Last week’s grand depart of the Tour was cancelled for the first time in its history due to the unsafe conditions for riders. No such situation this week on Windellama Road with prefect blue skies, a zephyr of a breeze across the la plaine du Gundary and the crisp air temperature providing ideal conditions for racing.

The Bastille Day of racing in the local Tour involved the Ganter Constructions Scratch Race and Individual Time Trial on Windellama Road. The back to back format of racing would test all of the riders. Riders need to manage their energy levels to ensure they have sufficient in reserve for the second race.

Starting at Brisbane Grove Road riders headed out on the 22km out and back course which took riders over the Gundary Plain and past the airport before a short climb up to the plateau and the turnaround point at Rue de Bullamalita.

The scratch race open up with a very short lived breakaway by Chris Berry but the peloton had the move covered. Jeremy Gilchrist and Gav Moroney quickly moved to the head of the peloton bringing all the riders together again. Passing Aeroport de Goulburn, Jeremy and Gav increased the tempo approaching the only climb on the course – the Cote du Old Gundary.

Richard Vollebregt (Southern Highlands), Andrew Stewart and Jeremy Gilchrist continued to increase the tempo across the Bullamalita Plateau stretching out the field as one by one the lower grade riders fell off the pace and were left to time trial. By the turnaround at Rue de Bullamalita Richard, Andrew and Jeremy in the tete de la course continued to press their advantage. Unfortunately the rest of the field was too spread out to organise any form of chase although Chris Berry combined with Nadine Moroney and Wayne Bensley but it was too little too late to be any kind of a threat.

The final sprint to the finish saw Andrew Stewart burst out of the group to take out the race narrowly from Jeremy Gilchrist with Richard Vollebregt crossing in third place.

Immediately following the completion of the scratch race and with barely time for riders to catch their breath it was time for the race of truth. In the individual time trial there is no hiding away in the peloton getting protection from the elements – it is simply a race against the clock with each rider setting out at 30 second intervals.

Jeremy Gilchrist and Andrew Stewart couldn’t match the pace they set in the scratch race while Richard Vollebregt turned out another consistent performance to easily win the time trial with an average speed of 39.5km/hr.

Under the complex points system of the TdF Series Jeremy Gilchrist wears the maillot jaune, Wayne Bensley the maillot vert, Richard Volebregt the maillot a pois and Nadine Moroney the maillot blanc. Prix de la combative was awarded to Gav Moroeny and Peter Jackson the lantern rouge.

Big thank you to the volunteers - timekeeper and Chief Commissaire Phil Bush, traffic controllers Mick Hall and Jo Mainvil, Alison Stewart and Chris Bushall  in the lead/follow cars.

Next weekend there is no local racing as club representatives head down to Nowra for the NSW Team Time Trial Club Championships. This also doubles as the final stage of the Tour de France series.

Junior Goulburn rider Elise Apps took out second place in the NSW Metropolitan and Country Road Championships at Sutherland on Saturday.

Ganter Constructions Scratch Race 22kms

Ganter Constructions Individual Time Trial 22kms