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TWO years ago he was just thrilled to get to the finish line, but yesterday Josh Berry was the first to cross it in the Blayney to Bathurst Cyclo Sportif Challenge (B2B).
Berry attacked at the foot of Rockley Mount and, by the top, he carried almost a minute’s advantage over Mudgee’s Ayden Toovey.
The Wollongong rider was able to maintain his lead to claim line honours at Mount Panorama.
His B2B debut in 2012 was a test to see if he could even make the distance, he said. After a top 10 finish last year, he’s now made a rapid rise through the ranks.
“That was always our team plan, to get to that hill and just drill it if we could and, hopefully, make something happen,” Berry said.
“Ideally I would have liked another one or two people to ride with.
“I got a time check and I had a team-mate behind me sitting on, so I just committed, gave it everything, and I was lucky that it all worked out.”
Berry and his Cellarbrations team-mate Scott Bradbury were the remnants of an earlier breakaway, along with Toovey and eventual third-placed Ben Harvey.
When Berry made the attack at the base of the major climb, no one could go with him and, by the peak, he had opened up a decisive break of just under a minute.
Berry’s final time of two hours, 42 minutes and 20 seconds over the 110-kilometre long course put him less than half a minute clear of a fast-closing Toovey.
Harvey won a three-way sprint on the line to fill the podium over Cru Halliday and Bradbury.
Berry said the race got off to a nervy start, with riders hesitant to give away any advantage.
“It took quite a while for a break to establish. People were trying to find the right mix and everyone wanted to be in it,” he said.
“It took about 50 kilometres before the break came. When it did, it was a good mix and everyone worked well together.”
After several failed attempts from different teams to get a break going, it was Bathurst rider Blair Windsor who made the first decisive move.
He was caught, though, but other riders were keen from that point to shake things up.
After the 55km mark, Berry, Harvey, Toovey, Ed White, Chris Bogart and Jack McCulloch made a small gap of 20 seconds.
Bradbury worked hard to give Berry some support, while Halliday also joined the bunch.
When the gap at the 70km mark had blown out to more than two minutes, it became clear that the winner was going to come from the break.
The run into Rockley Mount did the damage as the break was reduced to six before the climb. It became four when McCulloch and Halliday couldn’t hold onto the front runners during the climb.
At this point, Berry showed just how much he had improved in two years, leaving his three companions behind him with 20km to go.
Berry said the race had found a special place on his calendar, and thanked the organisers and his team for a great event.
“That first year was actually my first ever race and I was just happy to finish that one,” he said.
“It’s one of my favourite races and a great weekend. It’s a bit of a drive but is always worth the trip ... It’s a wonderful atmosphere out here which makes for a special day.”