Cyclists were sent off in five separate groups, with the scratch riders giving Lucy Wellstead and Jacqui Grieve a 17 minute head start.

This made it vital for Rowan Burton and Mark Bailey to catch the groups in front and form a good working pace line or they would have little chance of victory.

It took 20km before Burton and Bailey caught the next two packs, making a good group of eight riders.

This group worked well together, sitting between 40 and 45kmh on the flat section between Albany and Denmark. Unfortunately for the three groups ahead, the writing was on the wall and they were soon caught.

Some riders were able to tag onto the back of the 20-strong peloton.

The race is always decided by the three hills coming into Albany and even though it’s quite predictable, being ready for an attack certainly puts riders on their toes.

On the first hill, Mark Luscombe made the first attack, aided by Bailey.

Bailey and Burton attacked again on the downhill with the stronger riders just hanging on. This halved the group to 10 riders, with no attack on the second hill.

Luscombe decided to try his luck again and put in another attack on the last hill which brought the peloton down to eight riders, but unfortunately he could not break free.

Greg Connell’s early attempt to steal the race only had the effect of being a good lead-out for the winner Bailey, whose present form appears to make him unbeatable.

Bailey had the fastest time and an average speed of 38kmh. Burton rolled in second, Greg Newton third and in a return to form, Theo McCall posted fourth.

At the recent Collie-Donnybrook Handicap, an open State event, four local riders showed the depth of the Albany Cycling Club.

Burton came seventh, Luscombe eighth, while Newton and Bailey finished in the top 30.

– Greg Connell.