The 70km Rock Classic event is hosted by the Tolland Cycle Club and is the first interclub event of the 2018 Tour de Riverina racing series.  

The course for this year’s event saw a slight alteration from last year and although slightly shorter, contained 20km of very lumpy (hilly) roads. When ridden at racing speeds the lumps can become severe obstacles and was sure to test the legs of the 51 riders.

Frank Signor and Melissa Budd were having their first interclub foray away from home and faced some trepidation heading out for their warm-up ride. Both riders were racing out of the limit group that had a 17:00 minute handicap.

Out of the blocks this group was flying up the road at over 40kph and was a massive test on the two BiciSport riders for the first race outing of the year.

Peter Budd was also having his first race of the year in the chopping block group with a scant 1:45 minute handicap. The pace in the 8 strong block group was from 45-50kph on the slightly tail wind assisted first leg but it didn’t them from being caught by the scratch group after 20km of racing.

This combined group set about chasing down the race leaders. Up ahead both Signor and Budd were riding well and doing their turns of pace.

The hills eventually took their toll and just after the half way turn Budd let go of her bunch. Not long later Signor was similarly off the back of the group.

Peter Budd meanwhile was doing some groveling the stay in contact with the scratch group as they were racing over the hills.

On the run back to the finish the scratch group lost a bit of momentum as tired legs started to take their toll. With the second limit group tantalizingly 90 seconds up ahead they were not to be brought to heel and Mick Harrison from the Tolland Club took a solid win from Shane Lennon also of the Tolland Club and Cameron Oke from the Wagga Club.

Peter Budd managed to finish with the scratch group to get some 70km of solid race pace in the legs. Frank Signor finished with a small group of riders shortly after and Melissa Budd elatedly cross the line after her big day out.

All three BiciSport riders were happy with their race efforts and banked some good intensity training that will help in races to come. The next event on the race program will be the Tolland Open on 3 March where Peter Budd will get to race in his Happy Wheels-BiciSport kit for the first time.