THE third race of the Mount Gambier Cycling Clubs 2023 Summer Series took place along a 30km out-and-back circuit at Caves Road.
There were 19 riders who prepared for the opportunity to race. where a cross wind was expected to play a role in the run to the finish.
Before the Senior riders began their race, three junior riders took to the road for their 10km race.
Molly Opperman was first away, followed 75 seconds later by the pairing of Ethan McKenny and Sean Tye.
The young riders continued to improve their race craft and McKenny pulled away in the final kilometre to finish ahead of Tye and Opperman.
After the completion of the junior race, the senior riders took to the course.
The first group to depart consisted of Graham O’Gorman, Dianne Major and Jason Buckland.
The trio were given a 10-minute head-start over the next group which included Ainsley Curtis, Troy Mustey, Jen Buckland, Dave Delaland and Michael Dethmore.
A further three minutes elapsed before Dean Zeven, Spek Peake, David Tye and Chris Kennett began their chase.
They were followed by the penultimate group three minutes later, which saw Elmer Buckland, Patrick Langsmith, Colin Weatherill, Malcolm Tirabassi and Craig Andrae take to the course.
Nick Kidman and Jami Buckley were the final two riders to depart and started their race two minutes after the second-last group and 18 minutes after Jason Buckland, Major and O’Gorman.
As the riders made their way to the turnaround point, a tailwind caused some riders fail to hold on to their groups.
Out in front, Major and Jason Buckland made the turnaround marker first but their lead had reduced with riders hot on their heels.
The back pairing slowly but surely reeled in group after group and Elmer Buckland, Langsmith, Andrae, Kennett and Tirabassi all kept up with the faster riders.
With just 6km left in the race, the group caught and passed Major to take the lead of the race.
In the sprint to the line, Buckley saw off Kidman to claim first place and take home the fastest time of the event.
The pair were followed by Elmer Buckland, Andrae, Kennett, Tirabassi, Langsmith, Zeven, Mustey, Dethmore, Curtis, Jen Buckland, Delaland, Major, Jason Buckland, Tye, Weatherill, Peake and O’Gorman.
The next race will be held on Sunday in another 30km race, this time amongst the Tantanoola wind farms.
