Last weekend saw two BiciSport riders travel to Cobram to compete in the 50km Riverina Interclub cycling event.
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Both Frank Signor and Peter Budd were starting in their first race of the year and the expectations weren't too high.
At only 50km long the Cobram race is usually very fast and this year's edition was no different. There was a solid wind blowing but the temperatures suited fast racing. Signor started his race in group five with a 10 minute handicap. Group five had some strong riders and Signor was going to have to ride well to stay with them over the lumpy middle part of the course.
Budd started in group three with a five minute handicap. His group was quickly up to speeds of between 45-50 kph which didn't let up until the 22km point of the race where they swung left into the headwind.
The race came down to three groups on the road. Group four and five had combined and were leading the race with 20km to the finish. Group three was only a minute behind and passing dropped riders from the group ahead on the narrow roads.
Signor was one of those riders but he managed to grab a sit on the back of group three as they tried to peg back the leaders. The scratch group had caught the chopping block group but they were making slow ground on pulling back the front runners.
With 7km to race it looked like group three had the race at their mercy with Budd starting to think about the sprint. A lack of cohesion in the chase along with a stout resistance by the front runners had the race going right to the wire.
The leader hit the final corner with 900 metres to the line 250 metres ahead of the Budd group. They weren't going to be caught with Luke Nixon from the Wagga Wagga Cycle Club taking a great win.
Budd's group flew across the line a few seconds later but it was a race that got away for group 3. The scratch group crossed the line soon after with Cobram rider Travis Linde taking fastest time. Signor crossed the line a short time later with the remainder of his group 5 riders. The next race will be in Albury-Wodonga on 28 April.