A small but hardcore field contested the 16th round of the Footscray Cycling Club’s winter road season at Balliang in the Brisbane Ranges.
Riders raced 88 kilometres to the base of the dreaded Granite Road hills in dry, cool, windy conditions.
Alistair Tubb, 28, completed a meteoric rise through the ranks this season, taking out his maiden A-grade win.
“Lachie Doak and I went for a little break, but we got caught,” Tubb said. “We knew the bunch was coming so we pulled the pin pretty early.
“When we turned into the straight the pace just went up and up and up. Travis Small kicked off the sprint and I went with him then around and past him.
“I only just held on as the bunch was coming. It feels great to win an A-grade race; I am over the moon!”
Tubb took the win from a fast-charging Andrew McKellar and guest Horsham rider Mark Kelly.
Veteran Bob Shannon took out the B-grade race using his brain and his brawn.
After putting in a heap of work in most difficult conditions, the 57-year-old teacher owned the sprint with a display of skilful positioning and an uncanny ability to pick the right wheel.
“It was a hard slog with the small numbers; everybody was really honest,” Shannon said.
“Two times out to Granite today was harder than going over Granite because of the cold wind.”
As the bunch approached the finish line, Steve Firman upped the pace and led into the final phase of the race. Mark Micallef acted as lead-out man for Shannon, second-placed Ben Norden and third-placed Geoff Robertson. “It was a nice, fast sprint with the tailwind as well,” Shannon said. “I conserved my effort until I could see the whites of the judge’s eyes.”
In C-grade, Barry Howden took the win and earned a promotion to B-grade with a strong ride.
“I wanted a hard race today as I’m racing the Masters championships next week,” Howden said. “I just kept attacking and attacking to thin down the bunch. Every time I recovered I would attack again.”
Howden took the sprint from Jason Southby and Tim Robertson.
Veteran Tom Moloney, 71, lapped up the win in D-grade. “I think they gifted the old bloke today, but it’s good to have a win,” he said.
… Lance Jenkinson
