FORTY races, 250 riders, three washouts and three heat cancellations: that, and an outstanding winning streak by A grader Dom Dudkiewicz, sums up Footscray Cycling Club’s summer criterium season.
The club hosted races for grades from A to E twice-weekly on the windswept, tricky one-kilometre course at the VUT track in Hoppers Crossing between October and March.
The first of the medallion races, the Christmas Classic, saw Melton’s Dudkiewicz continue his early season winning form with victory in the A grade race.
He showed his trademark lightning-fast sprint that would serve him so well throughout the season.
In B grade, Werribee resident Mark Micallef and ironman Xavier Coppock formed a two-man breakaway with Micallef taking home the medal.
And in C grade young Josh Ryan took the win and then collided with Eddie O’Farrell as he crossed the finish line, leaving both riders battered and bruised.
Dudkiewicz continued his domination by taking out the Club Legends Race, with an emotional Anthony Rebesco digging deep and winning the B grade race held in honour of his mentors Hugh Cram, Harry Jones and Frank Zanatta.
The club championships in February saw the coveted red No.1 go to Adam Murchie, who jumped into a three-man break that pre-race favourite Dudkiewicz missed.
B grade veteran Ben Ryan took home a hotly contested race, with John Paxton wearing the C grade medal. Dudkiewicz took his revenge a few weeks later by wearing the A grade winners’ sash at the Max Campbell Memorial, while Ryan Kenny landed the B grade medal with a turn of speed that saw him eat up the field and leave them in his wake.
The Summer Series A grade winner had to be Dudkiewicz, who was simply too consistent and too strong all season.
He claimed the double, winning the criterium aggregate with double the points of his nearest challenger.
Riders now have a few weeks off before the club starts its road season, which promises to be the most competitive and challenging season in years.
