Geelong & Surfcoast Cycling Club Mother’s Day Handicap
A field of 36 was reduced to 25 by start time due to consistent morning rain and wind.
By 9am the rain had stopped and the whole race was held without rain but all riders were greeted with wet roads and with strong gusty west north west winds which caused havoc with the limit riders.
The 5 minute bunch of Dave Spence, Vic (small chain ring) Mason, Marcus Coppock and Shane Korth were the early movers working their way through the field towards the limit bunches.
The scratch bunch of Xavier Coppock and Nathan Aston were charging. Quickly catching the 2 minute bunch and driving aggressive pace in the conditions.
The early bunches were falling apart everywhere due to the strong winds and riders were spread right across the course.
The scratch bunch of Xavier and Nathan plus the remnants of the 2 minute bunch, Dave Warren, Andy Goodwin and Mark Purdie caught the 5 minute bunch on the last lap in Forest Rd and powered over the bumps. The 5 minute bunch couldn’t get over the bumps and Mark Purdie also fell off leaving just 4 at the front of the race to contest the win.
In the final, Xavier proved too strong from Dave Warren, Nathan Aston and Andy Goodwin in 4th.
Xavier Coppock 1st in 58.06 average of 38.23Kmh which in the conditions was a fantastic ride.
The story on just how tough a ride it was in the 2 minute bunch could be seen on Barry Howden and Harvey Lang’s faces at the end of the ride. Both were absolute wrecked from Xavier’s charging from Scratch.