THE new year means the countdown is on towards the Bathurst Cycling Club’s Short Course Time Trial Championship, and riders get the opportunity to tune up for the event with the opening round of the Thursday ITT Series.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Competitors will take on the 15.1 kilometre course, a return trip from Perthville to the Newbridge Road intersection, over the next two months.
Bathurst Cycling Club road director Ryan O’Donnell is organising the series and said there will be plenty of riders eager to get some rhythm going in the solo discipline.
“We’ve got the Club Championship on February 25 so it’s good to give everyone the opportunity to hone their skills on the time trial bikes, because people don’t get the opportunity to use them all the time,” he said.
“Another idea behind this series was to give the triathlon guys an opportunity to come along and race as well.”
For what appears to be a simple course, both by layout and by profile, O’Donnell said the track has its testing moments.
“It starts at the Perthville Pub with a very slight incline up to Georges Plains. Once you’re through there you take a right at the bridge up to the Newbridge turnoff. Then it’s flat stick all the way back,” he said.
“I like to break the track down into four sections – Perthville to Georges Plains, Georges Plains to Newbridge turnoff, back to Georges Plains then the run home from Georges Plains to Perthville.
“It’s critical not to go out too hard, because you could ruin your race, but at the same time if you don’t go out hard enough you’ll miss your chance.”
O’Donnell is proud of the strong batch of time trial cyclists Bathurst has produced over the years.
“We’ve got quite a strong masters club. Mark Windsor is the Australian champ in both time trial and the road race, plus he won the champion of champions jersey. Jim Lavis is another rider who also won champion of champions,” he said.
“Then there’s riders like Steve Bennett and Brad Roughley, who have won the championship a number of times. Richard Hobson is another who has been training hard lately, looking to try and break the record this year. A dark horse would be Nick North, who has been riding well.”
Dean Windsor holds the long-standing club record of 20 minutes and 19 seconds.
The series kicks off from 5.30pm on Thursday.
Those seeking a bigger challenge can attempt the 37.4km three roads ITT course this Sunday morning from 8.30pm – the same track used for the club’s Long Course Championships later in the year.
The long course will also be integrated into some of the Thursday rounds over the next few months.
