The Handicapper split the field into six bunches, and the challenge was going to be getting the gaps right.

The first bunch to leave, with a solid 15-minute start over Scratch, was made up of Tony Delgigante, Paul Muir, Moreno Chiappin and Dave Heffer. These boys knew they needed to work together to hold off the other riders and set off at a very solid pace.

The next bunch to get underway was made up Tony Jones, Last start winner Bron Jones, Leanne Kennedy, Rod Savage and Brendan Sinclair. This bunch was given a 10m 30s start over Scratch and given the calibre of riders were given a fair chance of catching the lead group.

Next away was Dick Hore, Grant Elwin, Kingsley and Jenni Massey, and Aidan Hill. This bunch had a great mix of experience and youth, which would be needed if they were to make inroads.

Block was made up of Nigel Dunstone, Peter Stockwell, Steve Bertoldo, Jason Minato and Tim Ellis. The bunch had a 2m 30s start over the backmarkers and were quietly confident they had the horsepower to get the job done.

The super limit group of Mia Stockwell, Tom Graham, Alana Rossiter, Peggy Carpenter and Tara Payne were sent on their three-lap journey between Block and Scratch.

Scratch was made up of defending Hanwood Cup winner Andrew Bradley from Tolland Cycle Club, Mitch Harrison, current Tom's Cycle City Pointscore leader Alan Jones and Craig Tilston. These boys knew they would have to ride like the wind and work together.

Up the front Delgigante and his bunch were powering through the wind, with Heffer and Chiappin showing strong legs into the wind and Delgigante and Muir ramping it up downwind. Unfortunately, the effort was starting to hurt Muir, and he dropped off the back after lap 2, leaving the other 3 to take up the challenge.

The super limit bunch were riding out of their skins. Payne and Carpenter were pulling strong turns into the wind, along Stockwell, while Rossiter and Graham were keeping it smooth.

Kennedy's bunch was also making some inroads as a result of working together as a team. The Boot Camp boys in Savage and Sinclair were using the strength gained from climbing mountains was also helpful in the wind.

The Massey bunch had a good crack. Elwin and Kingsley Massey were putting solid efforts into the wind, while Hill, Hore and Jenni Massey were keeping the pace solid. This bunch were starting to get the feeling that today was not going to be their day.

Block was having a red hot go, lead by the Dunstone machine, who putting some super efforts into the wind. He was being supported by Bertoldo who was also surging along. Minato was putting in a super ride, and he was inspiring Stockwell and Ellis to dig in and lift the pace.

Scratch started strong, with Harrison putting in a couple of super efforts into the wind, while Bradley and Jones were working well to keep the momentum up. Tilston was powering through some long turns. Unfortunately, Harrison lost touch at the end of lap two, meaning the other three were going to do it tough from thereon.

The limit group released the race was theirs, and it would come down to a battle in the home straight to sort out the winners. It was the guile of Delgigante that prevailed as he jumped the others to take a well-earned win over Heffer and Chiappin.

Mia Stockwell took a strong fourth from Carpenter and Payne. Fastest Time was taken out by Tilston.

Next week sees the final race in the Tom's Cycle City Pointscore, with the pressure squarely on Alan Jones to hold onto his lead.

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