The Hamilton Pine Rivers Wheelers always ensure the local racing scene is well serviced by excellent racing. The regular Lakeside Kermis (Kermesse) at the Lakeside Raceway is one regular event that always draws a crowd.
On a warm spring morning the race was well attended and the action started from the gun with numerous attacks. After 10 minutes, Matt worked his way into a significant break of 7 riders, who worked well to create a good gap on the group.
The break worked hard and the whistle for the intermediate sprint sounded. Matt attacked up the backside of the course to cause a split in the break and caused 3 riders to ease off the front. Matt was in second wheel for the sprint but couldn't come past his rival for the Prime.
The break reformed and continued to stay away. However, with 15 minutes to go, two riders broke off the front and gained a good gap on the breakaway. Matt soon tried to bridge across, but couldn't get across, with the bunch now about to bring the break back. Matt sat up and allowed the bunch to work towards bringing the two breakaway riders back.
With 2 laps to go, there was only one rider left on the front and Matt waited for the group to bring him back. Up the final climb, the solo rider was within touching distance, and up the final climb, Matt attacked hard out of the group in an attempt to get across to the solo rider. He wasn't able to bridge, but did enough to ride solo across the line for second place.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Qld Teams Series - Finale
The final Teams Series race was held at Murarrie for a 60min criterium. The team was ready to lay it all on the line and make the race as hard as possible. Once again, the wind was going to play a big part with big gusts causing havoc across Brisbane.
At the start, Matt went immediately on the attack in the attempt to cause a split. A small group formed, howver it was shut down soon after. Then it was the turn of Taylor and Tom to do some one-two attacking to again try to cause a split - but again no luck.
Callum was then able to spend two laps off the front in a solo bid to take the prime. Callum rode strong to hold off the pack, but team Budget was keen to contest the Prime and brought Callum back.
At the start, Matt went immediately on the attack in the attempt to cause a split. A small group formed, howver it was shut down soon after. Then it was the turn of Taylor and Tom to do some one-two attacking to again try to cause a split - but again no luck.Callum was then able to spend two laps off the front in a solo bid to take the prime. Callum rode strong to hold off the pack, but team Budget was keen to contest the Prime and brought Callum back. Condy and Matt then got themselves into a small break. All of the leaders were in the break and it looked like this might be the move. But again the bunch came back together.
Soon after the break was brought back, the peleton split in the cross winds and caught many by surprise. Unfortunately none of the boys made it across and a chase ensued. The break was too good and stayed away.
Condy was fast enough to take the sprint from the chasing group.
Next stop: Ipswich Open
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Quick catch up
Just to fill in some details of the teams progress over the last couple of weeks, it can be proudly announced that Callum took the Bronze medal in the Qld Elite Individual Time Trial Championships. Callum motored around the 40km course in 56:37. Weel done!
The team also travelled to Maryborough for the 6th round of the Teams Series, where Taylor took 5th in the morning criterium and Tom and Sam got into the top 20 of the afternoon road race.
The team also travelled to Maryborough for the 6th round of the Teams Series, where Taylor took 5th in the morning criterium and Tom and Sam got into the top 20 of the afternoon road race.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Elite Qld State Champs
The Elite race was the following Sunday after the Masters race, and Condy backed up from his win to support the team. The weather was perfect and the team was ready for the 150km championship race.
Matt was very active and at the halfway point the race split over the big climb of the day, with Matt in the front group. The chasers caught back on after 5km and more moves started to go up the road, with Matt being present in each group that formed. Meanwhile Callum, Tom and Condy waited in the wings patrolling the chasers.
Despite Matt's efforts, the group was always brought back and with 30km to go it was evident nothing was going to get away. Callum and Tom set a great tempo to bring back some small breaks in the hope Condy had his sprinting legs back after his win on Saturday.
The team were well prepared and marked the early moves. The first break was a solo effort from Tinelli racing, who gained a 4:30min lead. The team worked with others to bring this back, and after 3 laps the break was caught and the real racing began.
Matt was very active and at the halfway point the race split over the big climb of the day, with Matt in the front group. The chasers caught back on after 5km and more moves started to go up the road, with Matt being present in each group that formed. Meanwhile Callum, Tom and Condy waited in the wings patrolling the chasers. Despite Matt's efforts, the group was always brought back and with 30km to go it was evident nothing was going to get away. Callum and Tom set a great tempo to bring back some small breaks in the hope Condy had his sprinting legs back after his win on Saturday.
With 15km to go a small crash split the bunch, with Matt and Condy having to chase back to the front group, after which the steady tempo brought the group into the finale. The last 5km were spent at a high pace, with Tom and Callum pushing the tempo. With 700m to go Matt attacked but couldn't get away. Condy waited for the sprint and got boxed in and managed to get 5th. Not bad after his earlier win.
Condy Wins Queensland Masters State Championship
Condy is the newest member of the team, but also the one with the most experience and on Saturday he lined up for the ultra competitive Masters Queensland State Championship in Warwick. This race was a part of his steady come back to competitive cycling and it ended with a great result.
The weather in Warwick was atrocious with heavy rain and strong wind pelting the course. The race was going to be a race of attrition, with the winner being one who could tolerate the bad weather the best. Luckily Condy is a good Irish lad and knows a thing or too about cold, wet and windy bike racing.
After the first windy section of the race a selection of 15 riders had already been made, with Condy being comfortably in the front group. The weather slowly took its toll and as the laps went by, the front group dwindled until only three were left.
On the last lap the front three watched each other as the sprint finish came closer, however Condy has been showing good for in sprints of late and was confident he could get past the other two. With 200m to go, the sprint opened up and and Condy quickly got a gap and won the state Title with ease.
Well done Condy. Next stop the World Championships in Austria next year!!
The weather in Warwick was atrocious with heavy rain and strong wind pelting the course. The race was going to be a race of attrition, with the winner being one who could tolerate the bad weather the best. Luckily Condy is a good Irish lad and knows a thing or too about cold, wet and windy bike racing.
After the first windy section of the race a selection of 15 riders had already been made, with Condy being comfortably in the front group. The weather slowly took its toll and as the laps went by, the front group dwindled until only three were left.
On the last lap the front three watched each other as the sprint finish came closer, however Condy has been showing good for in sprints of late and was confident he could get past the other two. With 200m to go, the sprint opened up and and Condy quickly got a gap and won the state Title with ease.
Well done Condy. Next stop the World Championships in Austria next year!!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Warwick - Teams Series 5
Warwick was looking on paper to be a pretty straight forward event. The course only had a few small climbs in it, with most of the course being flat. However, as the morning progressed, the wind slowly built up and by the time the race reached the back part of the course, strong cross winds were causing problems with the pelton.
From the start, the team was looking to get into some early moves, however Tinelli and Budget were controlling the bunch for the Sprint and KOM. After 25km, the race turned left and the cross winds cut through the field. For those not strong enough to be in the front group, the race was already over, as a group of 10 riders went off the front, with another group of 10 riders chasing. The rest of the peleton were already minutes down.
Thankfully Condy made it into the front group with Matt making it into the second group.
Matt's group chased for 40km and finally made across to the front group. However, Condy became sick during the race and had to abandon.
Matt was left in the group of 20 riders and knew as the group approached the cross winds, that someone would drop the hammer. Knowing this Matt moved up to the front of the group as they sprinted into the left hand corner. Unfortunately Matt had burnt allot matches to get across to the front group and couldn't hold the pace. He came in a few minutes down on the winning group.
Budget again took the top three positions.
From the start, the team was looking to get into some early moves, however Tinelli and Budget were controlling the bunch for the Sprint and KOM. After 25km, the race turned left and the cross winds cut through the field. For those not strong enough to be in the front group, the race was already over, as a group of 10 riders went off the front, with another group of 10 riders chasing. The rest of the peleton were already minutes down.
Thankfully Condy made it into the front group with Matt making it into the second group.
Matt's group chased for 40km and finally made across to the front group. However, Condy became sick during the race and had to abandon.
Matt was left in the group of 20 riders and knew as the group approached the cross winds, that someone would drop the hammer. Knowing this Matt moved up to the front of the group as they sprinted into the left hand corner. Unfortunately Matt had burnt allot matches to get across to the front group and couldn't hold the pace. He came in a few minutes down on the winning group.
Budget again took the top three positions.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Cunningham Classic
The Cunningham Classic is probably the one race of the year which a rider wants to win. It’s the hardest, longest and oldest race on the calendar with a win in this race being a very prestigious inclusion on anyone’s palmares.
Conditions this year were perfect and the team was well prepared to take on the challenge.
As per usual, early breaks went to try and get the KOM prize that come up early in this 176km race. After 40km, the KOM was contested once the early break was caught on the lower slopes of the climb. A counter attack saw a small group ease off the front, with the bunch setting an even tempo up the climb. With about 750m to the top, more attacks occurred and another break away formed off the front. This round of attacks also saw a large part of the peleton get dropped from the race and the first selection was made.
On the decent the groups consolidated at the front again and the next climb at Pilton came upon the group. It was here in this more exposed and steeper climb, that a big attack saw another group break away and gain some time.
For almost 50km this break was kept in sight and no one in the group was panicking. However, at the turn at Leyburn it was apparent the gap had blown out to more than 2 minutes. Still no one panicked.
On the run into the second feed, the group became more animated and a chase began. Coming into the second feed the gap was more than 3 minutes. This was not good news for the chasers.
For the final 40km the chase was on, but the front group had too big a lead and were not brought back. Pete Thompson took the win.
The team did well to stay in the chase group, with Condy taking the group sprint for a top ten result after Matt and Brendo tried to break away.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Charles Coin Road Race
The Charles Coin Road Race is always a speacial and traditional inclusion on the racing calendar. Uni CC have run the race for many years out at Laidley and is always a great race. The course is generally flat with a few small hills breaking things up.
The team knew we needed to keep an eye on the Tinelli team with their great season so far making them marked men. Knowing this, the boys made sure we tried to get one of us into any move that a Tinelli rider was in.
For the first 40km there were many attacks, with a few small breaks getting away, but nothing staying away for long. After 50km however, a group of 5 riders got away and built a bit of a lead. Unfortunately we didn't have a rider in the break, and so the chase had to be done.
Callum and Brendo did amazing work on the front to slowly bring the break back. These two animals worked together with a little help from others for more than 50km to finally bring the break back. At this point, the counter attacks were to start. This is when Tom Collier attacked solo to build a big lead.
With less than 40km to go, the race split and things started to get serious. Callum was ever present in the front group, with Matt and Taylor working hard to get Condy up into the front group with Callum. Meanwhile Collier's lead built.
As the rest of Tinelli attacked, Callum was able to sneak away in pursuit of the leaders to get 5th, while Condy sprinted in for 8th. Well done boys.
Tom Collier won solo - very strong!
The team knew we needed to keep an eye on the Tinelli team with their great season so far making them marked men. Knowing this, the boys made sure we tried to get one of us into any move that a Tinelli rider was in.
For the first 40km there were many attacks, with a few small breaks getting away, but nothing staying away for long. After 50km however, a group of 5 riders got away and built a bit of a lead. Unfortunately we didn't have a rider in the break, and so the chase had to be done.
Callum and Brendo did amazing work on the front to slowly bring the break back. These two animals worked together with a little help from others for more than 50km to finally bring the break back. At this point, the counter attacks were to start. This is when Tom Collier attacked solo to build a big lead.
With less than 40km to go, the race split and things started to get serious. Callum was ever present in the front group, with Matt and Taylor working hard to get Condy up into the front group with Callum. Meanwhile Collier's lead built.
As the rest of Tinelli attacked, Callum was able to sneak away in pursuit of the leaders to get 5th, while Condy sprinted in for 8th. Well done boys.
Tom Collier won solo - very strong!
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