GEELONG Cycling Club took revenge on Footscray CC with a dominating 35-22 win in
the sixth annual Challenge Cup of Cycling in Geelong on Saturday.
The tally now stands at three wins apiece in the head-to-head battle in what is fast becoming one of the hotly contested races on the western suburbs cycling calendar.
A chilly southerly wind and threatening rain made racing a challenge.
The A grade race was dominated by Geelong club champion Tom Paton.
With a killer climb and a stomach-churning descent to contend with each lap, it was not long before the peloton was broken up, with many riders heading for the showers early.
In the end, it was Paton who took the long, drawn-out sprint from a gallant Chris Zucchet, with Nick Squillari coming through for third.
In the B grade race, a strong bunch of 20 riders was thinned out to six by the end of the first lap.
The insane pace resulted in Bgrade riders ranging up behind A grade for a while, with Matt Castles charging up the hills as if he was on an electric bike to take the win from the in-form Chris Munro and the equally strong Mark Scouller.
C grade winner Ryan Burt led home a Geelong domination of the podium, taking the sprint from fellow club members Rylan Bird and David Rhodes, while D grade gave Footscray some solace when 17-year-old Stephen Liley won from Peter Bloink and Phil Galea.
Challenge Cup
A grade: Tom Paton (G), Chris Zucchet (F), Nick Squillari (G), Steven DelGallo (G), Jason
Costin (F).
B grade: Matt Castles (G), Chris Munro (F), Mark Scouller (F), Sam Lane (Pt F), Tony Ross (G).
C grade: Ryan Burt (G), Rylan Bird (G), David Rhodes (G), Zac Dynes (G), Michael Dam (F).
D grade: Stephen Liley (F), Peter Bloink (F), Phil Galea (G).
