Sunday 22nd August 2010
Ride for Life Centennial Park - C grade
The State Handicappers had placed most of the DHBC riders in C grade, including Strawburger
The course was a 1.9k lap of the infield of CP, returning around Grand Pde in the wrong direction - 13 laps. There was a headwind on Grand Pde, which also had a small incline and the finish was at the end of a decline, where we were rolling over at 50kph, so I was expecting a fast sprint at the end.
The field was combined with the womans race (12 riders) making it about 70 riders all up.
I was fearful of being dropped on an lap 1 early attack, I remember this race 2 years ago when I last raced, so I started on the front and stayed there until hitting the headwind on Grande Pde, where I cruised until some riders got jack of it and went past me then I sat on about 8th wheel for a couple of laps before moving into the middle of the pack.
For the next 6 or 7 laps the usual stuff happened, the odd attack, I was riding one down when I got cut off by a rider not holding his line and then I drifted towards the back. By this time there were about 50 riders left, 8 woman had been dropped and about 12 men. Then with was a huge crash with upto 20 riders going down. The race was stopped and 4 went to hospital;
Bathurst Rider - looked really bad remained still on the road, had oxygen provided
DHBC Rider - broken collar bone
? Rider - was sitting against the barrier but had oxygen provided
RBCC Rider - ?
I got to use my Senior First Aid training until the race medics turned up.
Here's what I wrote up on my club forum;
mikesbytes wrote:At the time I thought it was 20 bikes, but perhaps a little less
Let me try to sum up the status - let me know where I'm wrong
Joshua - in front of crash, not involved
Chidgey - in front of crash, not involved
Othy - at front of crash, hit but not knocked off
Matt - at front of crash, ended up with riders and bikes on top of him - broken collar bone, small crack in helmet but probably no other injuries.
James - behind the crash, hit but not knocked off
Clement - behind the crash, managed not to hit anyone with some heavy braking
Mark - behind the crash, knocked off by another rider over reacting. Minor graze on right leg
Simon C - ????
3 Others going to hospital;
Bathurst rider - looked really bad, probably the most injured
RBCC rider - ?
? - ?
Damage;
NSCC rider Roberts had a smashed frame after hitting the barriers trying to avoid fallen riders, looked similar to Weyiun's Ridley, but not hurt.
From what I saw not a lot of bike damage
Matt needs a new helmet
Mark needs a new jersey and leg warmers
Race was restarted about 40 minutes later for the final 2 laps. The riders took the first lap netural and raced the final lap. All DHBC riders except Matt took the restart.
Another DHBC rider wrote;
j.d.lester. wrote:...a very nasty crash, the pace was slow for the size of the group, and with a downhill run into a sweeping left hander the rear of the field would bunch up each lap at the point of the crash. The previous lap I was rolling on the outside line and felt the group drifting wide, so next time through I decided to stay inside to keep my position close to the front, and avoid potential run-ins, with two to go. A rider immediately to my right and one bike length in front, no idea who, looked uncomfortable with his place in the pack and the speed.. he looked to straighten his line while the road continued left, clipped the guy to his right who was probably still turning in, and as a consequence, brought the balance of the field down. I counted about 16 who got through. The sound of bikes and riders slamming into each other and the barriers was terrible..
..Matt.. all the best with your recovery..
With the road full of ambulances and other vehicles, the remaining riders eventually collected on the start finish. After a while we rode up and down the road to keep warm and then they restarted the race about 40 minutes later. This time they separated the remaining 4 woman into a different race. The riders had agreed to have the first lap neutral + 100mtrs to cover the crash corner and then we race, with 1.8k to go. So it became a sprinters race, I was fully expecting the track riders to excel, but a lot of riders while restarting (including me) were riding conservatively. We were sitting on a mere 45kph, quite slow for such a sort distance. So I should of gone down the outside and had a go for the podium, but I was a bit put off (as were others) and didn't contest the sprint, which wasn't that fast.
In hindsight I should of contested the sprint, the first prize was $1,000 TWE wheel set.