LIGHTNING SPEED: Jake Stuart was the fastest rider in round two of the MacDonald International Teams Challenge Series.
THE Saturday night storms blew away and the Optus Nowra Velo Club raced on dry roads for the second round of the 2013 MacDonald International Teams Challenge Series last Sunday.
The event was run in warm and humid conditions.
This suited the young riders, with Levi Johns (Gordon McDonald Electrical) taking the win and Jake Stuart (Optus Nowra) scoring the fastest time prize. Both are 17-years-old and are showing good form at the start of the 2013 season.
Former BMX star Levi Johns was five lengths clear of second-placed Henry Wakeford (Optus Nowra) to be first over the line.
Mel Kilby (Bomaderry Vet Hospital) was a similar distance back in third place, just edging out Morgan Clarke (Gordon McDonald), Greg Showell (Gordon McDonald), Dave Hunt (Berry Mountain Cycles), Brendon Miller (TLE Electrical), Rob Pickard (Gordon McDonald Elec), Mick Thompson (Gordon McDonald Elec) and John Cuttity (Berry Mountain).
With five riders in the top 10 placings, Gordon McDonald Electrical took a clear win in the teams’ classification for the day.
Optus Nowra was the second team, ahead of Berry Mountain Cycles.
This 42 kilometre handicap event had developed into a three bunch pursuit over the last 12 kilometres, with the scratch riders and other A graders at the back but not doing enough to close the gaps ahead.
At four kilometres to go, Johns, Wakeford and Clarke crossed from the mid bunch to the leaders and the usual foxing and string out took place as the finish loomed.
Out of the final corner at 300 metres to go, Johns launched a sprint that took him well clear to cross the line with a comfortable margin.
Another battle was unfolding at the back of the race as the scratch men headed to Gannet for the last turn.
Stuart had taken a rest and launched an attack with three kilometres to go.
He got the gap and held it to the finish to cover the 42 kilometre course in one hour, one minute and 16 seconds.
Ten seconds later, Mick Crutch (TLE Electrical) led Damian Mason (Bomaderry Vet Hospital/Coffeeliscious) and Scott Thompson (Berry Mountain Cycles) over the line at the head of a strung-out bunch.
Punctures claimed Matt Wright (Berry Mountain) from the scratch bunch, along with middle markers Hubert Driehuis (TLE Electrical) and Paul Nancekivell (Gordon McDonald Electrical).
Berry Mountain Cycles retain the series team lead after two rounds with a total of
80 points.
Optus Nowra and Gordon McDonald share second place with 60 points each, while Bomaderry Vet Hospital/Coffeeliscious
has 50, Hanlons Windows 30, and TLE Electrical 20.
Only TLE and Hanlons have marshalled so far and they will now be on catch-up over the next few events.
Greg Showell (66 points) has stepped into the individual series lead ahead of teammate Rob Pickard (53), Henry Wakeford (49), Scott Thompson (48) and Jake Stuart (46).
The Optus Nowra Velo Club will continue the 2013 program next Sunday with graded scratch races on the Flinders Industrial Complex circuit.
Team Gordon McDonald Electrical will host the program, which gets under way at 8am.
