A PERFECT evening welcomed the start of the 2024 to 25 road cycling season.

A warm day, no breeze and a setting sun greeted the riders as they assembled on the Mt Buller road.

They were all wondering how they would perform, had they trained enough during the winter, who was fitter.

These were all unanswered questions that the riders were thinking about and would only be answered only as they crossed the finish line, 21 kilometres away.

It wasn’t just the riders; the handicapper was also wondering who was in form and who had an easy winter.

First to start were Micala Jacob and Judy Duke.

It was Judy’s first race for a few years, and it was good to see her back.

Dave Jagger, Dave Bock and Ian Conrick were next to head off keen to keep a gap between them and the next group of Craig Wilson, Simon Hall and Tim Hall.

Jason Parker, Steve Curnow and Janine Appleton only started a minute later, and they had the advantage that they could still see the taillights of the earlier group as they headed out.

This was no advantage as a minute was still too much of a gap for them and they never managed to catch them.

The race may have only been 21 kilometres long but just after the start was a short steep climb that can make or break a group of riders.

Stay together and the ride back to Mansfield along the Barwite Road would be fast and easy.

Split up and it’s a long, slow, trek back by yourself.

Jarrod Appleton was able to join the next group of riders of Ryder Chadd, Steve Duke and Darren Bakker as they caught him but his partner, Adrian Dowd was not able to hang on.

The last main stage to the finish is a five kilometre rollercoaster ride down into Mansfield.

Carl Simmons and Bruce Halket must have thought that they were still in the race with a chance as they were still in front of the fastest group of Andy Garrett, Shayne Kirby and Talia Appleton.

Out on his own was the fastest rider of the night, Jake Lay but was he quick enough?

In a 45-minute race, could he really catch up 18 minutes?!

In the end, the handicapper did a good analysis with all the riders crossing the finish line within a few minutes of each other.

Ian Conrick held onto the lead for most of the race followed by David Jagger, David Bock and Micala Jacobs.

Jake Lay came in with the quickest time of 27 minutes and 54 seconds.

Many thanks to all our marshals and officials for keeping us safe and well-organised.

Next week it’s the rolling hills and river flats of Howes Creek Road.