The race is named in honour of the now-retired postie, who built a remarkable record in the sport over many years. Still riding but not racing due to a health issue, the golden-locked champion now acts as a commissaire on race days, travelling across the country in that role.
A life member of the Cobram Barooga Cycling Club, he has also served as president for more than 20 years in the sport he loves.
Twenty-seven entries were received for the first of a five-race aggregate event.
The out-and-back course of 54 kilometres features a few rolling hills early before flattening out, with just one small climb a few kilometres from the turnaround point, just short of the Old Cobram Road intersection.
With ideal weather conditions, there was every chance the course record could be broken.
The field was divided into five bunches. The scratch bunch conceded four, seven, twelve and seventeen minutes to the rest of the field. The limit group consisted of six enthusiastic riders, including two members of the local club. Wayde Foster made the trip from Berrigan and was his usual jovial self, while 80-year-old world time trial champion Myles Higgins was looking to add further accolades. The lone female competitor, Mia Stockwell from the Griffith Cycling Club, was assured of the lucrative first female prize.
The twelve-minute bunch of five included another local rider, the strongman from Waaia, Paul Hogan, who would ensure his fellow competitors had to earn their results.
The seven-minute group also contained five riders, all having travelled significant distances from Griffith, Wagga Wagga and Echuca.
The four-minute bunch, commonly referred to as “block”, featured a rider of world-class pedigree in Steven Fairless. His impressive résumé includes a World Masters title and representing Australia at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
At almost 64 years of age, he rarely competes but made an exception due to his friendship with the race’s namesake. He was joined by Shepparton rider Neville Laffy, his younger brother Kevin from Echuca Moama Cycling Club, Peter Johnson of Tolland Cycling Club and Hunter Behnke of Wagga, all capable of applying significant pressure.
The scratch bunch consisted of very young riders and formed a formidable group. If the course record were to be broken, they were expected to play a major role.
Nineteen-year-old Yarrawonga resident Max Holgate, a member of Cobram Barooga Cycling Club, started as favourite for fastest time. However, four of the five riders in the group were from Wagga Cycling Club, giving them the advantage of teamwork to challenge him.
The limit bunch worked well together until the turnaround point and held approximately a one-kilometre lead over the twelve-minute group. However, this advantage proved short-lived, as all bunches came together at around the 30-kilometre mark.
The question remained whether Fairless’s vast experience could counter the youthful energy of the scratch riders. Approaching the hill five kilometres from the finish, Holgate attempted to break away but was quickly neutralised by the Wagga riders.
In a frantic sprint to the line, Jared Thorwesten claimed victory, with 2019 champion Luke Nixon second and the impressive 18-year-old Titus Madeley third.
Holgate finished fourth and was understandably disappointed, though it remained a strong performance in a race where the course record was broken, with an average speed of almost 46 km/h.
Fairless finished fifth, demonstrating that class endures, followed by 61-year-old Neville Laffy. Both riders averaged 42.8 km/h, an outstanding effort for competitors in their sixties.
Kevin Laffy finished eighth, while last year’s winner Matthew Smith, riding in the seven-minute group, placed tenth.
Tolland Cycling Club offered prizemoney for the first of their riders to finish, with Peter Johnson taking the honours ahead of Daniel Addison. Barry O’Hagan was also acknowledged for his continued involvement in the sport, having built an outstanding and widely respected cycling career.
Overall, the event was a solid success, despite slightly lower entry numbers, possibly influenced by the current fuel situation. Thanks were extended to all volunteers, while the Lyster Group was again recognised for its ongoing sponsorship of the event through its McDonald’s restaurant network.
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