Hannah Pettit were shaking things up, with Lachlan Copeland riding strongly having just left the relative safety of the Junior HC. Full marks going to Alison Mungoven and Bill Shelly in the positioning stakes with both riders rarely outside the top five. Down to the bell lap and a sprint finish looked inevitable for D Grade, Sam Barrett eventually book ending his race with a strong sprint to edge clear of Marek Bilski and Paddy Dawson. Finishing on bunch time and putting forward a solid claim for ‘ride of the night’ was Annika Astridge who took out the women’s race and sprinted to seventh overall notwithstanding the fact that she’s still riding on U13 gearing – try doing that at home (Dad John Astridge, meanwhile, was unfortunately brought down on the last lap although dusted himself off like the hard man he is and assures me he’ll be live to ride another day). Darcy Henwood was second just a bike length behind with Ali M in third. Hannah bested Tara back in E Grade with Gary Bentlin in third.  

C Grade had the honour of bringing the curtain down on an exciting night of racing but little did the crowd know that the best had in fact been saved for last. The first hint of what lay ahead came on the opening lap as Callum McIver shot out of the bunch, Baden Burke chewing on his stem as he tried to come along for the ride. Callum quickly established a sizeable margin, Jim Mungoven and Lara Dawson working well to keep Callum from disappearing altogether through the opening phases. Several minutes in and the pace proved too high for Baden leaving Callum out there to suffer alone in silence. As the clock came down and the gap to first didn’t… panic started to set in with Will Astridge, Jamie Young, and Leonard Pooley all burning matches to try and bring Callum back. With two laps remaining, Callum had surrendered precious little of his lead and must have started to believe he was about to pull off the rarest of solo victories. And so the fairy tale played out, Callum staying aero right to the finish line and looking every bit the winner in his new ACT skinsuit to claim the win he has been threatening to take all season.  

All in all, a thoroughly entertaining night of racing ranging from sprint victories to epic solo escapes. With huge numbers across most of the grades, the crit racing spirit is alive and well in Canberra, and a sign of sure things to come throughout the remainder of the season. Thanks again to our fantastic volunteers and ever-present Commissaires – without whom, none of us would be out there racing. Please be sure to let them know you appreciate it!