The Ring Criterium Series returned after a holiday break, with a number of Peel Districts Cycling Club members making the trip north to Gnangarra with some success over the weekend.
Also making the trip north was members of the Albany Cycling Club.
Women’s B grade was more aggressive than any of the previous races, with riders constantly attacking, but every attack was chased down quickly.
The bunch was altogether as they swung on to the finishing straight, but a touch of wheels saw six riders end their hopes in a crash.
No rider was badly injured.
Peel’s Dharlia Haines avoided the crash and took her third victory for three starts in the series.
Two other under 17 women rounded out the podium with Emma Lendrum second and Danica Wiggins third.
The next race was men’s C-grade, which actually saw breakaways off the front of the bunch for a lap or two, before being chased down.
In the end it was a bunch sprint with Peter Hammond first, Ben Braithwaite second and Simon Breheny third.
There was a change in the dynamics in women’s A-grade, with the Veris team now consisting of six riders, with a few making the jump from B-grade.
There was also a new team in the form of bikebookings.com with three riders.
It was an aggressive race with the Veris team being involved in numerous attacks, however like all previous races, they were chased down.
In the final sprint it was the current Australian junior track cyclist of the year, WA institute of sport athlete and Peel member Jade Haines who scorched the field with a well timed attack to secure the victory.
Natalie Britz, who created the bikebookings.com team, was rewarded with second place and Veris’ Sarah Duffield was third.
After five laps of men’s B-grade, the 45 riders were spread over 300 metres with big gaps between riders.
It looked like a breakaway might actually suceed.
With some strong individual efforts, the race was slowly brought back together.
In the end it was a bunch sprint with Daniel Smith first, Simon Winston second and Daniel Trinne third.
Men’s A-grade was almost identical to the previous races.
Fast aggressive racing, breakaways, chases and a big bunch sprint, which was won by series leader Stephen Hall, with Bryce Lanigan second and Peel’s Theo Yates third.
Next Sunday the racing is closer to home at the Pinjarra Industrial Estate. For more information and the full results visit ringcritseries.asn.au
