MAX Shawcross, Dave Ericson and Rory French shared line honours in the A-grade Copper City Cycling Club’s scratch race.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The trio completed the 60-kilometre course from George Fisher Mine turnoff in 1:46:32 on Sunday.
Six riders — John Braithwaite, Dave Knight, Brett Oates, Shawcross, Ericson and French — started the A-grade race, consisting of two 30km loops.
Oates attacked early by surging up the rise at Spring Creek, only to be roped back in quickly by the rest of the riders.
The six remained together for the next 40km, until Braithwaite and Oates fell off the back as the tempo lifted.
With 5km to go, Knight fell behind as Ericson and Shawcross pushed for the win, as all three crossed for the same time.
Knight rode strong to finish less than a minute later in 1:47:10, as Oates (4th) came in at 1:48:41 and John Braithwaite crossed the line at 1:50:01.
Six riders lined up in the B-grade race too, with the field of Peter Scarborough, Linda French, Frank Long, Jason Ahearn, Tony Sweeney and Lyn Roughan being very evenly matched.
The pace remained constant throughout the 600-metre ride until they turned for home, with a strong head wind present.
Scarborough, French and Long broke off from the other three riders and took turns surging ahead and setting the pace.
Heading into the last 2km, the group had rejoined French and Roughan, combining to put a small gap on the field.
Neither fancied their chances against sprinters Scarborough or Sweeney, so they attacked early to give themselves a chance.
Unfortunately, the pair’s attack lacked punch and Long, Scarborough and Sweeney passed the women on their way to the line.
Sweeney secured line honours over Scarborough in a time of 2:00:36 , with Roughan beating out training partner French to the line, eight seconds behind the winners.
Long faded to be two seconds adrift in fifth, with Ahearn bringing up the rear in 2:01:27.
The C-grade was a much more brutal affair, with only four women lining up to contest the 30km, single-loop course.
Samara Rogan sprinted ahead early and was never really threatened, completing the course in 1:09:19, with her solo riding in triathlons assisting her.
Heather Ford came in second (1:14:03) with new members Mel Walker (1:31:41) and Mel Trim (1:38:41) showing plenty of heart on two wheels, being drawn to the club by the Border Ride.
This was the last hitout for the club riders, who this weekend will travel across to Tennant Creek to contest the Barkly Shield.
The club is determined to wrestle the shield back from their Alice Springs rivals.
The next club ride is the Cloncurry Mini Tour on August 16 and 17, as riders concentrate on the August 2 Border Ride.
If you are interested in competing in any of the short prologue (time trial) and two road races that weekend, contact the club at coppercitycyclingclub @gmail.com