October Handicap podium.
The end of cruising, getting caught and then asking for an even bigger gap
Here is how the start for the final stage of the Tour Of October, the Handicap Training Exercise looked:
0:00 Ken E, Bob E and Richard W - Limit
1:30 Glenn, Greg, Allan and Ian - Group 3
2:30 Rodd, Paul K, Jeff, Eddie, Phil and Col - Block
3:10 Chris, Jason, Frank, Rob H and Dave J - Scratch
The Scratch riders selected themselves by sitting in the top 5 of the Tour of October points after 4 massive stages.
Limit started hard and Richard W showed off all the top riding he has been doing by powering away from Ken E and Bob E on the first hill, before pushing along towards solo victory.
Group 3 featured some top level and in-form riders who chased after Richard W with the intention of taking another win.
With Chris and Jason both with a chance of winning the tour, Block were the clear favourites for the win and they didn't disappoint holding a steady pace while the 4 working riders in scratch couldn't close the gap.
Group 3 were caught by Block about half way through to form the Mega Group, ready to drive home to victory.
With 2 laps to go Scratch were still in the wind. Chris made a bold solo bid to bridge across and made it into the Mega Bunch.
Meanwhile the 4 working Scratch riders were still pushing hard. Each rider put in some huge efforts and Jason was able to join the Mega Bunch with just over 1 Km to the finish.
A few riders were dropped from their group, however this didn't stop the pace as victory closed in. Col was kind enough to man the finish line after he completed his ride, providing encouragement and video footage of the final laps.
Jason was able to round all up riders on the hill to take another victory with Chris in 2nd giving Scratch the first two places. Block riders Jeff and Eddie were next home, then Glenn and Allan before the rest of the Scratch group.
The warmer weather seemed to encourage riders to have a go which made this a worthwhile training exercise yet again.
Div1 was taken out by Chris with Jason 2nd and Rob H 3rd.
Div2 saw Allan and Glenn tie on points for 1st and Greg 3rd.
We all enjoyed a beverage provided by Jeff for his Birthday as we discussed our plans for improvement.
Well done to all riders for putting in huge efforts and not just cruising around and waiting.
Here are the podium places for all our Grand Tours.
Oct 2024 Div 1 - 1st Chris, 2nd Jason, 3rd Rob H Div 2 =1st Allan and Glenn, 3rd Greg
Jul 2024 Div 1 - Jason, Frank, Jeff Div 2 - Allan, Glenn, Greg
Feb 2024 Div 1 - Chris, Eddie, Jason Div 2 - Greg, Allan, Glenn
Nov 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
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
Apr - Rob H / Tony / Jason
May - Frank / Glenn / Jeff
Jul - Tony / Rob S / Glenn
Aug - Jason / Seb / Frank
Sep - Jason / Rob H / Chris
Oct - Jason / Chris / Jeff