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Showing posts from May, 2024

Northern Combine - St Kilda Trophy 2024 - Race Report

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Welcome to autumn racing in Belgium like conditions, just an hour from Melbourne.   In stark contrast to the 2023 St Kilda Trophy event, most of the pot holes were gone, the field was more than doubled and the temperature was quartered, yes you read that right.   After the season opener at Latrobe Uni, attracted a field of 233 riders across 10 grades,  this race attracted 120 riders from 24 clubs entered across 9 grades.  Compared to the meagre 56 entrants from 17 clubs and this year's event, is it too early to say that road cycling is back? I hope not. As riders gathered in the carpark, the chatter or was it the chattering of teeth, was dominated by wardrobe choices or lack thereof, judging by the few who very visibly shivering in summer kit as they waited for the pre-race briefing.  To quote a former Aussie pro, who rode for a Belgian team, there's no such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing choices. Brunswick rider Andrew Gannon, complete with neck buff drawn up over h