Cunningham Classic

Saturday was the running of the Cunningham Classic. This event is the premier road race of the SEQ season and without doubt the hardest one day race we have in this part of the world. 175km of dead undulating and windy roads makes for a character building event.

This year we had 4 riders line up at the start (Chris, Ryan, Matt M and James). Almost from the gun a group of 2 riders went off the front, including our own Rhino. This was a big call with 170 odd k's to go, but what an awesome ride it ended up being. for more than 100km, Rhino and Stewy Cowin held the chasing peleton at bay, gaining at one point a 5min lead. About 15km into the race, another group tried to get across to the leaders, with Matt jumping across to monitor the move and hopefully get across to the leaders. Given Rhino was up front, Matt was not obliged to contribute much to the second break and rode a steady tempo. At the foot of the KOM, the second break was 2min behind the leaders and only 45sec off the front of the peleton. As such, we rode easy over the KOM and allowed the peleton to catch us on the decent. Meanwhile, the leaders grew their lead.

The first feed came after 60km, however our faithful feeder had some geographical issues and failed to find the first feedzone, and so we were left to get through the first 140km with only 2 bottles. Despite this, once the break was brought back after 100km off the front, the counter attacks started, which resulted in about 20km of constant attacks and counter attacks.

Finally, with about 40km to go, a break formed that included James, which Chris and Matt let go, hopeing this would be the winning move. Once the move went off the front, the second feed came up just in time and thankfully our feeder had managed to get to the right location and we were able to get a drink. Given Chris and Matt were so thristy and intent on getting their drinks, they missed a second split in the group and were forced to chase and reform with the third group on the road hopeing that Jimmy would come home with the goods.

Unfortunately for Jimmy, he was in a group that included some notable sprinters, including eventual winner, Jackson Wardrop. Knowing this, Jimmy put some brave attacks off the front with 2km to go to try and foil the sprinters in the group. Despite his attempts, his moves were brought back and a small buch came into the finish for a sprint.

Next year, we'll have our feeders better organised and no doubt better results to match. Good work to Rhino for staying off the front given his sickness and lack of training the last few weeks.

Team Photo Shoot

Last Saturday morning the squad headed out to Mt Coot-tha for a team photo shoot. The purpose is so that the sponsors are able to have some high quality shots of the team in the their products and also to update the blog with us all kitted out in the new team kit.

The morning was loads of fun and resulted in some great shots of the A and B teams.

Check them out.

Random Pics

New Kit... Yay!

Just in time for the QLD Crit Champs, the team donned the new kit supplied by Scody Performance Wear. The kit is a totally new design based on the team bike colours. Despite the fact that tan lines now have to move (which you will notice in photos for a while), the kit looks great and feels great. Here's Chrs in full lycra mode...

Tour of Tablelands

This week has been spent recovering from the tour of the tablelands. With a good performance from the team last year with Chris and Deon Locke (now with ridesport.com) placing well, it was now time to try and get the top spot of the podium.

The weather was generally good when we arrived and so the first stage was held in perfect conditions.

We knew the race would be won and lost on the first day and on the first climb and as predicted this was the case. Matt Murray and Matt Ryan were able to establish and work in the first break of the day, which stuck until the finish. Matt Ryan finished 5th and less than 20 seconds off the lead, which Peter Herzig (ridesport.com) took out.

The second stage was a 4 k timetrial with a headwind going out and tailwind home. Matt Ryan needed to go hard to stay within the hunt and was able to pull out a good tt to be within 30 seconds off the lead.

The second day was a 40km road race in the morning and a crit in the arvo. The road race was simple for the team as we only needed to control the race so as to protect Matteo's GC position. The best way to do this was attack. Chris and Ryan were instructed to attack when they could and break things up in the windy stage. After several attempts, Ryan was able to escape with a small group and took 3rd for the stage. The GC did not change.

The arvo's crit was cancelled due to rain, so a quick boost to the local economy was warranted with a couple of beers.

The last stage was a 90km road race over rolling hills, which we new would decide the tour. Locke and Herzig were both in good positions to win the GC, so we new we needed to be agressive to win. As such, Chris, Ryan and Matt Murray were ordered to attack early so that the team could get an easy run into the finale of the race, where the decisive moves would be made. After several attempts to get away, it was at the 20km mark that Matt Murray was able to attack and bring a group of 5 with him, which became the break of the day. This lasted 40km and took a lot of presure off the team, however much work was still to do once the break finally came back. The counter attacks began and the field was worn down until with 10km to go, the field was left to look at each other to see who would be game enough to make the winning move. With 2 km to go, attacks started bombing off the front with a group of 3 forcing themselves into the lead and fighting for the stage and tour win. Deon Locke was too strong and went on to win the stage and tour overall. Well done Deon.

Now it's time to get ready for more racing including the Ipswich Kermis, Metro Champs and the Tweed Coast Tour.

Stay tuned...

Anzac 25 Race

With 3 wins under his belt in the last two weekends, Tim was feeling on top of the world, but for the Anzac 25, he decided to work for his team mate Tom Bentley.

Adorned in their new kit, the boys were in control the entire race. Tim spent a huge amount of time on the front of the race, keeping the field together and preparing to lead Tom out for the sprint.

On the final lap, the pace was high and the Tim-Tom show moved to the front. They were well positioned coming down the hill into the final straight. Tom rolled off Tim's wheel to take first place by a tyre width with Tim rolling in still in the top ten.

Glamorganvale Support Criterium

The A-grade Criterium was held on one of the first colder mornings of the year- a sign of things to come. The team was still recovering from the 125km road race the day before, except for Chris, who, despite having bronchitis, was feeling fresh after skipping the road race.

With a field of only 19 riders and a nice breeze down the finishing straight, there was no where to hide. James Hepburn went in the first break of the day and stayed away for half the race. Eventually, the pack caught up and the pace settled again.

Chris moved to the front and upped the pace, suddenly finding himself in a breakaway group with 6 others. With 20mins to go the bunch had plenty of time to bring them back but with the rest of the team in the mix, they weren't going to to much to help the chase.

The break eventually came down to the final two laps and Chris took off. The bronchitis took its toll and he quickly faded. The rest of the break caught him and Chris pushed his limit to take 5th in the kick.