AHVCC Criterium Event

On Sunday, The Savings & Loans Adelaide Hills Veterans Cycling Club conducted their criterium event around their short 750 meter course in the Mt Barker light industrial estate just off Alexandrina Road. The event had a truly international flavour as visitors from the USA here to see what was happening "Down Under".
This event was designed as 45 minutes plus two laps. A new handicap system was tried with riders being given a handicap of a set number of laps head start and with the clock counting down the 45 minutes from when the front marker started.


The back marker had to make up five laps on the front marker to win the event and had to do so in the reduced time that was left after the front marker had completed five laps.

Of course, the field was made up of several quality riders on lesser handicaps that gave them a good competitive chance also. In fact, few people, including himself, thought that the back-marker, Murray Bridge's Paul Bell, had any chance of succeeding.

After about 18 minutes, Bell had made up three laps on the front-marker from Nairne, Duchy Wieringa. A new face at the club, Mark Bloomfield from MT Torrens was sitting close to Bell. A lap later Bloomfield was setting the pace, as Bell appeared to be tiring.

After half an hour, by virtue of their handicaps Wieringa was leading the event from Lobethal resident Dan Freer and then Bloomfield. Paul Bell was still two laps down and still had plenty of opposition to overcome if he was to win.

In another five minutes Freer was leading from Charlston's David Paul, and Bell was only a lap down with Bloomfield now chasing close behind. It seemed at about this point Bell regained some confidence in his ability to win and set about a cracking pace to chase down his competitors. The event was really the last chance to do any speed work prior to next weekend's inaugural Mount 2 Murray 105km Classic, so Bell put the hammer down visualising next weeks finish.

In an effort worthy of praise Bell passed the only riders between himself and the finish line about 30 seconds before the clock ran down, but as a testament to the handicapper, there were still a number of riders on the same lap as Bell. Bell of course did manage to stay clear over the final two laps to take out the event, somewhat contrary to his own expectations.

Placings: 1st Paul Bell; 2nd Mark Bloomfield; 3rd Dan Freer.


Coming Events

Next week: the Savings & Loans "Mount To Murray" 105km Classic. Entries have been received from across the state and the talk of the Veteran cycling fraternity is all about this inaugural event.

12th October Savings & Loans MOUNT 2 MURRAY
0900 Start YMCA RECREATION CENTRE MOUNT BARKER
ENTRYFORM
MAP

19th October AHVCC Stamps Rd Scratch
0900 Start Flaxley MAP

RIVERLAND OPEN

26th October AHVCC HANDICAP
Start 0900 Hawards Vineyard MAP
(CLUB LUNCH & PRESENTATIONS)
This will be the final event for our winter series. Lunch & presentation will follow after event. Bring the whole family!

AHVCC PO Box 1702
Mount Barker SA 5251