Tour of March Handicap podium.
The Doctor Deals The Medicine
Here is the starting grid.
0:00 Ken E, Bob E, Richard W and Ian - Limit
2:00 Glenn, Rodd and Ewan - Group 3
3:10 Eddie, Tom, Phil, Jason and Tony - Block
3:50 Chris, Frank, Rob H, Jeff, Rob S and Dave J - Scratch
The Limit group powered away hard but were no match for the Group 3 riders who joined up with them on the 2nd lap. Meanwhile Block blew their massive gap and were caught by Scratch to form the Mega Group with more than 3 laps to go.
After a few riders were dropped from the early groups, Glenn, Ewan, Richard and Ken drove ahead of the Mega Group with an epic lunge for glory. It was only after the start of the final lap they were caught and the Super Mega Group formed.
Jeff and Rob H used the last hill to open some distance over the Super Mega Group. Many riders though this was just an energy wasting exercise. Phil worked hard to try and close the gap but there was little support from other riders. With half a lap to go Tom commented that Jeff and Rob may not be caught.
Chris responded using his fresh legs to move clear of the Super Mega Group with no-one on his wheel. However he couldn't hold the power required.
On the final hill Rob S made a move to start the sprint with Dave J and some others behind. By then Rob H had finished his lead out and was cruising up the hill, leaving only Jeff to try and hold on for a big win.
Unfortunately fatigue from the previous 5 hill efforts saw Rob S give up the chase leaving Jeff to take the win and then Dave J to cruising home ahead of Phil, Tom and Eddie.
After the training exercise riders enjoyed breakfast with a coffee / milk based beverage at Good George whilst a detailed debrief was completed.
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
Nov - Chris / Jason / Rob S
Dec - Chris / Rob S / Seb
2025
Feb 6 (delayed Australia Day) - Chris / Colin / Paul K
Feb - Rob S / Jeff / Glenn
Mar - Jeff / Dave J / Phil