Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2020

The weekend's Bennetts Footwear Repairs graded race over 69 kilometres took riders out to Dipton for a race around a challenging but fair circuit, featuring a nice sting in the tail with a tough climb likely to break up whatever groups remained. However, the couple of kilometres from the top of the climb to the finish line left the tantalising prospect of a concerted chase effort bringing back any solo riders, if enough of a group was left together to cooperate in the chase.
All the riders rolled out of the start together for a two kilometre neutral start, but once the flag dropped and the race got under way the bunch sped along at above 40kph
The action started once the turn onto state Highway 94 was made, with Mike White ripping into it and starting the selection in the field behind. By Mossburn the field was split into three groups, each working together well, but the detente was not to last with attacks coming thick and fast as soon as the road titled upwards. As the groups splintered on the climb, it came down to individual strength, and at the pointy end of the race, nobody was stronger than Hunter Gough as he rode away for an impressive win in A grade, ahead of Mike White and Navarh Brotherston.
Brook Armishaw looked good for the win in in B grade, but a never say die effort by Aaron Sinclair brought him back within sight of the line, giving Sinclair the win ahead of Armishaw, with Hayden Rankin in third.
Tom Kerr put in an impressive ride to hang with the big dogs until late in the race, which earned him a well deserved win in C grade, ahead of Tyla Green and Wayne Murchland.
D grade competed over a 34 kilometre course, with Nicole Avery taking the win over Frankie Thomson. 

 

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