There were over 20 Kelly Cycle Coaching athletes who attended the racing in Mansfield and with ideal race conditions, the weekend was a huge success.

The KCC women were well representated with great racing from Vic Snibson, Carley McKay, Maddy Cardillo, Jess White and Jess Laws.  Maddy worked hard in the closing lap of the criterium to position Carley for the finishing sprint.  Carley finished off well, by taking an emphatic win.

D grade Men saw Kelly cycling represented by coach Bob, and Mark Cummings.  Their constant aggressive racing saw the field dwindle.  Bob made a move on bell lap and held on to take 3rd place.

C grade was represented by Hayden Eynaud who snuck away half way through the criterium to claim another podium for the Kelly gang.  Well done Hayden.  He followed up the following day with a 6th in the road race. Steven Payne also raced the C grade road race, finishing in the top 20.

Mansfield Criterium.  Report by: Nick Bien

Amazing weather set the tone for what was going to be a great evening of racing. With the team spread across A, B and C grades there was plenty of action out on course. Hayden Eynaud was first on and didn’t disappoint. With an attack midway through the race he established what proved to be a decisive gap with one other rider. Staying off the front until the very end of the race he was just pipped on the line to take 2^nd in the sprint.

In B grade, the technical ‘T’ shaped course proved to be tough in a bunch of around 50 riders. A crash early on split the field leaving only 20 or so riders left in contention for the win. Attacks went thick and fast and eventually 2 riders got away. Aaron Eynaud led out Michael Hale in the sprint, with Michael just beaten on the line for a place on the podium. Liam White survived the tough conditions to finish in the bunch.

Notable mentions should also be made to Brad Wills and James Cummings who mixed it up with many of the NRS riders in A grade.

Whitey pulling faces	Aaron leading out Michael

Mansfield – Mt. Buller Road Race: Report by: Nick Bien

A chilly start to the morning would soon be forgotten as the climb up Buller loomed. In B grade all attacks were closed down in the earlier stages of the race and it was left to the climb to decide the podium at the end of the day. From the toll gate that marked 16km to the finish, the pace lifted and by only 2km up the hill less than 10 riders remained with the front group. A little further and this was dwindled down to three, ultimately leaving the top spots to be decided amongst themselves. A consistent tempo enabled and Aaron Blomely and myself to claim 5^th and 6^th respectively, significantly reeling in the other riders in the latter half of the climb. Hayden Eynaud pulled out another great performance coming 6^th in the C grade bunch.

Although it was a tough day of racing and not suited to all the riders, the boys should be proud of their efforts in all making it up one of the biggest climbs in Victoria.

The weekend was a great success and the boys are showing good form for the winter road season ahead.

Girls talk pre road race	Bob explains the terrain to the boys
Trent took 4th in the road race	Hayden racing hard

Trent Morey was just outside the podium, finishing 4th in the road race.  The girls raced well as a team in the B grade road race, and worked hard to soften the climbers leg before they reached the base of Mt Buller. The peleton shattered in the first few km’s of the climb with Carley riding well to finish 4th.

On Sunday, whilst the race up Buller was happening, Ed Smith did the 200km recreational Jamieson challenge ride – well done on finishing this Ed.

Thanks again to Jim Morey for taking many great photos of the riders.  A full collection of photos can be found by clicking on this link:  https://picasaweb.google.com/116143390879232936045/20120317MansfieldMtBuller?authkey=Gv1sRgCPz93Nvc-rPq_gE#

Two of our masters riders, Ed Smith and Steve Payne, recently completed the Marysville Challenge. Here are their reports:

Report by Ed Smith:

The Marysville Lake Mountain Challenge is the first event in the centrepiece of Cycling Victoria’s recreational program for 2012, the Netti Challenge Series.

The ride had 35 km and 120km options, both terminating in Marysville.  Either ride has the optional extra of the Lake Mountain climb, taking the total ride to 80km and 160km respectively (yes I know – the maths doesn’t work).

For me, the 160km ride was the ideal tune up for the Bike Buller Challenge, which follows in two weeks.

I arrived early for the 8am start, which was just as well as I left my transponder and race number in Melbourne.

We started in waves of 20, with strict orders not to race.  As one of the oldest guys this side of the black stump, with a reputation for climbing like a slug, I didn’t have to told twice.  I dumped my cellphone (it weighs too much) which meant I missed my chance to link up with fellow Kelly Cycling prodigy Steve Payne.

The 20 person groups all coalesced into a group of at least 90, so we made some pretty rapid progress to  the first drink stop in Alexandra.  I thought it best to refill my bidons in anticipation of hot weather.  Unfortunately, all 90 riders in my bunch thought the same thing, so the bunch left in a trickle and consequently broke into a free for all on the hills around Lake Eildon.  The roads around Lake Eildon were terrific, and the views were spectacular. Best of all the breeze picked up, and it was a tail wind all the way back.  So riding alone didn’t really seem like a chore.  Back to Marysville and the temperature had stayed in the early 20s all morning, and  I was just starting to feel just a tiny bit smug – making good time my standards.  And then the climb to Lake Mountain began.

The Lake Mountain climb runs for around 20km.  The steepest parts of the climb are at the start, with around 4km at a gradient ranging from 8-11%.  The total climb from Marysville is around 1080m, to an altitude of 1480m.

But like I say, the hard bit is at the start.

It was all going Ok until I got caught about halfway up by a waif-like female cyclist.  Now at the back of my mind I know that the right thing to do in that situation is to let the stronger rider pass and the sit on.  But the front part of my mind is still affected by the residue of the testosterone that coursed in my veins 30 years ago.  And that part of my brain said the smartest thing to do was to IMPRESS THE FEMALE.  So presented with a dip in the road I took the opportunity to put on a spurt, and put some distance between me and my stalker.  Needless to say my reserve tank emptied a few km down the road and my lead .  As I slowed I look back to see how I was doing. 
Of course my new cycling buddy was doing exactly what her coach would have told her to do – sit on the wheel of the fat, old guy at the front (there’s always one of them) until he runs out of steam.

The temperature was down to the low teens, a fog closed in and I was ready for my five packets of jelly beans at the top. The photo from the top says it all.

The best part of the day was the descent, where my extra 20kg actually turns into an advantage. Who doesn’t love going fast?  A great day, and a pretty good “warm up”.

Steve Payne’s Report:

The ride was harder than expected. Mainly because they sent people out in groups of 20 so there was no bunch riding. Spent the first 40km or so in a group of 4 but when they stopped at a refreshment station I carried on only to miss a turn as the signs were not very clear! 6 km up the hilly road I realised this, I turned around and worked hard to regain my position. Went really well up the hills and was then out on my own come the flat roads back from eildon. I had the help of one other guy for about 20km but was otherwise on my tod back to marysville. When I hit the climb up lake mountain I started to struggle! I made it up the steep first section but then started to feel unwell. Sickly feeling and cold shivers. About 10km from the summit I decided to call it a day. Given I had done the extra kms at the wrong turn I didn’t feel too bad about doing it. My time was 4hr 51 for about 150 km which i was pleased with. I didn’t stop along the way other than to swap bottles with my dad who kindly positioned himself halfway along the ride.