Yarrawonga’s Max Holgate had a great ride in the Wilby Handicap race.
Shepparton Cycling Club conducted a 43.4 kilometre handicap road race on Sunday, January 15 at Wilby.
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With a limit of 30 riders the entry list was filled, however with two riders not turning up just 28 faced the starter.
Riders entered from near and far with many travelling long distances. Shepparton, Yarrawonga, Wangaratta, Seymour, Albury-Wodonga, Blackburn, Hawthorn, Geelong and Bright were represented.
The limit group left the starting point on the Tungamah- Peechelba Rd at 10.09 a.m.
The four-rider bunch contained 15-year-old Bayden Parkinson, 17 year old Didak Lee, Al Parish and Pauly McDonald.
The bunch soon broke up with Parish taking off and leaving the others but Lee, undaunted, took up the chase and persisted until the 30 km. point where they rode together until the 38k. mark and were overwhelmed by the fast-moving scratch bunch.
Nathalia's Byron Woods, who took all before him during the summer crits at DECA, was racing for the first time since then.
Shepparton champion Liam Edwards joined him and Bundalong's national teams time trial champion 47-year-old Richard Abel, with the up-and-coming teenage star, Yarrawonga's young giant Max Holgate.
The scratch bunch was completed by the addition of the youngest in the group, Blackburn's Max Goold.
A daunting task for the younger riders with Abel taking out a national title just a week earlier. Approaching the hill in Hammon's Rd the pace was high with Liam attempting a breakaway, but the bunch stayed together until about four kilometres from the finish with Edwards, Abel and Holgate riding away from the rest, hitting the line at around 70 kph.
With the strength of Abel prevailing, narrowly relegating Holgate into second place with Edwards third.
First, second and third place getters – Richard Abel, Max Holgate and Liam Edwards.
Another great performance by young Max who had just turned 16.
Liam is in full training mode, preparing for major races such as the "Warny", Wagga to Albury and a Cootamundra classic.
He is a very dedicated young man, just 23 and looking in superb condition. And of course he is also trying to emulate his father Travis's performance in the "Warn " where he tells the scribe he finished 16th. Good luck Liam.
A serious injury to his right hand which hinders him from getting a firm hold on the handlebars has not deterred him.
Limit marker Bayden Parkinson was hampered by a loose seat post and was out of contention early, whilst early favourite Nick "Pickles" Davis was suffering complications from a recent bout of Covid.
Abel's first and fastest time was 1hour 1 minute and 44 seconds at a shade over 42 kph. average speed. A superb performance.
Stacey Barrot as she did in the previous Wilby race was awarded the "first female" prize.
19-year-old Jay Lake from Seymour who only started cycling about 12 months ago after a rodeo career, riding bulls as a novice, had not put in a strong preparation and showed promise finishing within a kilometre of the winners.
Didak Lee who is aiming to become a top line runner showed great resilience as he had only ridden about 60 k in training.
Most likely running up to 60k per week had a positive effect on his performance.
Bayden Parkinson is another who is also showing skill at a varying range of sports, playing lawn bowls at the highest level in the district, and representing Numurkah Football Club as a ruckman. Max Holgate has also shown a great aptitude for football, and now at around 6 ft 5 inches could develop into a top ruckman. But for now he is concentrating on cycling.
A George Goodwin Memorial Handicap was his first meritorious victory at the age of ten.
He is a great example of one who is dedicated to his sport, and with a very supportive family has the potential to reach the top.
The Shepparton Cycling Club are to be congratulated on running another successful event, with another superb performance by Bradley "Hollywood" Higgins and his crew.
Many helped out as commissaire's and corner marshals.
If the scribe has not mentioned other riders, they have to apologise, as driving the “lead car" they pretty much can only comment on what they see, and what information they can glean from riders. A great day out in pretty hot conditions.
And to the Holgate family of the Lake Mulwala Bakery, thanks are extended to you once again for supplying lunch.
A wonderful gesture, enabling all to stay after the race and exchange goodwill.
30°C