Bendigo Cycling Club

 

Courtot Holds Out Aussie Champ Solo!

Another lovely spring day greeted Bendigo's competitive cyclists for a
hit-out of the traditional Gooseneck circuit taking in the rolling hills of
Mandurang, Sedgwick, Axe Creek and Emu Creek.  Vanessa Courtot started solo
and rode strongly to take out the win.  Only just.  Petar Benjamin did a
sterling job of handicapping with Vanessa finishing only three seconds clear
of the motoring scratch bunch.  From the start the 5 minute bunch looked to
be making the race.  Scratch began slowly but after Snake Eye they really
hit their straps and flew.  And not surprisingly either; with current
Australian Road Champion Darren Lapthorn and perennial local heavy hitter
Dave Pell making a world-class duo that were taking no passengers.  The
scratch bunch brought the race together on the Telephone Exchange hill and
the pace was on in earnest with Venessa Courtot playing the dangling carrot.
Vanessa held on to till the line for a great win ahead of Dave Pell and Josh
Gundry.

1st Vanessa Courtot 59:33
2nd Dave Pell 59:36
3rd Josh Gundry
4th Mark Flood
5th Darren Lapthorne
6th Leigh Murphy
7th & Unplaced Vet David Bakes

Thanks go to handicapper Petar Benjamin and marshals Des & Val Beer, Tim
Ralton, Andy Berry & Justin Leske.

Scr         Kyle Marwood, Dave Pell, Tim Decker, Darren Lapthorne, Josh Gundry
3 min      Dave Bakes, Mark Flood, Ryan Pontelandolfo, Troy West
5 min      Shane Lowe, Leigh Murphy, Nic Gates     
8 min      Noel Sens, Jess Berry, Bruce Tonkin, Eddy Moore
13 min    Vanessa Courtot