THIS week’s Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club’s handicap road race memorialised the tragic death of a beloved club member, Alain Guerin in 2014.

Alain’s life was taken by a motorist ten years ago as he was riding along Mount Buller Road close to Stoney’s Road.

The driver was convicted on multiple charges and imprisoned.

Despite the sombre occasion, Alain’s memorial race is a highlight of the club’s racing calendar due to the attendance of Alain’s family, and many extra riders who knew Alain, coming from far afield. Thursday evening was warm and sunny with a moderate south-westerly wind.

The 25km handicap race started on Malcolm Street at Lords Oval and went out Howes Creek Road to the turn around at Cummins Road before returning along Howes Creek Road to finish near Malcolm Street.

Craig Wilson (Mansfield) won by a huge margin of one minute and eight seconds over Fletcher Christensen (Seymour) and Oliver Hall (Benalla) who sprinted for second and third place respectively. They only narrowly held onto a four second lead over Simon Hall (Benalla) and Damien Grundy (Mansfield).

Fastest time was again set by Jake Lay (Seymour) who has established himself as the king pin this season despite the attendance this week of Dan Purcell and Nick Zhang, a couple of Melbourne-based power houses who started off scratch with Jake.

A huge MMBCC thanks to all our marshals and officials.

Next week it’s the Buller Road handicap; see you there.