THE Mount Gambier Cycling Club held its second race of the Spring Series on Sunday, ran on the 30km Caves Road course.
With a westerly breeze, the final kilometres saw the 14-strong field face a head wind.
Riders were handicapped into four groups for the race start and it was Damian Buckley from the first group who crossed the finish line in first.
He was followed closely by Jen Buckland in second and Jason Buckland in third, both also from the first group of riders.
The second group consisted of Bruce McLaughlin and Sarah Dally, who started 14 minutes after the starters, followed by Dean Zeven, Elmer Buckland, Patrick Langsmith, John Cranwell and Gerard Coote three minutes later.
Finally, after waiting a further four minutes, the final group containing Jami Buckley, Nick Kidman, Niel van Niekerk and Craig Andrae began their chase, giving a 21-minute head start to the front bunch.
Some of the junior riders, with their limited gearing, found the pace of their groups with the tailwind to be too great and needed a high cadence to maintain the pace, hence being unable to hold on to the wheels of their group.
By the turnaround, the leading trio had their lead trimmed, but worked hard to stay in front as long as possible.
Speeds dropped significantly after the 15km turnaround, as the tailwind became a headwind.
Out in front, the leading trio tried to hold their speed high as they waited for the catch.
Slowly but surely the fastest riders were catching and passing those ahead of them.
The final stretch of road before the finish line was directly into the headwind and Jason Buckland was unable to hold on to Jen Buckland and Damian Buckley’s wheels, watching them slowly ride ahead.
They were able to stay away for the entire race and in a sprint to the line it was Damian Buckley who held on for victory, closely followed by Jen Buckland.
Jason Buckland crossed the line in third, followed by Kidman, who took fastest time honours, then van Niekerk and Andrae.
Coote was next to cross the finish line, followed by Langsmith, then Cranwell crossed a wheel ahead of Zeven.
McLaughlin, Dally and Elmer Buckland rounded out the finishers.
The next race for the club will be the 50km Alex Bailey Memorial to be held tomorrow afternoon, September 17 in the roads around Kongorong and the Little Blue Lake.
