By Trevor Jackson
A GUTSY solo ride from Arturs Markovs was enough to claim the 100 Mile Classic cycling event on Saturday.
Markovs broke away from the bunch to cross the line unchallenged and take the honours in the 85th running of the iconic event.
It was an impressive effort, as Marcovs took up the challenge at the feed station on Grant Avenue, then soloed down to Port MacDonnell and back, with enough pace to hold off the chasing group.
Port Fairy rider Cadel Howie crossed the line in second place, ahead of William Robinson.
With fine weather throughout the race, the scratch makers were simply unable to close the gap to the leaders, with the fastest time going to fifth-placed Blake Agnoletto.
The women contested their own race, the 111km Classic, again with a breakaway storming to victory.
Katelyn Nicholson and Eloise Sandow broke away from their group and pushed on to hold off the chasing riders.
Nicholson claimed the honours ahead of Sandow, with the fastest time going to third-placed Chelsea Holmes.
To add to the overall spectacle, younger riders contested the Junior Classic, with Maximus Moore claiming the Under 11/13 category after starting behind the pack.
Ryan Underwood came home in second place, with Thomas Brinkley close behind.
The Under 15/17 riders negotiated a 34km course, with William Brown winning a sprint in front of Jami Buckley, 27 seconds ahead of Hunter Wood and fastest female Leani Van der Berg.
Kalan Tucker was the fastest male rider.
Mount Gambier Cycling Club president Dean Zeven said the race went to plan, apart from one accident at Allendale East.
He said the conditions were perfect and the winner was somewhat surprising.
“We didn’t know much about the winner,” he said.
“He was in the second limit group and once he broke away he kept building a lead.
“The scratch group caught the group he was originally in but couldn’t catch him.”
The fastest time – three hours, 28 minutes – was outside the record, set last year at three hours, 19 minutes, which showed the effort of Markovs to stay away, along with the conditions which suited the front groups.
Zeven said he was pleased with how everything panned out, including the strength of the competitors.
He said the race continues to attract strong fields for a few reasons.
“It is one of the true classics in Australia that is still running,” Zeven said.
“It is one of two handicap races of this magnitude in South Australia.
“I think the race sells itself because of the difficulty and the challenge.
“Having the State Kermesse championships around the lakes is the icing on the cake for us.”
