The Peel Districts Cycling Club commenced its winter road racing season earlier this month, at the Dog Hill circuit in Baldivis.
The grades are based on ability, so the event got a mix of ages from juniors to masters, men, and women racing in each grade.
However, the season’s long points system is awarded separately to both men and women.
E-grade has the widest range of ages, with riders over 60 competing against the Under-11 State Road Race Champion.
The group stayed together for three laps of the almost 11-kilometre course.
In the sprint to the line, it was Simon Stolton in first, Lauryn Backshall second, and Claire Sibbel third.
Close behind was Kristeen Hapi (the third female finisher), ahead of Hunter Murphy and Mick Backshall – the second and third male finishers.
D-grade saw a number of attacks and a few riders dropped; the bunch was together when, on the final corner (a couple of kilometres from the finish), Ricky Pedersen slipped off the front.
Pedersen managed to stay off the front of the chasing bunch, right up to the finish line where he was caught by Robert Kidnie who took the win.
Pedersen was second, ahead of Darryl McKenzie in third. Zoe Stolton was fifth across the line and the first female finisher, closely followed by Kate Prevost and Sarah Correia.
C-grade was a faster, more aggressive version of D-grade. There were a number of attacks, but everyone was chased down quickly.
In the bunch sprint, Chris Paterson claimed a narrow victory from Anthony Smithson, with Simon Rice third.
Dennise Laurence was the first female finisher, ahead of McKenzie Wilson.
It was unusual to see a five-rider break established on the first lap of B-grade. However, it was a bigger surprise to see the break survive the following laps.
It was only on the fifth and final lap where the break was caught by the bunch. In the bunch sprint, it was Danny Savage in first, Jethro Nagle second, and Dan Mijat third.
There were attacks, chases, counter attacks in A-grade, but nothing seemed to stick. There were always riders off the front, but they were always brought back.
Approaching the final corner, Bryce Lannigan attacked, got clear, and took the win. Harrison Aves was second, in front of Brett Stapleton third.
Darcie Richards was the first woman in recent memory to start in A-grade and finish in the bunch, only two seconds behind the winner.
PDCC’s next two events are part of the Peel Junior and Women’s Tour on Saturday, May 22, and a Six Hour Race on May 23.
For details on those races and the club’s winter road racing season results, visit ldcc.asn.au.
