Here's some things we learnt in the Saturday's C Grade combine race, for the much sought after Hawthorn Trophy:
- Nick Saint Cloud can ride up hills real fast.
- Nick Saint Cloud can ride up hills real fast over and over again.
- Nick Saint Cloud can and WILL ride up hills real fast over and over again, and string out the bunch, and drop guys. Every lap.
- Guys who weren't Nick Saint Cloud got scared of the climb, and wouldn't do any work on the rest of the lap, for fear of the pain Nick Saint Cloud would inevitably unleash on the climb. Every lap.
Two guys attacked on the first lap, including Sunbury's Rob Merkel. The bunch didn't seem to care. They were all just watching the back of Nick Saint Cloud, and wondering what the hell PAFT meant.
Old Man Hogan sat in, saving his Old Man Legs.
We gave our Brunswick track buddy, Scott Gigante, a lift out to the race, kitted him up in some fresh Saint Cloud shop kit, and he duly responded by attacking with 1.5 laps to go (after the two breakaway boys had been caught), and solo-ing away for the win, though he probably died a thousand deaths on the final climb to the finish, as his huge lead dwindled down to 30m. But he's clearly stronger than 1000 LeBrons, and will likely tear C Grade a new one at the 3 Day Tour.
Nick Saint Cloud did eventually pay for his repeated efforts on the climb, but still managed an amazing 7th place after spending pretty much the whole day on the front with Scott.
Old Man Hogan and his Old Man Legs held on for 9th.
In B Grade, Nicholas Edwards looked splendid in his new team kit. Although he didn't win the race, he deserves a prize for his immaculate blue shoes. Well done son.
As always, the folks at Hawthorn Cycling Club did a tremendous job taking photos of the racing and getting those photos up on the interwebs quick smart, and so there are a veritable shit load of photos here.
Thanks heaps to HCC for the race, the photos, and the sponsorship from Mountain Goat. Great to see a local craft brewer getting on board!
