20km BCC Bathurst Isuzu Ute Handicap – 30/01/2022
Eventful start to the Local Isuzu Ute Bathurst Cycling Club Event (presented by Clancy) with competitors having to wait for the floodwaters to clear then a change to the course due to the heavy rain overnight in Bathurst.
Once racing started Bec OConnor look set for an all the way win but the BackMarkers burst onto the scene in the final couple of kilometres to steal the win.
Race REPORT:
Bec OConnor led the way from Rosemary Hastings Cathy Adams and Lara Allen early in the race, with a bunch that included Phil McFarland Peter Hickey Bruce Hutton Scott Allen and Jille Harris looking the main threat to the leaders.
At the turn Bec OConner was riding strongly and looked to have built a winning lead however a bunch of Middle Markers including Glen Partridge Darren Fenton Rob Stephen Peter Wilson Glen Carter Phil Stapleton & Rod Esdaile had moved into second place on the road and looked threatening.
However there was also plenty of action at the back of the race with Craig Hutton and David Nicolas quickly joining Nicholas Barrett Jack Cannon and Mark Windsor and soon after joining Steve Scott Dave Reece and promising young orange rider Oscar Hanson after fast starts.
With less than 3 kilometres to the finish Bec OConnor was still leading but was starting to tire after the long solo ride and suddenly the backmarkers burst onto the scene to fight out the finish.
Jack Cannon the first to go however Craig Hutton brought him back only to have David Nicolas and Nicholas Barrett sprint past to take first and second, Jack Cannon Mark Windsor rounding out the top 5.
Leading the next group in was Bruce Hutton and Darren Fenton in front of Glen Partridge Rob Stephen Peter Wilson rounding out the top 10 in front of top placed female Jille Harris and Phillip McFarland in 12th place.
After all his recent representation duties including a medal at the Paralympics at Tokyo Dave Nicholas has been looking easy back and enjoy his cycling more. The more relaxed approach is certainly paying dividends, as his first and fastest performance in the weekends event would be probably his best performance since racing with the Bathurst Club; his time for the event 24:26 was very fast. Meanwhile Jille Harris finished fast to defeat the unlucky Bec O’Connor for first female
RESULTS - 1David Nicolas 2Nicholas Barrett 3Craig Hutton 4Jack Cannon 5Mark Windsor 6Bruce Hutton 7Darren Fenton 8Glen Partridge 9Rob Stephen 10Peter Wilson
First Female 1Jille Harris 2Bec OConnor 3Lara Allan 4Cathy Adams 5Rosemary Hastings
Fastest Time - David Nicolas 24:26
