RACE REPORT
ELLEKER HANDICAP ROAD RACE 
18 
JANUARY 2025

Albany Cycle Club’s 2025 road racing season kicked off with the Elleker Handicap on Saturday morning. The flat and fast course, four laps of the pond for a total of 37kms made for high average speeds across the seventeen-rider field.

Combined according to ability, the starters were split into seven groups. Craig Lewington and Jill Bascombe, the ‘go’ group, got things started and worked well together averaging 31.2kmhr for the course. Behind them, the three minute group of Steve Maguire, Shirley Thurston and Jacob Greenwood looked threatening, holding a steady 31.8kmhr, gradually closing in on the leading duo as the race progressed.

At fifteen minutes the Clydesdales, Matt Bascombe and Dave Beckwith, needed to be four minutes a lap faster than the first groups, but on a course that suited their combined strengths, they were a chance, especially after they swept up the twelve minute group at the start of the third lap. When this group of five became seven during the latter stages of lap three with the addition of Frank Bate and Mike Staude, there were definitely thoughts of glory being entertained.

At the sharp end of the race, Brent Schoof and Michael Gardiner, and Brett Dal Pozzo and Vince Bascombe off twenty and twenty-five minutes respectively, had work to do, but also the horsepower to do it.   However, by the midway point of lap four it was clear the win was going to be fought out between the first two groups to start. The chasers, while making big gains, were simply running out of road.  

In the finale, it was Craig Lewington who proved too strong in the dash for the line, taking first place ahead of Jill Bascombe. Steve Maguire won the group sprint for third.  Jacob Greenwood, fourth, was the fastest junior. Liz Cooper was the fastest female, and Brett Dal Pozzo with an average of 42.7kmhr was the fastest overall.

Thanks to our volunteers who did the signage, marshalled the turn and timed the riders.