No trucks, no rain, no whinging (Haha only joking there)
There were no jokes about the quality of riders on hand and the determination to dominate. Here is how the start looked
0:00 Bob E, Daniel, and Ken E - Limit
2:00 Glenn, Greg, Allan, Tony, Rodd and Dave P - Group 3 on their way to victory
3:00 Seb, Rob S, Frank and Dave J - Block Four
3:30 Chris, Jason, Eddie, Jeff and Rob H - Scratch (Top 5 on TOF points)
The Scratch riders selected themselves by sitting in the top 5 of the Tour of February points. Five of our best riders all set to storm home to a victory, only 30 seconds behind a small and under powered Block group. Scratch were set for their time to shine.
Limit were a bit hard done by. Being down several key riders with others affected by illness and dog management duties. They did their best but it wasn't their day this time and they were separated and picked off by the faster riders.
Group 3 were also in a great position to beat the catch and hold the win. With a super strong squad, rarely seen before, they stood only a few short minutes from glory.
This just left the under strength Block group with only 4 riders and no-one worth mentioning in the group. However the Block group got off to a good start with strong turns by Rob S, Seb and Dave J before Frank came through like he was on the run from the law. A massive turn up the first hill ensured Block would survive the first lap before being caught. As it turned out Block rode smoothly and caught Group 3 with just under 2 laps to go, forming the Mega Bunch.
While the Mega Bunch rolled on waiting for the catch by Scratch, no-one was aware of the chaos on the road behind them. Jason lost touch on the first hill, leaving Eddie, Jeff and Rob H to try and push the pace while Chris dominated the mind games. Despite this, Scratch got very close and almost made the catch..........but they didn't.
The Mega Group powered on without knowing about Scratch imploding. The pace was kept high by Group 3 riders Greg and Rodd plus the four Block riders who never slowed down. Some good pace on the last lap, with no time for crazy attacks, left Rob S in a good position to sprint to victory. Block riders Tony, Glenn and Allan followed behind with Frank, Greg, Dave J and Rodd next to finish.
Some time later the Scratch group cruised home with Chris, Eddie, Rob H, Jeff and Jason finishing up ahead of Seb, Daniel, Bob and Ken. This exercise was the final round of our February training exercises. Chris took out Div 1 with Eddie 2nd and Jason 3rd.
Div2 was dominated by Greg with Allan 2nd and Glenn 3rd.
Well done to all riders for putting in huge efforts. Plus to our Patron Rod who found time to make wonderful trophies yet again. Here are the podium places for all our Grand Tours.
Feb 2024 Div 1 - Chris, Eddie, Jason Div 2 - Greg, Allan, Glenn
Dec 2023 Div 1 - Paul K, Seb, Dave J Div 2 - Glenn, Bob E, Allan
Jul 2023 Div 1 - Jeff, Dave J, Frank Div 2 - Glenn, Greg, Ken
Feb 2023 Div 1 - Rob H, Seb, Adrian Div 2 - Rod, Eddie, Frank
Dec 2021 - 1. Jason, 2. Dave J, 3, Chris
Feb 2021 - =1. Chris and =1. Dave J, 3. Paul K
Oct 2020 - 1. Jason, 2. Dave J, 3. Rob V
Jul 2020 - 1. Harry, 2, Chris, 3, Rod B
Feb 2020 - Dave J, 2. Chris, 3. Rob V
Nov 2019 - 1. Chris, 2. Paul K, 3. Rob H
Jul 2019 - 1. Dave J, 2. Chris, =3. Colin and =3. Tom
We all enjoyed a beverage as we celebrated Rob S's birthday and the final day of summer.
Handicap Classic History
In 2017 a new activity was born. The monthly handicap classic. Riders are divided into groups according to perceived ability and set off from a standing start with a time gap in between each group with the goal of seeing who is first across the line. The top 3 in each activity so far are:
2017
Aug – PDC / Tom / Marcel
Sep – Jason / Chris / Dave J
Oct – Dave J / Jason / Rod
Nov – Dave J / Harry / Jason
Dec – Harry / Josh / Rene
2018
Jan – Mark / PDC / Colin
Feb – Tom / Chris / Josh
Mar - Jeff / Glenn / Colin
Apr - Dave J / Jeff / Rod
May - Jason / Rod / Andy
Jun - Harry / Chris / PDC
Jul - Harry / Jason / PDC
Aug - Chris / Dave J / Dave P
Sep - Andy / Jeff / Tom
Oct - Andy / Chris / Jason
Nov - Dave J / Jason / Chris
Dec - Rob S / Jason / Andy
2019
Jan – Andy / Harry / Dave P
Feb - Chris / Jason / Rob V
Mar - Eddie / Frank / Rob S
Apr - Harry / Chris / Jeff
May - Rob S / Tom / Colin
Jun - Rob S / Jason / Chris
Jul - Tom / Jason / Jeff
Aug- Rob S / Harry / Andy
Sep - Dave J / PDC / Chris
Oct - Ken E / Daniel / PDC
Nov - Richard W / Ken E / Rob S
Dec - Dave J / Chris / PDC
2020
Jan – Rob S / Jason / Darren
Feb - Rene / Andy / Eddie
May - Colin / Eddie / Frank
Jun - Andy / Jason / Rod
July - Jeff / Seb / Rod
Aug - Rob V / Jason / Seb
Sep - Chris / Dave J / Glenn
Oct - Andy / Eddie / Frank
Nov - Tony / Eddie / Frank
Dec - Seb / Paul K / Jason
2021
Jan – Ken E / Glenn / Rene
Feb - Dave J / Harry / Paul K
Mar - Jason / Dave J / Eddie
Apr - Seb / Adam / Rod
May - Tom / Rob H / Seb
Jun - Chris / Jeff / Seb
Oct - Rob S / Rob H / Paul K
Dec 2 - Tony / Ken E / Richard W
Dec 21 - Richard F / Seb / Eddie
2022
Jan – Paul K / Rob S / Chris
Aug - Seb / RobS / Jason
Oct 4 - Dave J / Jason / Tom
Oct 27 - Chris / Jason / Dave J
Nov - Rob S / Chris / Jason
Dec - Jason / Dave J / Eddie
2023
Feb 2 (delayed Australia Day) - Chris / Jason / Harry
Feb - Harry / Jason / Rod
Mar - Jason / Seb / Rob H
Apr - Jason / Jeff / Chris
May - Rob S / Paul K / Tony
Jun - Rob H / Jeff / Dave J
Jul - Tom / Jeff / Dave J
Aug - Rob S / Paul K / Rob H
Sep - Seb / Rob S / Paul K
Oct - Chris / Dave J / Eddie
Nov - Dave J / Chris / Paul K
Dec - Paul K / Tom / Rob S
2024
Feb 8 (delayed Australia Day) - Rob S / Seb / Rob H
Feb - Rob S / Tony / Glenn