Luke Cridland rode off the front of a strong A grade bunch to win by 60 metres over a flying Tim Willing in the second race of the 2007/08 summer series. Cridland now riding for the UCI Contential team FRF-NSWIS showed the kind of form that saw him selected as an Australian representative at the 2005 Junior World Championships in Austria. The FRF rider who has recently ridden the Jayco Herald Sun Tour alongside the likes of Stuart O’Grady, Baden Cooke, Trent Lowe and Jimmy Casper matched the strength and skills of these Protour riders as he picked his moment to put the hammer down and establish a gap which he held all the way to the line.
After the cancellation of last week’s race due to rain, a fine spring evening greeted a huge field. The number of B grade riders doubled from the first race of the season and as the paced picked up, B grade was strung out for 50 metres down the front straight.
A strong A grade field took to the track including rising star Richard Lang (Real Aussie Kids) and Tim Willing making his return to Heffron for another season.
Another big C grade bunch started out strong and got into a good rhythm as it sought to hold off the chasing bunches and rack up the first C grade win of the season. All grades came together with 3 laps to go forming a bunch whose size would not have looked out of place racing across the Place de le Concorde. With a lap to go Cridland caught the sprinters napping and launched off the front and was chased by Willing and Lang.
Cridland was too strong and was able to take a solid win with enough time to sit up and enjoy the last 50 metres in front of a large crowd. Tim Willing came in next a few seconds later still holding off the bunch kick behind for the minor places. Three riders slugged it out for third place with Matty Lucas showing that his weekend efforts in the John Woodman Memorial race did not do him any harm as his got it by a tyre width over Richard Lang and Andrew East.
Kevin Black was able to hang on to the back of the sprint to take out the B Grade sprint over John Sunde. Jeff Gray threaded his way through the mass of riders left strewn around the track to get first C grader.
A big thank you the marshals (Carey Fraser, Bruno Maglione and Fred Vella) who gave up their time to monitor the race around the track.
Results
1. Luke Cridland FRF NSWIS
2. Tim Willing ESCC
3. Matt Lucas RBCC
4. Richard Lang Real Aussie Kids
5. Ben Edwards Sydney Cycling Club
1st B Grade Kevin Black
1st C Grade Jeff Gray
For information on Tuesday night racing at Heffron Bike Track, Maroubra, visit the Heffron Summer Series page.
Campagnolo support ESCC and Tuesday night racing at Heffron Bike Track with the provision of spare wheels to be used in the event of a puncture during the race. To use this service you must leave your punctured wheel at the tent. It may be picked up when the borrowed wheel is returned.
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