WEAL Trophy winner Nic Barrett has continued his brilliant run of form with the Bathurst Cycling Club by taking out Sunday's opening race of the season.
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Barrett claimed the spoils over the 30 kilometre handicap up Quarry Hill, beating fellow four minute group mates David Reece and Tony Shaw.
The winning rider had recently made the jump up to B grade in Bathurst scratch races, a reward for his efforts in practice, and he was pleased to add to what's already been an amazing summer.
"It was nice conditions on the weekend, warm and not too windy. We had a good group who worked well together and it came together at the end for me," Barrett said.
"I'm a much better rider during the summer and I've just been putting the kays in this season, since I've had the time to do so. When you put in the kays you go faster. It's been a focus for me.
"The races the cycling club have been putting on have been great fun and well attended. It's an enjoyable place to ride, and there's a lot of younger kids racing now which is nice to see."
The Barrett, Reece and Shaw group work well together early to quickly join the group of Nathan Pearce, Ray Thorn, Geoff Short and Steven Scott.
The three back groups had a big task ahead of them with the scratch markers Craig Hutton and Simon Hickey giving away 18 minutes.
Current world Para cycling champion David Nicholas was impressive in breaking clear of co-markers Steve Bennett and Tony Barlow.
This applied pressure on the other backmarkers with Hutton breaking clear of Hickey.
Mark Windsor and Jack Cannon marked themselves as the biggest threats from the back of their field thanks to their co-ordination.
But on the turn for home the original four minute bunch looked set for victory.
Windsor and Cannon had picked up Nicholas and Barlow and were quickly catching the leaders but their chase would come a fraction too late.
Barrett said it was one of those days where everything played out perfectly for his group.
"The group ahead only had 30 seconds on us and we noted when they left that they were dawdling and had the intention of being caught quickly, so we obliged," Barrett said.
"It became a bit more fractured after that. The Quarry Hill probably comes about halfway through the race, and we caught a few riders on the way up and a couple more back down.
"There was very little in it at the end. You've just got to have your wheel over the line, and it's not like you're better than the others there. You've just got to have a bit more luck on the day."
Thorn and Rod Esdaile rounded out the top five ahead of Steven Scott.
Windsor lead the chasing group home to record fastest time, with second fastest being Cannon in front of Hutton and Nicholas.
The top placed female in the year-opening event was Jille Harris and the fastest female rider went to Toireasa Gallagher.