Rob Vernon Handicap 2026 - Race Report
I’m still buzzing from yesterday, and it’s not the caffeine. Bendigo delivered another crisp late‑winter gem for the 47th running of the Rob Vernon Handicap, hosted by the Bendigo and District Cycling Club. Sunshine, dry roads, and a light north‑westerly breeze set the stage for a fast day. With 160 starters spread across 32 minutes from Limit to Scratch and most groups separated by six‑minute gaps, the handicapper had created a classic Bendigo puzzle. It was also brilliant to see so many of the strongest women in the region lining up, and riders had travelled from Hobart, Sydney, Adelaide, Griffith and beyond. Team Brennan, fresh off the Pro‑Conti circuit in Europe, looked stacked and dangerous. Brunswick rolled in with nine riders. Everything pointed to a big, hard, honest race. Northern Rider 20min bunch Luke Poyser Brunswick Riders 20‑minute bunch: Andrew Gannon, Jeremy Hindell, Michael Kanizay Jeremy Hindell 14‑minute bunch: Lucas Fitzgerald, Fletcher Christensen 4‑minu...