Pop Stewart, Norma Adams & Alf Walker Hcp 2025 - Race Report

There's something about a handicap race which draws out the optimist in all of us.  Perhaps today will be our day, when the handicapper gets it right.  By that I mean, let's us in with a chance to win, perhaps even a place would be nice.  My confidence was high, with the 11min group of 10, the largest of the bunches, accounting for almost a quarter of the field of 45.  But first I would need to survive 75kms or three gruelling laps of Balliang's infamous Granite Road circuit.

The day began with a carpool out to Balliang with fellow travellers Steve (Brunswick CC), who swapped his race number for a marshal's flag and Seb (Hawthorn CC), my 11min group accomplice.  If you haven't done a carpool to a race before, I thoroughly recommend it.  Between the banter, the tactics and the laughs, you won't be left alone with your own thoughts, stressing about the race.

Meanwhile my Brunswick teammate and fellow 11min bunch member Che Dungey, left home a 5:45am and rode out to Balliang in 3.5hrs.  Let's see how he feels after two hours of hard racing.

While the riders just turn up, pin on a number and race, race director Andrew Gannon with a serious fear of missing out, had made a trip out Balliang a week earlier to ride the course three times.  On the morning of the event, he rode the gravel one more time and shared firsthand his experience of the best line to take.  For that we were grateful.  The gravel was deplorable and the first 500m neutralised and the first aid van parked at the 500m mark, about the place you were likely to lose it either on the deep corrugations or the quicksand like gravel if you veered to the right.

The 11min bunch of 10 had spread of ages from about 16 to 62 and a significant numerical advantage over other smaller bunches. We worked cohesively and got around lap one together. Hitting the gravel for the first time, loose water bottles with valuable carbs went flying. The power was down, and it was no time to stop and recover lost bottles.  Bad luck Che!  

By lap two, the seams began to unravel somewhat, with the younger riders gapped on the gravel (too light to keep the power down). 

By lap three we had the 15min bunch and the lead car within striking distance and we passed them heading up the Granite Rd Hill. A few brave souls hung on and even put some hurt on their higher fancied rivals. 

Hitting the gravel for the final time, Ross Allen (11min) led the bunch out hard. The corrugations for the first half of the gravel were akin to being “shaken to death “, I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. I managed to draw level with the lead riders and put my own version of hurt on them, but two will normally beat one any day of the week. My time at the head of the race was short lived. Alex Hoffman (15min) and Ross reeled me in. Just when I forget to have one eye on the road in front and one on the road behind, scratch riders Angus Moller and Jude Dodd flew by, with Alex catching their draft. Meanwhile Ross and I duked it out for 4th place and he got the better of me on the day.

 

Pop Stewart Trophy and Fastest Male Jude Dodd

Jude Dodd, Angus Moller & James Maxted

It’s the hardest race I’ve ever done, the most power I’ve ever done for that time. Angus was ridiculously strong with me. it was just me and Angus working for about a whole lap and a half to catch on to the to the four minute group and we hung with them for a bit and then we launched an attack on the final lap and yeah we stuck it to the end and got past everyone for the first place.   On the final Granite Road climb I just launched it up there and Angus stayed with me. I had to have him to tell me where the finish line was.  

Angus Moller, second place

My power meter was uncalibrated, so I was going mostly just feel and knowing that we were couple minutes behind the next bunch. Someone told us we are one minute away from the next group of five, so we knew once we caught with them it would be alright.

Norma Adams Trophy and Fastest Female, Alana Hribar 

The 15-minute group was pretty solid. We started rolling terms quite well over the first lap. We were not slow but very conservative.  Coming through for the second lap over the hill, two people launched an attack and I was able to stay with those two guys over the hill. I think we dropped quite a few, then there was four of us for a bit.  On the last lap the 11min bunch caught us and as we came into the gravel section.  I was off the front with two other guys (Ross & Alex) in the top three but then got caught coming out of the gravel section.  Then Jude and the others from the back markers came past.  Brunswick Cycling Club thank you for a great event.

This is probably my fourth of fifth Pop Stewart, Norma Adams & Alf Walker Hcp and each year I've learned a little more about these three eponymous figures in the life of the Brunswick Cycling Club.  Legends of our club which have laid the foundations of what we have today. 

Thanks to the team of commissaires, drivers, first aider and corner marshals who ensured that the event went ahead without a hitch.

Mal Jackson (Coburg CC) wins the inaugural Self Righteous Cyclist "ultimus eques" (last rider) award. Mal a water bottle with my home made carb mix is coming your way.

And how did Che Dungey feel after 5.5hrs of riding?  He felt like a lift home, so I obliged and he joined us for the trip home and the post ride review that only a car pool can deliver.

We now turn our attention to the Hell of the West, a graded scratch race over the same course on Saturday 31st May. 

Rider participation by club

22 Brunswick

10 Hawthorn

2 Caulfield Carnegie

2 Bendigo

2 St Kilda

2 Geelong

2 Coburg

1 Blackburn

1 Newcastle & Hunter CC

1 Mornington

1 Footscray

Results