CYCLING: Forecasts of strong winds and heavy rain did not deter around 200 cyclists who converged on Dardanup on September 6 and 7 to battle for the coveted golden gnome.
Fresh from his recent victory in the Collie Donnybrook race, Nicholas Lawler put in a great ride to get into a small breakaway group in the A grade road race.
Unfortunately he was just pipped on the line in a tight sprint by the experienced Doug Stewart from Perth’s Master Blasters.
Team Crank’n’Cycles have dominated the Cristal Titanium Team series and demonstrated why on Sunday when they recorded the fastest time in the second stage of the tour – the team time trial.
The time bonus from the road race was enough of an advantage however for Stewart to claim the overall win from Crank’n’Cycles Ryan Willmot.
In category two Steve Anstee from Busselton showed he can still sprint when he claimed victory from a large finishing bunch.
A great effort in the team time trial however saw Avanti Uberquad’s Paul Kirby leapfrog up to take the overall victory and the golden gnome.
Bunbury team Vie dominated category three with Grant Eikelboom winning the road race from Rick Cresswell.
The team then put in a great team time trial to cement an all green podium with Denny Teede taking third place.
Team Manjimup were equally as dominant in category four with Dale Blincow recording an impressive solo victory over a minute in front of Eaton Home Hardware’s Michael Morton.
A strong team time trial saw Manjimup’s Andrew Johns move in front of Morton on the final podium.
Perth based Arbitrage put in a great performance in the women’s A grade with Jess Huston claiming victory from Emily McRedmond.
They then time trialled faster than many of the men’s teams to confirm their grip on the golden gnome.
Earlier in the day around 30 riders took part in the participation challenge of 24 or 39 kilometres – an outstanding effort given the weather conditions.
All went home pleased with their efforts and with a range of spot prizes courtesy of Fitzroy Cycles and City Cycles.
The Cristal Titanium Tour of Dardanup was the final race in the teams series which saw Crank’n’Cycles take overall victory from the Southwest Cycle Club Racing Team which included up-and-coming juniors Nicholas Lawler and Bryce Lanigan.
Lanigan now heads off to compete in the junior national road championships in Toowoomba.
For full results and details of upcoming road cycling event visit southwestcycleclub.com.au
Picture by Lloyd Smith Photography.
