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Our
Club Coach Dave Gomer's Report File
Monday
16th November 2009: Coach Dave Gomer's Road Season 2009 second
half report
The
second half of the season saw another group of great races
that Norwood promotes or has major involvement with.
The Alphutte Race is one
of the highlights on our programme, because of its post race
celebrations and the challenge of the race. Our sponsor Leo
from Alphutte has been very good to our club and we are always
happy to see him at our racing and after at the presentation.
The challenge of this race is the BIG climb to the finish.
Now I know that most Euro Pro’s would say what climb? But
for most of us mere mortals this is a fair climb.
My bunch of middle markers settled in very well and became
a very strong even working bunch, which needed only a couple
of “technical adjustments” to keep us all working together.
(That means a couple of our younger riders needed a little
reigning in at times.) We made contact with the front markers
just at the descent of Peters Creek Rd, and it looked like
we were about to get in trouble as the impetus died with so
many wanting to sit and so few willing to work. But a few
reliable workers came to the front and saved the day for those
who wouldn’t put in.
Predictably once we hit the climb those who couldn’t work
suddenly found their legs and the race was on up the mighty
Pottery Hill. The race was quickly spread up and down the
hillside. The leading six riders pulled away from me on the
steepest section of the climb at the bottom but as it flattened
out I started to pull back some of the slower climbers. I
managed to drag myself up into 5th place as I crossed the
line.
It was disappointing to see many of the guys from my bunch
who had worked so hard had missed out on placings to riders
who had not been willing to put in on the road.
The following week saw the running of the 300
Lapper on the Superdrome. Not a Norwood race but
one in which NCC had some sponsorship and a strong field of
Norwood riders.
This is the longest track race in the southern hemisphere
apparently, and it certainly felt like it this year. A strong
group of young SASI riders led by the aggressive and strong
Dale Parker certainly livened up the race. In case it doesn’t
seem too bad, think about riding 75km on one gear, sprinting
every 5km for a prime, and with no hills to coast down or
to change the pace. Sure there is a 5 minute break at half
way to have a drink but that 5 mins sure goes fast.
Well Dale pretty well flogged all comers, the only one who
looked like he could match him was James Kelly, and then only
when the race was into the second half and it was all over.
There were repeated attacks, relieved only by long sprints
and lots of chasing. Of the 24 starters only 9 finished, and
with points lost for losing laps and gained at the sprints,
the spread of points was 330 for our winner back to -25 for
9th place! Norwood riders finished 2nd - James Kelly, 3rd
Ruben Meneaud-Young and 6th Dave Gomer. Worthy of mention
was the spectacular crash of Dave Millar in the support race,
see the video on the results of the race at CSA, and Brad
Davies going down hard in the big race. I saw a number of
the competitors the next day and all reported very sore butts
and tired legs, and a need to have a quiet couple of days.
The President and Life Members race
at the Range was a series of scratch races run over distances
from 3 laps too 5 laps for A Grade. Results are on the results
section of the site! Apart from the report that Timmy caused
havoc in A grade on his way to a win, I can only report on
C grade. It was a pretty standard scratch race as they have
been going this year. Lots of unsuccessful attacks, continual
fast pace and hard grind up the last hill. Lachlan Ambrose,
who has been really strong all year without much luck, finally
found a distance that suited him and was unbeatable in the
dash to the line.
Burra 100 Classic is another
monument on the open programme. One of the biggest
races of the season in it's 103rd year and one in which the
backmarkers have had a mortgage on recently. My bunch of middle
markers has been going strong all season and after they dominated
the Lyndoch the week before, I went in fairly confident. Despite
being pulled back 6 minutes, I thought we were in with a big
chance of an upset. Along the road I was even more confident
as we picked up the bunch in front and were working well together
and setting a really good pace. Even when I saw scratch for
the first time coming up with two laps to go, I thought we
had some slight chance. But when Scratch caught us on that
same lap it became obvious that they were on fire and that
nothing was ever going to stop then winning. Straight away
we hit the cross wind and the leading few went into the gutter
and it was over for all but the strongest riders. A small
bunch reformed and chased the few dollars remaining in a long
prize list, but predictably it was a scratch man who won and
collected fastest time as well. A nice ride by Will Dickeson.
The last two races for the season for my report were the State
Titles and our club titles. As usual many Norwood
riders were prominent in their respective categories and results
can be found in our results archive. Congrats to all for competing
and for your successes. The course was the short but intense
circuit at Williamstown made even more tricky on the day I
raced by a reasonably strong cross wind on the big climb.
My tactic for the day was to gradually increase the pressure
as the race went on. I found myself all alone with 1 ½ laps
to go after increasing the tempo on the longest climb and
then it became a long time trial until the finish to collect
a win.
The club championships
were held at Gumeracha on another tricky little circuit which
a number of riders found a little challenging. I rode “C”
grade and our race was basically a race of attrition with
continual pressure applied on the short sharp climbs, which
saw riders dropping throughout the race until only three remained
for the final dash to the line. Fortunately for me the finish
line was a little further down the road from the last climb
and I had just enough time to reel in Carly Light to take
a win. In the main race Kristin “Crusty” Lewis showed the
class that we see too rarely in the road season to win the
championship from Mike Stallard and Chris Stack.
And that was about it for the road season. Another well organised
road season run by our usual dedicated but small band of volunteers
from the club who do a fantastic job, but I am sure they would
appreciate any help from members and their friends, partners
and family
Wednesday 17th June 2009
Well
here we are, well into 2009 road season. I was asked to give
my view of the Norwood Races so far, so here goes. The 2009
NCC season to Berri through the eyes of a middlemarker. Not
so hard it is only three races.
The
Bob Coremans Sr scratch races
were held at Gumeracha. I wasn’t lucky enough to know Bob
Sr, but I certainly know Bob Jr, a great and funny guy and
a very handy bike rider in his day, although I think he wasn’t
that keen on too much training and races that weren’t horizontal.
Thanks to Bob for putting on this race. I won’t say too much
about the actual race on the ground as I didn’t see too much
of our bunch and the racing that happened. It all became more
about getting some k’s on the bike and enjoying the sunshine
while my bunch banged their heads together.
The Port Noarlunga Classic–
the first road race I ever raced, a lot of years ago and won
by the legendary Charlie Walsh. This year we had a good bunch
but I thought we were not going quite hard enough to hold
off a strong scratch group. To be successful you need to have
a core group of 5-6 riders willing to put in an honest effort
and this is what happened and so we gave ourselves a chance.
The bunches behind didn’t get them selves organised well enough
and were unable to pick us up. On the last lap there was a
big bunch with the usual few suspects working and lots sitting
on. The inevitable happened, someone attacked on a climb,
the bunch was smashed and less than half got over to go on
to face the last climb. At the foot of the climb Rowan de
Clerq took the lead and put the hammer down. He had been going
strong all day and I had him picked as a danger man. I had
his wheel and as he slowed slightly, big Joe Underwood went
hard over the top with only two of us able to drag ourselves
back onto his wheel, as we got to the false flat, Joe hit
us again and opened up a big gap as Bryan Mcintyre disappeared
from view and the remnants took all of the minor placings,
but second place which was reserved for me. Ben Hogarth cleaned
up all the back markers about a minute later to take fastest
time.
The biggest race of the year The
Berri Resort Hotel Tour of the Riverland has been
run and won by our very own club captain Chris Luxton. As
usual it is the highlight of the season being superbly organised
and directed by the amazing Barry Skinner AOM. Thanks Barry
and enjoy the retirement.
I found myself off 10 minutes, a good mark but looking at
the handicaps I fancied a couple of bunches in front of us.
As it turned out a number of riders in our bunch that were
not known to me were pretty strong and we were going real
well with 8-10 riders working consistently. As has happened
in previous years, although going strong we were unable to
catch bunches in front and eventually block then scratch caught
us. Unlike most races when the back markers catch you the
fun is over, but at Berri it then becomes a frantic dash to
the finish line, the pace building and riders going everywhere,
including off the road in the dirt, little groups moving up
the line and others losing ground and slipping back. I had
a nice little wheel to follow and was slowing being dragged
forward, finding gaps that opened and closed, and at this
stage I was feeling good about it all. Unfortunately some
switching occurred, my man was off the road into the dirt
cutting me adrift and I was left to find my own way. Soon
after, all hell broke loose as riders began sprinting. That
is where you have to be really on your toes, as some riders
give up or have finished their lead out and start dropping
back rapidly, whilst others who miscalculated have plenty
of dash and are trying to make up ground. How half the bunch
don’t end up on the ground is one of lifes mysteries. Anyhow
in a great dash to the line Captain Chris took all the goodies,
with veteran Graham Rootes second and the very talented Matt
Benson in third. Great race, great result, good fun, pity
that our bunch wasn’t the chosen one this year.
Other Club's races and some of ours
to come
There’s been some other good races held so far, the Central’s
race was a great course and C grade had lots of fun, The Adelaide
and Noarlunga races at Kangarilla were apparently good but
I was unable to race either, and the State time trial was
not quite fun but time trials are not supposed to be. To come,
are some of the best races of the season Alphutte, the 300
lapper, The Keith Thurgood Memorial, Burra, and Lyndoch. All
of them top days out on the bike and a really mixed lot, hills,
flats, road, track, something for everyone. I hope all members
get into the season and get their noms in on time and experience
the best SA has to offer in racing.
Train
Well, Race Well...Dave Gomer
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