Earned myself 2nd scratch for the 30th edition of this tough handicap.  We had 90km to race over continually rolling countryside around Broadford, Flowerdale, Yea and Strath Creek.  The race really only starts as we hit the 2.5km 12% climb out of Strath Creek up to Murchison's Gap which is 15km from the finish.

As usual our bunch of about 12 started like it was a 4km pursuit, and with a similar size bunch only 2min ahead of us and with scratch down to about 5 riders due to a few scratchings I guess this was the reason for the full on pace at the beginning.  We were thinking that if we catch 3rd quickly and work well with them then scratch will have a hard time getting fastest and an almost impossible task of catching us.  That plan sounded perfect to me.

 Anyway, only 2km into the race Justin Mollison, Tony Jones, John Macague and a couple of others were pulling huge turns and at this early stage the pace was way to quick for me.  I did some turns when I could however for the majority of the first 15km I sat on the back together with a couple of others.  At approximately 20km we caught 3rd scratch as planned and then we hit the crosswinds so it was now vital I get into the train with about 20 riders at this stage.  As normally happens when catching another bunch the pace slows a little and with more recovery between turns I was now feeling better and away we were.

 From here more or less most of us worked in this bunch however we did not see another bunch for the next 40 or 50km, I was starting to wonder if we had gone the wrong way!!  Even better scratch was also nowhere in sight, even with the delay of stopping for traffic for a minute of so on the directions of a Marshall at the main Yea road.  Once turning off the Yea road and towards Strath Creek we reached the next bunch and then within a few kilometres we had caught all the bunches in front of us.

 With about 10km to go to the bottom of the climb the pace slowed considerably as everyone was watching everyone else and waiting for the 2.5km climb from Strath Creek.  I then decided that I would have a little go off the front, however it was obvious that the main peleton were not going to let me go too far.  Just prior to the bottom of the climb Gannon (Brunswick) had a little push at the front and then at the base of the climb Sparke (Brunswick) leapt off the front to get a headstart for this nasty little climb.

 As the climb hit its steepest I dug a little harder and crossed to Sparke and went straight past him.  Only about 500m into the climb I looked around and had a 100m lead however it was at this point I think I was about to blow a gasket and thought oh no! may be I went a little hard.  I then tried to consolidate a little and get into a rhythm.  With approximately a km to go before the KOM Andrew Wilson (Sunbury) reached me and then thinking the KOM was just around the corner attacked, I had to let him go briefly before he realised that it wasn't the top and I rode back up to his wheel.  At about this point Field (Blackburn) also crossed to us just before the KOM sprint.  Wilson just got it in a tight sprint with Field.  I followed over the top a few metres back however kept going over the top as the 3 of us now had a couple of hundred metres over a small bunch now of about 15 riders.

 I tried to keep the pace going on the descent and shortly after Field closed on me and we decided to keep going and hopefully get a gap, however the bunch behind was persistent in the chase and caught us a few kilometres later.  I now decided I would try and make another move at a short but steep climb at Tyaak.  As planned I launched about half way up and once again got a small gap over the top, however the chase was on again in earnest and I was pegged back again.  With only a few kilometres left to race I went again on the last little rise on the way back to Broadford this time getting a good gap.  From here we had a long fast descent and I pedalled as hard as I could in the 53x12 but once again was caught only with about 2km left to race.

 Luckily for me everyone else in the bunch were content on waiting for a bunch sprint so no one countered was they caught me.  This allowed me to recuperate and prepare myself for the uphill, headwind sprint.  I knew lots of riders would misjudge this sprint as it is a long way once you turn into the main street in Broadford up the hill to the finish line.  In the final 800m a few guys had a go however I knew it was too early and just tried to follow the wheels and try and keep myself near the front.  It was only when Adams (Broadford) launched his sprint with Macpherson on his wheel that I knew it was time to go.  Adams faded towards the line however in the lunge for the line I could not quite get past Jenny Macpherson.  It was in this final 100m that I was telling myself, oh no, I cannot get beaten by a chick!!!  Never mind, she had just come back from a successful campaign of racing in Italy.  Jenny started the day 2 bunches in front of me off 8min.

 After the finish, and with approximately 3 min elapsing I knew then that I had also gained fastest time.  It turns out scratch came in 5min 42sec down thereby losing 2min 42sec to us.

 Results

1. Jenny Macpherson (Carnegie)             8min     2hr 17.57

2. Paul Logan (Coburg)                           3min     s.t.

3. Alan Adams (Broadford)                      5min     s.t.

4. John Macague (Bendigo)                     3min     s.t.

5. Justin Mollison (Bendigo)                    3min     s.t.

6. Tony Jones (Bendigo)                         3min     @ 7sec

7. Warren Nelson (Carnegie)                   3min     @ 10sec

8. Carl Simmons (Broadford)                   5min     @ 13sec

9. Christopher Degenaar (St Kilda)           18min   @ 17sec

10.Neil Tatt (Brunswick)                          12min   @ 23sec