Nundah Cycle Series Race 1

The first of a 4 race series, Albert Bishop Park would host a coming together of Elite A/B Men and Elite Women. The format is fairly standard, a 1 hour plus 4 lap event held at Nundah, Queensland, with riders being challenged with the signature blustery conditions made all the more harder by the race being punctuated with 5 sprint primes provided by Zipp Australia. In describing the circuit, the entire course is flat and around 1.2km in length. There is always wind on this circuit and starts with a hairpin turn then moves into the “S” bends. This is a right then left and another right then left again. Just to make things fun the riders are then met with a sweeping hairpin around to the right, dropping you off for a clear, straight and open 300 metres toward the finish line. It is all hot mix and is super fast.

This circuit has been made available by the Honorable Kim Flesser MP and the huge amount of effort from him and his team.

What makes this event really stand out is the “For the Riders” mentality of the prize structure. First place is 50% of all line entries, then 25% for 2nd and 10% for 3rd. There is a $75 Most Aggressive Rider Award provided by Merida and there is also points accrued for a Best and Fairest over the 4 races. This is a $200 award across all 4 races again provided by Merida

Today, 46 riders took to the start in what would be a fantastic battle for the $230 win. Not bad for a club race. Riders/Teams of note are the Merida Team, Wilson HTM, Ord Minnett, MB coaching, Velo Cycles and Triple Play. Amongst this group, Mark Roland, Mark Ledgerwood, Steven George, Jack Anderson, Chris Williams, Thomas Richards, Matthew Smith and Matthew Woods would all grace the start line. Former professional’s and current and former state champions amongst this group would ensure an animated affair plus a great show for the massed spectators.

At 10am the riders set off under the banner of David Roughley, commissaire for the event. A grade set off first with B grade/Women a further 15 seconds behind, effectively putting A grade a lap behind plus making them work for the victory. There was a first lap dash of $30 dollars on offer for the A graders to ensure a fast start and hopefully have momentum to build from here. It was Chris Williams of Team Merida that took this, some 5 seconds ahead of a charging A grade field. From the go, A grade was taking precious seconds away from B/ Womens field grade.

A series of attacks and counter attacks accurately describes A grades behavior over the first 15 minutes, with B grade being as aggressive with Liam McCarthy (MB Coaching) moving away with Steven Handericks (Tripleplay) working together and ultimately coming into the first Prime together. It was won by Handericks, winner of the 2007 Metropolitan titles. At this point B grade seemed to hit cruise mode with A grade now taking chunks of time away from the depleted field.

The second sprint prime would also be the coming together of both grades with B grade really easing off after the first sprint. At this moment, Chris Pryor (Ord Minnett) took out the sprint ahead of the now one Peleton.

The Wilson HTM team took full advantage of their numbers and launched Mark Roland. Close on his wheel would be Matthew Smith (2XU) and Matt Williams (Peleton Cycles). A flurry of attacks by Chris Williams, Liam McCarthy and UNI-Pensar rider Peter Garrone ensured the pace remained quite high. The conditions and speed of the event had already put 30% of the field out of the race. The strong riders of the group started to make the presence known with former ITT champion Nathan Waddell upping the pace, his efforts matched by riders like Mark Ledgerwood and Matthew Smith, Steven George and Chris Pryor. The moment presented itself for Mark Roland to again launch an attack, taking with him young riding sensation Tom Richards. Tom is a 15y.o machine, still on restricted gearing. He matched attacks with counter attacks and when he was brought back, he would launch again stretching his lead in the Most Aggressive rider award.

With hard fought racing, the race had come down to 3 groups. A break of 3 that included Steven George (Wilson HTM) Jack Anderson (Ord Minnett) and one other rider, 10 seconds down was a group containing Nathan Waddell, Martin Pearce, Mark Roland, Mark Ledgerwood, Peter Garrone, Tom Richards, Ben Hitchens, Matthew Woods and Tom Richards. Another 45 seconds down was a group of 5 that was destined to be consumed by the remaining rider high pace.

In an attempt to keep rhythm and the gap increasing, Jack Anderson would take the 3rd prime unchallenged by his compatriots, tapping out a good rhythm and hungry to keep things together the 2 forward groups would merge at around the 38 minute mark due mainly in part to Tom Richards and his ever aggressive racing style. Attacks and counter attacks took the group to the 4th prime with Mark Roland taking it out. At this point, knowing that the eventual winner would come from this group, things were somewhat calm and the riders seemed happy to tap it out for at least a few more laps until Steven George launched a signature attack down the finishing straight. Fortunate to catch his wheel, Jack Anderson latched on and the 2 quickly moved ahead. These two riders representing Wilson (George) and Ord Minnett (Anderson) would not be seen again as each rider had riders back in the remaining field of 9 that would counter any attempt to bring them back.

The 50 minute mark would see Steven George take the sprint prime as the two riders tapped out an incredible pace in the ever increasing wind. The goings on behind them was sporadic and un-organized, helping the 2 opportunists build on their lead. Lap by lap, George and Anderson increased their lead by 4 to 7 seconds per lap and ultimately built it to around 25-30 seconds- this is where it stayed. Tom Richards, not phased by the way tactics had conspired against him continued his ever aggressive riding and was aided by Peter Garrone and Matthew Smith, but no dice as Team Wilson and Ord Minnett marked them out of contention. The remnants of the group were to sprint for 3rd place.

George and Anderson tapped out a great rhythm. Between the two, George was the known sprinter, winning the prestigious Cunningham Classic in 2006 whilst Anderson is known for his strong TT that saw him place 6th at the 2007 Nationals. It was a question of whether the 2 came into a sprint, in this case George with the advantage or if Anderson would launch a last lap dash and hold of his competitor.

4 laps to go, 3, 2, and final lap the 2 were together, backing off the pace and ultimately coming into the final 300 together. George in front with Anderson attempting to get the jump on his rival, “Jacko” with grimace on his face and on the far right of the course opens up the affair hitting the 14, then 13, 12, 11 with George in tow it looks as though Andeson has his measure but George opens up and gaps his competitor. With Anderson coming back it is now a drag race with 100 to go. With the bit in his teeth driving to the line, Steven George drives it for the win, 3 bike lengths on the fading Anderson.

1st and 2nd finalized, the sprint for 3rd is between Mark Ledgerwood, Matthew Smith and an ever present Peter Garrone. Smith drops to the right and into the 11 with Ledgerwood in tow, with Smith too strong and taking the final step onto the podium, Ledgerwood in 4th and Garrone 5th.

Points for the most aggressive rider totaled in Favour of Young Tom Richards showing outstanding talent and determination.

Onto race 2 on the 14th of October, 10am for the 2nd installment of the series. It was definitely a hard fought race today and this was made possible by the Volunteers, Riders and spectators giving up their time to support a great event.

Results
1st Steven George (Wilson HTM)
2nd Jack Anderson (Ord Minnett)
3rd Matt Smith (2XU)
4th Mark Ledgerwood (Wilson HTM)
5th Peter Garrone (UNI-Pensar)

Most Aggressive- Tom Richards
Women- Wendy Haberfield
First Lap Dash- Chris Williams

Primes
1 Steven Handericks (TriplePlay)
2 Chris Pryor (Ord Minnett)
3 Jack Anderson (Ord Minnett)
4 Mark Roland (Wilson HTM)
5 Steven George (Wilson HTM)