Unique cycle club event pays homage to Tour Down Under

ILLAWARRA CYCLE CLUB

ILLAWARRA Cycle Club (ICC) opted to hold this week’s race under a teams format, in homage to the Tour Down Under.

The format was a winner, with the best field assembled in six months split into four teams for the 37km course.

Early on Craig Paull, Drew Robertson, Jeff Gray and Danny Hennessy broke away, with all teams represented in the break away.

Danish rider Eric Haakonssen joined the break away group at the race’s halfway mark.

However, he soon lost contact while former Tour Down Under competitor Brendon Cato, making a comeback to racing, was next to join the leaders.

Strong turns of pace by Peter Cooper ensured the whole peleton regrouped by Hooker Hill with 6kms to race.

A big attack by new member Craig Williams at the Hill was cancelled out by a counter-attack by Hennessy.

He too was caught and this led to relentless surges as most riders jostled to get away.

With 1.5kms to go Team Viking lead by Haakonssen, Rodger Ocvirk, John Hardwick and Vincent Morrissey put the rest of the riders in the gutter and shelled riders like peas.

This gave Craig Paull an armchair ride as he went for victory and won the teams scratch race for Team Viking.

In the B grade race, Tom Cranston scored a well-earned win for Team International.

Earlier, Dan McNamara and Lou Caruana chanced their arm and set off in a two-pronged attack.

Their gambit was cancelled out by a counter-attack from Cranston, Joe Chiaverini and John Danzo.

In C grade, newcomer Bernie Negus took line honours from Craig Brown and Baz Simmons.