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‑minute bunch: Lysander Tansley, Tristian Ingham 
Scratch: Taj Hindell, Wes Hay
Taj Hindell leading Scratch

Settling in - the first 30km
My 20‑minute bunch was large with 32 riders, loaded with eight elite women, many of whom had raced the Tour of Bendigo earlier this year and are regular Pro‑Velo hitters. We also had both defending champions: Belinda Bailey and Robert Southern, promoted up after last year’s wins.

By my estimations, we needed to average 40 km/h or better to hold off the riders behind.

We rolled out with a solid tempo. Most riders contributed early, and we even collected a few dropped riders from groups ahead. But as we approached the first major climb, the Three Tier Hill out of Sutton Grange the pace lifted and the cracks began to show. Jeremy Hindell was immense, driving the rotation almost without pause.

The bunch dynamics were mixed. Half the group rolled turns; the other half sat on. A few riders drifted half a bike width off the line or half‑wheeled, annoying and dangerous at any level. Compared to last year’s ride off 23 minutes, where we averaged 39.5 km/h, we weren’t pushing as consistently. Whether it was wind direction or bunch behaviour, I suspect the latter.

The Catch — And the Counterpunch
Around the 72 km mark, we sighted the 14‑minute bunch. I suspected they’d attack us on a rise, and at 75 km they did exactly that. They surged hard, trying to snap the elastic. The 20‑minute bunch dug deep and held on. I couldn’t see much from near last wheel, but the urgency of the combined group faded quickly, confirmed by another major 7 km segment slower than last year.

The race felt like it was waiting for something to happen.

Goose Neck — Chaos and Cranks
Pressure finally arrived on the Goose Neck climb. Michael Williams (Shepparton CC) raised a hand.  I assumed he’d blown up but no, his left crank fell off when the bolt sheared. Brutal luck, especially as he said he’d been feeling good.

At the same moment, I felt a cramp brewing in my right adductor. I mouth‑rinsed some carbs, stood up, and the cramp went away. But the bunch split. Andrew Gannon, two women, and I were gapped. As the follow cars passed, we grabbed what little slipstream we could. Andrew took a monster turn to let me recover; the women rolled through with determination. We worked incredibly hard for a few minutes and were one big turn short of re‑joining the lead bunch.



Sratch Catch
At the 91 km mark, the Scratch express thundered past. Most of us latched on; Andrew wasn’t so lucky. My goal shifted instantly: hang on and get bunch time.

The Final 8km — A Professional Peloton in Full Flight
The merged bunch of close to 100 riders drove the final 8 km at almost 51 km/h. It was a test of concentration, nerve, and evasive skill. Seasoned pros, gun juniors, and newcomers all fighting for position. The last two kilometres averaged 61 km/h. It felt like the charge of the light brigade, but on wheels.

In that moment, I realised I was part of a scene that looked and felt like a professional peloton. The handicapper deserves enormous credit; over half the field delivered into a single bunch for a mass sprint.

The road opened on the right in the final kilometre, and I moved up a few places. 82 riders finished on bunch time; 92 within 30 seconds. I crossed the line satisfied, exhausted, and exhilarated.

Results
Winner: Levi Hone (Team Brennan / Echuca‑Moama CC), Scratch Winning speed: 46.6 km/h — just 0.3 km/h shy of the 2025 record. First woman: Rebecca Heald (Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils), 20‑minute bunch, 40 km/h.

Reflection
Events like the Rob Vernon Memorial Handicap are the product of enormous volunteer effort. Racing one is a privilege. While I saw some risky behaviour, it was heartening that the day finished without accidents.

Huge thanks to the AusCycling commissaires, lead‑car drivers, corner marshals, timing crew, and everyone who makes these events possible. This is grassroots cycling at its finest — and we need to support it to ensure it’s still here in another 47 years.

A day later and I’m still buzzing. My parting thought is that you cannot ride these big handicaps with half commitment. Perhaps with another half a kilometre an hour of speed we might have held off Scratch and been half a chance!

Were you there? Did you ride the race? What was your take on the event?


Brunswick & Northern Results

18th Tristan Ingham
32nd Fletcher Christensen
34th Lucas Fitzgerald
40th Michael Kanizay
48th Lysander Tansley
52nd Luke Poyser
88th Jeremy Hindell
97th Andrew Gannon
118th Wes Hay
120th Taj Hindell

Results https://6-v.org/rvh/2026_rvh_result.html

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