Club hit their stride at new circuit

The Peel Districts Cycling Club used a new circuit at Alumina Way in Rockingham industrial area last Sunday.

With almost no traffic, wide smooth roads and only one technical corner at the beginning of the 2km circuit, it was going to be fast racing.

First off was the junior development session, aimed at getting young riders ready for racing.

They were on the circuit the same time as E-grade, so the juniors could see the grade they would be racing in.

While the experienced riders in E-grade stuck together in a bunch, the juniors ended up riding individually and paid the price with the wind.

They were happy to finish after four laps, while E-grade had 25 minutes and a lap to race.

As the race progressed in E-grade, John Bywater would work his way off the front, and the group would work together to bring him back.

On the final lap Bywater attacked; this time they could not catch him and he won, with Simon Stolton second and Tony Da Silva third.

With the largest field in D-grade this season, the racing early was aggressive. The bunch survived intact until the final lap and an early attack by Adam Jones secured him a convincing win and promotion to C-grade.

Ashton Sime finished second and Peter Barclay third.

There were early attacks in C-grade. On the bell Alvin Lim attacked and the bunch chased — Lim was caught in the finishing straight, which forced Callum Hunter to sprint early.

Hunter held off Albert Ullbricht to take the win, with Dharlia Haines, close behind, third.

In B-grade, there were a number of early attacks and breaks form, and looked like it was going to finish in a bunch sprint before Michael Vreeken attacked down the back straight on the final lap.

In the end Vreeken hung on to win by half a wheel, with Oliver Bleddyn second and Courtland Wood third.

The attacks started from the gun in A-grade. In the end Theo Yates started his sprint early and nobody could follow. Yates won, Aron Barclay was second and Sebastian Barrett third.

The next Peel District Cycling Club event is a criterium on February 11 at the Motorplex.

For details, visit pdcc.asn.au.