Twenty one riders lined up for round 1 of the 2018 Tom Cycle City Cup. The field was split into five bunches. The limit bunch included Michael Wynne, Tom Graham, Anna Stoll and Michael Andreazza, with 20 minute handicap.
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Second limit started 5 minutes later, comprising of Sarah Trotter, Adrian Piccoli, and Tara Payne. Group 3, the middle bunch, comprised of Ros Nugan, Bron Jones, Jenni Massey and Mark Palmer and had a 10 minute handicap.
Chopping Block set out 2 minutes 30 seconds in front of scratch and was made up of Kingsley Massey, Peter Stockwell, Dick Hore, Ray Gilburt and Matt Nugan. Scratch were four strong with Craig Tilston , Malcolm Blake, Jason Minato and Jeff Stoll in the group.
Scratch after receiving a late one minute reduction of their chase time, capitalised on this advantage and with a blistering first lap of 14 min 40 seconds, and caught the surprised chopping block by the end of the first lap. The combined scratch / chopping block group worked well together lapping in the low 15 minutes, with Peter Stockwell and Kingsley Massey giving scratch a good contribution in closing down the front groups.
Meanwhile the limit group were still out in front with Tom Graham leading the way with some big turns into the strong south-westerly wind. Groups 3 and 4 had combined by lap 3 and were working hard to hold off the fast finishing Scratch group.
With 2 km to go the Scratch group had caught all the groups, except for limit. The game of chess had begun and the limit group were exploiting every strategy to best position themselves for the finish. Michael Wynne made his move first but Tom Graham had it covered and with a counter move left his fellow limit members, to take out his first point score race in a solo win from Wynne. Michael Andreazza finished in 3rd place and Ana Stoll who completed a sensational ride for 4th.
Coming out of the final corner the scratch trio of Tilston, Blake and Minato had a slight advantage over the rest of the field and were fighting it out for fastest time. Mal Blake was too quick in the sprint to the line for 5th place and fastest time, at 1 hour 30 seconds with Tilston in 6th and final points of the day.