A GROUP of Bathurst riders tuned up for the remaining Western NSW Cycling Championships this Saturday by contesting a time trial last weekend in the latest Bathurst Cycling Club competition.
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In both senior and junior divisions, Western titles will be up for grabs in the criterium and time trial disciplines this weekend.
Local rider Craig Hutton was strong enough to take out the A grade time trial on Saturday, only a few hundredths of a second clear of Orange’s Tim Guy in a thrilling showdown.
Hutton covered the course in 20 minutes, 40 seconds.
NSW road race runner-up Ben Taylor was third.
Richard Hobson and Jono Cutler rounded out the top five.
In the women’s race Kirsten Howard took the overall honours, finishing only around 40 seconds behind Toireasa Gallagher’s course record, defeating Trina Compton, Gallagher herself, Donna Scott and Jasmine Lee.
In B grade, Lithgow rider Glen Partridge claimed victory ahead of Orange’s Max Stewart, who is preparing to represent the state at the upcoming junior nationals, while Jim Lavis was third.
The C grade race went to Nev Krahe ahead of Gallagher, with Donna Scott in third as Rosemary Hastings claimed the win in D grade ahead of Cathy Adams and Marian Renshaw.
Riders from across the region will now turn their focus to the Western criterium and time trial, but according to Bathurst Cycling Club’s Mark Windsor, much will depend on the presence of Mudgee’s Ayden Toovey.
“He is probably the form rider across the whole region, he has to be the favourite coming into it if he decides to race – that goes for both the time trial and the crit,” Windsor said.
“Jordan Payne from Mudgee is another guy who’s racing very well.
“The problem for a lot of good riders is that they have other races the next day. Harry Carter has a race at Kurrajong, Craig Hutton has a race the next day as well. Dubbo’s best hope in Adam Mitchell has a state title race on the Sunday.
“But the way Ayden is racing, and the fact that they might want to save themselves for their other races, a lot of riders might just opt out. It is hard to tell.
“I think possibly in the crit, Harry Carter has the form to win if it comes down to a sprint. If we get all the riders who are in good nick at the moment it will be a fantastic field.”
For the women’s race, Windsor was emphatic in his assessment of what is likely to happen.
“Quite simply at the moment, Kirsten Howard is in a league of her own,” he said.
“I really can’t see anyone beating her or even challenging her right now. Hollee Simons is the only one who even comes close at this stage, but I’d imagine that Kirsten will win quite comfortably.”