THE Mount Gambier Cycling Club’s sixth race of the Autumn/Winter Series was contested by 12 riders in a 25km out and back handicap race along Caves Road.
Jason and Jen Buckland were the first to begin their race and looked to make the most of a strong tailwind on the outward leg.
The next group consisted of Elmer Buckland and Spek Peake, who departed eight minutes after the first duo.
Phil Stasiw, Colin Weatherill and Dean Zeven began their race three minutes after Buckland and Peake.
Patrick Langsmith, Jami Buckley and Gerard Coote left one minute later.
Craig Andrae and Malcolm Tirabassi were the last riders to leave, one minute after the penultimate group and 13 minutes after the first riders.
Jason and Jen Buckland arrived at the turnaround mark in front of the chasing packs and were the first to face the strong headwinds.
Jen Buckland struck out ahead to try and stay away from those in pursuit.
Stasiw, Weatherwill and Zeven used to tailwind to their advantage and caught Elmer Buckland and Peake before the turnaround marker.
Buckland latched onto the faster group as they rode past.
Stasiw and Elmer Buckland broke away from Stasiw and Zeven in their pursuit of Jen Buckland.
However, Elmer Buckland was unable to continue at the pace that was set by Stasiw and slowly drifted away from the back of his wheel which allowed Stasiw to ride home to victory.
Elmer Buckland was caught and passed by Buckley, Coote and Weatherill in the final kilometre.
Buckley claimed the sprint for second place ahead of Coote and Weatherill.
Tirabassi finished in fifth and claimed the fastest time of the day.
Elmer Buckland finished sixth, ahead of Andrae, Zeven, Langsmith, Jen Buckland, Jason Buckland and Peake.
The Mount Gambier Cycling Club’s next race is on June 12.
