First MMBCC road race for 2025

RACING is underway for 2025 Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club (MMBCC) and what better way to start than with the hardest finish of the calendar, the steep uphill finish of O’Hanlon’s Road. To add to the challenge, there was a strong southerly wind that played into the hands of the Scratch riders and made it torture for anyone who got dropped by their group. The first group to set off on-course was Adam Baker and Dave Bock, followed by Tim Hall and Craig Wilson at two minutes. These groups were caught by the largest group (including Mick Pearce, Jason Parker, Rueben Bateup, Tim Ross and Heath Hammond, starting at 5:30 minutes) prior to the McMillan Point turnaround. A big MMBCC welcome to Heath for his first race. Steve Duke, Ant Bateup and Adrian Dowd departed at seven minutes followed by Ryder Chadd and Damian Grundy at eight minutes. The Scratch group consisted of Andy Garrett, Bruce Halket and Carl Simmons at 9:30 minutes. Damian and Ryder caught Steve and Ant prior to the Lakeside Caravan Park and Adrian dropped off the back. Scratch then caught this group close to the halfway mark. With Halket and Simmons powering up the hills and Garrett towing the group on the flats, the others threw in a turn when able. With two large groups formed, the gap was small at the turnaround and the tailwind allowed the lead group to maintain their advantage. Until Garrett had other ideas and sprinted away from the chase group, closing the gap and passing the lead group like a freight train. This caused turmoil in both groups as many tried to chase Andy down and others simply tried to hang on. Bock’s handicapping was again on point, the two groups merged into one as they turned the corner into O’Hanlon’s for the final climb to the finish. Garrett’s lead was diminished as the peloton hit the base of the climb and it was at this point that every rider pictured themselves as a contender for the win, it was on! Everyone was soon at max effort as the hill steepened. It was Simmons who narrowly took the win over Bateup and Chadd, followed by Halket, Hammond, Ant (Bateup), Tim Ross, Duke, Grundy and Pearce to round out the top 10. Of the 17 riders, the top 11 were only separated by one minute, an incredibly close race given the nature of the hill climb finish. Thank you to all the marshals and officials for making this possible. Plus, in other MMBCC news, there’s been a huge weekend of results by members around the state; and interstate. ProVelo Super League, Round 1, Adelaide: Talia Appleton: Stage 1 Uphill TT: 1st. Stage 2 Crit: 7th. General Classification with one stage to go: 1st. VDHS Round 3 at Mt Major, near Shepparton: Matt Empey, Elite Men: 4th. Ryder Chadd, U19 Men: 14th. Keegan Carman, U15 Men: 11th. Shannon Rademaker, Masters Men: 3rd. Stu Clark, Veteran Men: 7th. Vic MTB Champ Series at Falls Creek, Round 5, Saturday: Ben Ross, U15 Men: 5th. Ruby Dobson, Elite Women: 3rd. Bruce Halket, Masters 7/8: 3rd. Vic MTB Champ Series at Falls Creek, Round 6, Sunday: Ben Ross, U15 Men: 6th. Alistair Ross, U13 Men: 2nd. Ruby Dobson, Elite Women: 3rd. Bruce Halket, Masters 7/8: 3rd.