In a three-man race, Sanchez’s immense experience at international and national level saw him ebb and flow the pace over the course of the timed event.  

With Baker suffering fatigue from the previous day’s efforts, it was up to Sanchez to apply the final blows to the Darwin rider Pearce, and he took the sprint in spectacular fashion with Baker taking third seconds behind.

Twelve riders from Mount Isa’s Copper City Cycling Club loaded their bikes into cars and headed to the Alice Springs Cycling Club and Darwin Cycling Club organised event.  

Last Saturday, Mount Isa’s Baker shone in his pet 69-kilometre event taking the honours for the fastest time, and only rider to dip below 11 minutes, crossing in 10:40:22.  

With a three-way tussle brewing between the top riders Pearce took second place and Sanchez third in 11:11:08. 

John Braithwaite was another Mount Isa rider to make it into A grade, taking fifth in 11:36:35, while the only woman to qualify for A Grade, Mount Isa’s Kylie Baker, rode very well to time out at 11:53:58.  

B-grade riders for Isa were first-season riders Matthys Labuschagne (7th place) and brothers Chris (6th place) and Mark Thinee (5th place).  

Mount Isa had five riders in the C Grade, who rode 46km, with Frank Long and Linda Frenche teaming up with Lyn Roughan, Tony Sweeney, and Jason Ahearn against two Darwin riders, and one lone under-15 rider from the Alice Springs Club.

Sunday morning was windier than ever as riders headed off to the Go Kart track for the technical and fast criterium.

C grade’s race of 15 minutes was not a good outing for the Mount Isans with under-15 Alice Springs rider Basso taking the victory over Frank Long at the death.

B grade saw Mark Thinee finish as the best local performer, notching third place in the final laps.

Points were tallied at presentation and again with the junior points taking control of the totals, Alice Springs was once again victorious with a grand total of 183 points with Mount Isa taking second with 135 and Darwin with 108 points.