The local Tour de France continued over the weekend with Stages 2 and 3 held at Breadalbane.
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First up was the 23km Artform Earthmoving Graded Scratch Races. It may have been overcast and cool with a threat of rain but almost 20 riders signed on for the race to the sommet de la gamme.
Riders would dash across the Breadalbane Plain and Poplar Straight before climbing the Gamme Cullern to the summit at the rail bridge before turning around and speeding back to the finish line in the village.
In A Grade veteran Richard Vollebreght from the Southern Highlands rolled back the years showing the young Canberra riders of Nicholas Wilson, Tristan Dimmock and Jay Vine and local rider Isaac Hogan in the maillot blanc there was still life in the old fox. Isaac Hogan was the first to crack as the other riders powered up the Cullerin Range. The peloton stayed together on the return journey until Nicholas Wilson and Jay Vine attacked on the short climb out of Poplar Straight opening up a small gap on Richard Vollebreght. With his team mates in the slight break Tristan Dimmock gave no help to Richard Vollebreght as he tried to bridge the gap. In a two up sprint for the line Nicholas Wilson received the judges’ decision in a very tight finish with Jay Vine. Richard Vollebreght may have lost some time to his younger opponents but he managed to cross the line in third place and did enough to retain the leader’s yellow jersey.
B Grade also ended in a two up sprint at the finish with Glen Apps out sprinting Michael Beard to take line honours while Phil Hansen finished third.
In C Grade Wayne Bensley, Shannon Apps and Mark Stutchbury were too strong on the climb out of the turnaround leaving Colin Balk (Southern Highland) and Chris Berry to time trial home alone. Wayne Bensley attacked at the end of Poplar Straight but was quickly shut down by Shannon Apps and Mark Stutchbury. In a three up sprint to the line Shannon Apps was awarded the win from Mark Stutchbury second and Wayne Bensley third.
Ian Emmerton feeling no ill effects from last week’s team time trial at Nowra dominated D Grade with a comfortable win with Peter Jackson second and Fiona Berry third.
Riders barely had time to catch their breath when Chief Commissaire, Phil Bush called riders to the line for the 13km Accionia Gunning Windfarm Individual Time Trial.
No hiding away in the peloton getting protection from the elements, in the race of truth riders simply race against the clock. Riders would again dash across the Breadalbane Plain and Poplar Straight to the turnaround at Muttmuttbilly Creek.
Young junior rider Elsie Apps set off first under the watchful eye of dad, Glen Apps who rode with her. All the other riders followed at 30 second intervals.
Jay Vine from Canberra took out the A Grade Individual Time Trial by 32 seconds from Southern Highland’s Richard Vollebreght with local rider Isaac Hogan third.
Michael Beard won B Grade by 37 seconds over Phil Hansen.
In the slimmest of margins Mark Stutchbury won C Grade by 86 one hundredths of a second over Chris Berry followed by Wayne Bensley.
Ian Emmerton made it a double with a win in D Grade followed by Peter Jackson and Fiona Berry.
In the overall Tour standings Richard Vollebreght from Southern Highlands retains the maillot jaune from Shannon Apps and Isaac Hogan.
In other classifications Glen Apps holds the sprinters jersey, Isaac Hogan retains the young riders jersey and Shannon Apps has the polka dot jersey for best hill climber.
Ian Emmerton was award the most combative rider and David Carmichael holds the flamme rouge.
Next Saturday local road racing is being hosted by the Southern Highlands club on Cannonleigh Road, Sutton Forest.
Results
Artform Earthmoving 23km Breadalbane Grades Scratch Races
A Grade
- 1st – Nicholas Wilson (Canberra) – 34:04
- 2nd – Jay Vine (Canberra) – 34:49
- 3rd – Richard Vollebreght (Southern Highlands) – 34:58
B Grade
- 1st – Glen Apps – 37:27
- 2nd – Michael Beard – 37:28
- 3rd – Phil Hansen – 37:50
C Grade
- 1st – Shannon Apps – 41:39
- 2nd – Mark Stutchbury – 41:40
- 3rd – Wayne Bensley – 41:41
D Grade
- 1st – Ian Emmerton – 45:24
- 2nd – Peter Jackson – 46:07
- 3rd – Fiona Berry – 47:32
Accionia Gunning Wind Farm 13km Breadalbane Individual Time Trial
A Grade
- 1st – Jay Vine (Canberra) – 20:03
- 2nd – Richard Vollebreght (Southern Highlands) – 20:59
- 3rd – Isaac Hogan – 21:37
B Grade
- 1st – Michael Beard – 23:37
- 2nd – Phil Hansen – 24:14
- 3rd – Glen Apps – 33:28
C Grade
- 1st – Mark Stutchbury – 25:30
- 2nd – Chris Berry – 25:30
- 3rd – Wayne Bensley – 27:07
D Grade
- 1st – Ian Emmerton – 26:12
- 2nd – Peter Jackson – 27:16
- 3rd – Fiona Berry – 28:59
Juniors
- 1st – Elsie Apps – 33:28
Overall standings
- Maillot jaune – Richard Vollebreght
- Maillot vert – Glen Apps
- Maillot a pois – Shannon Apps
- Maillot blanc – Isaac Hogan
- Prix de la combativite – Ian Emmerton
- Flamme rouge – David Carmichael
Next Saturday local road racing is being hosted by the Southern Highlands Club on Canyonleigh Road, Sutton Forest.