ADAM Rourke took first place and fastest time in last weekend’s Optus World Nowra Velo Club long course handicap event.
Weather and open commitments kept the numbers down in the local club event last weekend.
Those who did front for the event made the most of the cool conditions and were all keen for the race over the long course.
Sid Long and Michael Thompson were sent on their way by the starter from the limit mark, and set about making the back markers work to catch them.
Loyd Crome and Dean Byrne followed three minutes later and the chase was on with Byrne putting in a big effort up the first incline.
This unfortunately for Crome was to prove a little too much and he was struggling to maintain contact from an early stage.
The biggest group for the day started from the six minute mark and they quickly settled into a working bunch.
Phil Rice, Garry Bryce, Paul Mackie, Hubert Driehuis and Joe Pereira, all contributed early to try and keep the gap between themselves and the riders off nine minutes as large as possible, for as long as they could.
Phil Jones, Paul Perry and Andrew Jarman set off from the nine minute mark and were immediately under the pump with some strong riding by Perry, causing the group to become disjointed and they became easy prey for Adam Rourke and Dave Tuckerman who started from scratch a minute behind.
As the race developed the steady climbing began to have an effect on the riders.
Out front Thompson was riding well and had ridden away from Long.
The same had happened in the three minute bunch with Byrne riding away from Crome.
Joe Pereira found the going a little tough in the next bunch and was struggling to maintain contact.
The scratch men made contact early with the nine minute bunch and the pressure applied in the chase saw Jones go off the back.
As the race neared the turn for home things started to come together.
The scratch men, Tuckerman and Rourke along with block riders Jarman and Perry had caught the six minute riders.
This four went to the front and with two more inclines to the turn kept the pace steady.
It became too much for the rest of the field and this four opened a gap as they closed in on the turn and the lone front marker Thompson.
Thompson was caught just before the turn; Rourke, Jarman, Perry and Tuckerman had the lead as they rounded the turn for home.
Jones had joined Mackie, Driehuis, Rice and Bryce and were working well as they tried to remake contact with the front runners.
Thompson was desperately trying to hang in with these riders for the run home, but the pace took its toll and a gap slowly opened.
As the front four continued on, the attacks from different riders started as they tried to gain an advantage.
With four kilometres to go Jarman had opened a sizeable lead and looked to have the race in hand.
With two kilometres to go, the gap had been reduced, Rourke closed the last of the gap with Perry and Tuckerman close on his wheel.
It was now a four-man sprint finish.
These riders came into the finish straight moving slowly, each looking for the first move.
With 100m to go Perry had the front and he moved to the centre of the road, Rourke and Tuckerman followed.
Jarman seized the moment and went from the far inside looking to surprise his opposition.
This gave him the advantage, but the late break he had made took its toll and he ran out of legs as Rourke quickly hit the lead pursued by Tuckerman.
This pair began to fight it out and as the line neared Rourke gained the ascendancy and crossed the line in a race time of 1h 22m 20 sec to take first and fastest time for the day.
Tuckerman crossed for second with Paul Perry in third place followed by Andrew Jarman.
The chasing group rounded the finish straight and Paul Mackie was testing Phil Jones in the run for the line, Jones though proved too quick and took fifth over Mackie with Driehuis not far behind.
Riders once again thank those who took the time to marshal the event, Kurt Winfield, Aaron Coghlan, Greg Boardley, Lance Johnson, Dianne Perry, Craig Marsh and Bruce Jenkins all contributed to keeping riders safe.
This week will be the ninth round of this year’s Video Ezy Teams’ Challenge Series.
The event will be run on Saturday afternoon out on the Main Road 92 short road course.
Start time 2.30pm no entries after 2.15.
All teams are asked to organise their marshals for the event and let the chief commissar for the event Doug Holland know ASAP and no later than Friday.
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