Peel District Cycling Club riders took to the track for the Beach Cup Golden Criterium on a tight 850-metre circuit on the Rockingham Beach foreshore and cafe strip last Saturday.
It was intended to run both a men’s and women’s elite race. However, with most of the best female riders participating in the Tour of Margaret River, the women’s race was converted to a support race open to under 17 boys and girls, as well as C-grade men.
The result was an entertaining race.
Melissa Robinson attacked on the second lap and built a small gap, but Matthew Connan bridged and the pair attempted to build a margin.
Behind the pair, the pursuing group lost riders, until there was only three left in Dharlia Haines, Laura Hodges and Calum Milne.
They worked together and slowly closed the gap, and by the halfway stage there was five riders at the front and behind them a chase group of four.
Then with five laps to go Matthew Connan attacked and quickly got a gap, as everybody in the lead group looked at each other to chase.
Connan was still increasing his lead but with two laps to go it looked like he was tiring.
But he kept working hard and took the outright win and under 17 boys win.
Haines took out the sprint for second and top under 17 girl, with Laura Hodges was third.
The elite men’s rider pool was boosted by Stephen Hall, Theo Yates and Tyley Lindorff returning from overseas.
The attacks started early in the racing and it was Logan Calder and Henry Penell in a break early, which Jackson Mawby bridged across to them.
This caused a reaction from the bunch and the breakaway was slowly drawn back in.
A counter attack then saw Matt Upton off the front and quickly joined by Mawby.
The pair quickly became a group of five at the front as Lindorff joined the pursuers and the remains of the bunch started splintering.
The breakaway was caught, the riders then worked together to make sure no one could chase back on.
Upton attacked but was quickly chased down, and Mawby counter attacked and got a gap.
With a lap to go Mawby was faltering, Hall launched himself over the gap, closely pursued by Lindorff and Yates.
In the sprint to the line it was Yates first, Hall second, Lindorff third.
The next PDCC races are a time trial at Hopelands on November 19 and a criterium at Smeaton Way on November 26.
For more details and the all the results of the races visit pdcc.asn.au
