The C-grade break on the climb.
Camera IconThe C-grade break on the climb. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Course poses challenge

Declan ByrneMandurah Coastal Times

A favourite of some riders and the bane of others, the course, with a 400m climb on a rural 4km track, is very different from the usual criterium circuit, which is normally flat, 1km to 2km in length and in a industrial setting.

The juniors were fortunate, riding an altered course that avoided the climb, with Dakota Sime winning from Tommy Ryan.

There was only one rider in E-grade this week, so Saffron Pedrana was tasked with holding on to D-grade.

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Pedrana survived until the first climb, then rode with her chaperone for two laps.

D-grade consisted of a mix of young riders and experienced riders and last week at the flat Smeaton Way circuit, the older, experienced riders used their power and unrestricted gearing to race away in the sprint to take all the podium places.

This week, on the fourth and penultimate lap, the younger riders made use of their power-to-weight ratio advantage and escaped on the climb.

They stayed away on the final lap, with Matthew Connan taking the win, from Joanne Cowburn second and Mathew Colum third.

The younger riders in C-grade did not show that level of patience.

On the first time up the climb, the grade broke into three groups.

The first group stayed away and on the final climb Oliver Bleddyn managed to escape, only to be mown down on the run to the finish by Aron Barclay.

He finished first with Chaice Kelly-Wilson second and Bleddyn third.

With more than 25 riders, B-grade saw a number of attacks, but the number of riders and the strong easterly wind made sure all attacks were brought back.

In a charge to the line, it was John Bouwknegt first, Jordan Dawson second and Michael Polmear third.

The A-grade race was very similar – despite numerous attacks, a strong easterly and a large number of riders willing to chase attacks made sure that the race would finish in a bunch sprint.

Wade Longworth claimed line honours, with Conor Leahy second and Matthew Peterson third.

The full results can be found at pdcc.asn.au