The plan all week was to have 5 riders in B Grade as follows:
- Gav
- Jase
- Greg
- Craig
- David
With the remaining 7 riders making up the C Grade Cycos which included:
- Brock
- Andrew
- Andy
- Jenno
- Brad
- Dan
- Kent
Out of this group Brock, Andrew, Andy, Jenno and Dan were competing in their first race which is a massive step up in intensity so all kudos to them for taking up the challenge.
With this cunning plan in place we rolled in convey from Jase's place feeling a little anxious and somewhat nervous. Upon arrival we rolled into the carpark and almost immediately our presence was noticed. You could almost cut the air with a knife such was the tension among the other riders who watched us ready our carbon steeds and as the boys kitted up in the new club colours there was no doubting that Cyc'd Cycling had arrived on the Brisbane cycling scene and boy did we look good!!!
As we presented ourselves at registration it was as if the other riders parted and allowed us to approach the Commissaire who lowered his clipped board as he eyes narrowed and his cheek twitched. "Well what have we got here then lads" came his slightly less than warm welcome. "Cyc'd Cycling...we're here to race" said the Pres.
Unfortunately a few of our group had caught the eye of the grizzly Commissaire...."A Grade today for you Nowlan" he said. Jase turned on the charm and quickly grabbed the B Grade number and beat a hasty retreat advising Greg to don a cap and glasses and to steer clear of the Commissaire which thankfully he did.
The next to feel the wrath of the wily Commissaire who it appears must spend his entire waking hours trawling club websites for results. "Beasley...you Beasley? B Grade today for you mate." "But I've only had a few races and got lucky with a win once surely C1 Grade today sir."
"What about that win at Muzz a few weeks ago then mate thought I didn't need know about....B Grade it is!"
At this stage it was 1 - 1 between Cyc'd and the Commissaire but before you could say Di2 he had moved both Brock and Dan up into B Grade as well this guy was good. No doubt it was because of their lean looks and bulging quads that he picked them as real contenders.
The others Cyc'd boys were in disarray and quickly reached for the C Grade numbers before the Commissaire could inflict more damage on the club.
The final gradings were to be:
B Grade
- Gav
- Jase
- Greg
- Craig
- David
- Dan
- Brock
- Kent
C1 Grade
- Andrew
- Andy
- Jenno
- Brad
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| Team Cyc'd ready to roll |
With all the formalities taken care of we headed to the start line. The young riders were off first followed by E, D and C2 Grade and then it was the turn of the big boys in A then B and finally C1 Grade.
To give it some context there were about 23 riders in each of B and C1 Grade with groups leaving about 2 minutes apart.
As I rode B Grade most of my riding observations will be made about that group. We headed off and the pace was steady but nothing to concern the lads. In fact it was Cyc'd who took up the pace making with Dave and B Grade rookie me at the front for the few few ks. Dave and I thought we were doing pretty good setting a pace around 32kph but oh no it wasn't fast enough for the Pres (Gav) and soon the domestiques were given there instructions from some way back in the peleton....too slow boys pick up the pace!! When the Pres speaks the domestiques listen and so Dave and I upped the pace to 36kph which seemed to pleased the Pres no end.
The 64km course is an out and back course of two laps of 32km. Its got a bit of everything rolling hills, flats and gentle descents but with the rough roads this is not an easy course.
B Grade hit the turn around at 16km in tact but the early work on the front was taking its toll on a few of the Cyc'd boys and a tricky turnaround saw the peleton split into two. 19 riders and 4 riders including Dan, Brock, me and some other guy who rode the next 16km with us without saying a word to us.
As we watched the group taking more distance out of us we watched with interest to see how the C1 guys were travelling as we passed on the road in opposite directions. They were looking good near the front and in good spirits. Oh how I wished I was in C1 today not that I was unhappy with the company of Brock and Dan as we were having a good old time weren't we boys!!
At about the 25km I confided first in Brock and then in Dan that I was feeling shithouse and might call it a day at the end of lap one but the true Cyc'd spirit kicked in and both Brock and Dan helped me through a bad patch and things started to look better.
At the 32km turn around we saw the lead group of B Grade head back past us and it was a real morale boost to see the other 5 Cyc'd boys all up the front looking good. A friendly wave and few words of encouragement and they were gone.
Our silent friend left us at this stage and we were down to three in what we were calling B2 Grade.
As we passed C1 Grade the Cyc'd boys were still looking great and the three of us in B2 Grade suddenly realised that they may catch us on the second lap so our new goal became to stay away from C1 Grade.
Despite the effort it took to ride in a group of three I can honestly say it was a real pleasure riding with Brock and Dan we all looked after each other and even had a chance to chat.
At the final turn around Jase, Gav, David, Craig and Greg were right in the mix up the front doing tonnes of work. I heard later that David got in a small break that unfortunately didn't stick but what a gutsy effort it was.
The three of us were now seriously concerned that C1 were going to catch us so kept pushing with the occasional anxious look over the shoulder.
We rolled into the finish and as we crossed the line C1 were bearing down on us and how pleased we were to see Andy, Andrew, Brad and Jenno all there in the bunch sprint. Great efforts boys in your first race.
Can I thank Brock and Dan for their great support and mateship today during the 50km we rode together thanks guys.
We rolled back to the finish to see the B Grade boys and we knew from the looks on their faces that something special had happened....yes Greg had won the race in a sprint holding the lead for some 400metres to take a well deserved victory for Cyc'd Cycling.
Gav finished a highly credible 6th, Jase 7th, Craig went a bit early and had done a bit to much work which nullified his blistering sprint and David gave Greg a lead out so what an awesome team effort it was. I said during the week we needed to ride as team to give our best rider the chance of victory and that is exactly what happened today. The Pres made the call before the race that Greg would be GC (General Classification) for the race and the GC didn't let us down well done mate. I can't help but feel those few ks at the start where I led the peleton contributed in some small but significant way to this fine victory!!!
We headed up for the presentation to see Greg pick up the prize money for his win and supped on some cold drinks thanks to Brad and our supporter Powerade.
The 64km course is an out and back course of two laps of 32km. Its got a bit of everything rolling hills, flats and gentle descents but with the rough roads this is not an easy course.
B Grade hit the turn around at 16km in tact but the early work on the front was taking its toll on a few of the Cyc'd boys and a tricky turnaround saw the peleton split into two. 19 riders and 4 riders including Dan, Brock, me and some other guy who rode the next 16km with us without saying a word to us.
As we watched the group taking more distance out of us we watched with interest to see how the C1 guys were travelling as we passed on the road in opposite directions. They were looking good near the front and in good spirits. Oh how I wished I was in C1 today not that I was unhappy with the company of Brock and Dan as we were having a good old time weren't we boys!!
At about the 25km I confided first in Brock and then in Dan that I was feeling shithouse and might call it a day at the end of lap one but the true Cyc'd spirit kicked in and both Brock and Dan helped me through a bad patch and things started to look better.
At the 32km turn around we saw the lead group of B Grade head back past us and it was a real morale boost to see the other 5 Cyc'd boys all up the front looking good. A friendly wave and few words of encouragement and they were gone.
Our silent friend left us at this stage and we were down to three in what we were calling B2 Grade.
As we passed C1 Grade the Cyc'd boys were still looking great and the three of us in B2 Grade suddenly realised that they may catch us on the second lap so our new goal became to stay away from C1 Grade.
Despite the effort it took to ride in a group of three I can honestly say it was a real pleasure riding with Brock and Dan we all looked after each other and even had a chance to chat.
At the final turn around Jase, Gav, David, Craig and Greg were right in the mix up the front doing tonnes of work. I heard later that David got in a small break that unfortunately didn't stick but what a gutsy effort it was.
The three of us were now seriously concerned that C1 were going to catch us so kept pushing with the occasional anxious look over the shoulder.
We rolled into the finish and as we crossed the line C1 were bearing down on us and how pleased we were to see Andy, Andrew, Brad and Jenno all there in the bunch sprint. Great efforts boys in your first race.
Can I thank Brock and Dan for their great support and mateship today during the 50km we rode together thanks guys.
We rolled back to the finish to see the B Grade boys and we knew from the looks on their faces that something special had happened....yes Greg had won the race in a sprint holding the lead for some 400metres to take a well deserved victory for Cyc'd Cycling.
Gav finished a highly credible 6th, Jase 7th, Craig went a bit early and had done a bit to much work which nullified his blistering sprint and David gave Greg a lead out so what an awesome team effort it was. I said during the week we needed to ride as team to give our best rider the chance of victory and that is exactly what happened today. The Pres made the call before the race that Greg would be GC (General Classification) for the race and the GC didn't let us down well done mate. I can't help but feel those few ks at the start where I led the peleton contributed in some small but significant way to this fine victory!!!
We headed up for the presentation to see Greg pick up the prize money for his win and supped on some cold drinks thanks to Brad and our supporter Powerade.
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| How well did we ride boys - The Pres debriefs the team |
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| Winner B Grade - Greg Sakzewski
After the formalities were over it was time to head off for a celebratory cold beer to toast our first win in the new club kit. We pulled into the first pub we could find wearing a mixture of gear with lycra very prominent as we walked walked past the bikies to take our seats near the tradies.....not a word was said but we did get some interesting looks particularly one of us who had to wear his patent leather cycling shoes into the pub!!!
It was a great day, an auspicious day for the club with lots of firsts. First race for 5 of our riders, first race in the new kit and of course first place in B Grade....well done fellas it was a fantastic afternoon.
I'm hoping to get some good shots of the race so will post them as soon as I get them.
Next week we are on the crit track at Nundah so hope to see you all there.
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