Men's A Grade winner Nathan Elliot's race report

Race report by Men's A grade winner Nathan Elliot.

 http://pelotoncafe.com.au/nathan-elliott-warburton-open-road-race-winner/

Winning sprint - ©  Jo Upton 

More photos

 https://picasaweb.google.com/106323040835214935874/CyclingExpressWarburtonITTRR2013

Additional photos have been added courtesy of

Jo Upton - http://www.jouptonphotography.com.au/ 

and

Gary Trounson - http://www.garytrounson.com/  
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/35292079@N03/sets/72157633102886558/

They stand by the side of the road in rain hail, or in this case fortunately sun taking these great pictures capturing the racing. So if you like their photos, please contact them to purchase.

Photos Road Race

Some photos of Sunday's action by  http://www.garytrounson.com/

 

And one from Jo Upton - https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/set/?set=a.569554559735128.1073741829.430407166983202&type=1

Photos ITT

 

 More photos - https://picasaweb.google.com/106323040835214935874/CyclingExpressWarburtonITTRR2013#

Weekend in review

Now into its fourth year, the Cycling Express Warburton race weekend hosted by the Blackburn Cycling Club has been run and won. Each year the event continues to grow, as word gets out about the great circuits on offer in the hills around Warburton.

With the Synergy Baku team entered, the start list for the weekend had an international flavour. The pleasant weather that greeted riders Saturday morning for the hill climb up Mt Donna Buang was a nice change from last year’s wet and cold conditions. Riders across the board were posting some impressive times; with Miranda Griffiths (Holden Women's Cycling team) the fastest of the women winning in 53:15 and Connor McConvey (Synergy Baku team) winning the Men’s with a blistering time of 45:13!

The circuit for Sunday’s road race led riders out through Powelltown on the Yarra Junction Noojee road, where all riders then continued with at least one lap of the hilly Piedmont loop. Great racing was had across all the grades, with the challenging course paring each bunch down by the finish. Women's A grade was won by Rebecca Locke (Liv/Giant) coming in just over two minutes ahead of Sarah Riley (Liv/Giant) and Rachel Ward (Bendigo & District CC). Men's A grade was a closer affair with Nathan Elliott (Target Trek) just getting the better of Peter English (St Kilda CC) with a strong throw to the line.

Congratulations to all the riders who raced over the weekend. Thanks  goes to Cycling Express for their continued support of our events. Also to the Commissaires, the Blackburn Cycling Club - Warburton race committee for their dedication in the months prior organizing the event, and all the volunteers who gave their time up on the weekend.  Mark it on your calendar for next year!

Race Results for the ITT and Road Race

Results have now been posted for the Cycling Express ITT and Road Race.

http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/?ID=49745 

http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/site/cycling/vic/downloads/Results/Road%202013/warbrr.pdf 

 A great weekend of racing is now at an end. I trust everyone enjoyed it out there, even if the wind today would have made the challenging course even tougher! 

Nice to read all the positive comments over on twitter #WarbieRR and #DonnaBuangITT. Please keep the comments coming; good or bad. We aim for the Warburton Race Weekend to be included in the VRS and are determined to make it happen.

I'll produce a write up of the weekend shortly, but a week of sleep deprivation preparing for this race  has taken its toll and I need to call it a night.

Though before I do, I would like to again thank the race committee who did many hours of work behind the scenes in the lead up, and the Blackburn cycling club members and others who volunteered their time on the day so you could race.

Martin Lama - Race Director

Get to registrations early!

Remember registration is open at 9am and will close at 9:45am. So get to the Wesburn oval early and be the first in line.

Also please bring a pair of scissors for the zip ties holding on your frame number, otherwise face a long queue for the few pairs floating around...

Cycling Express Warburton Hill Climb results

For those who can't wait till the results for the Cycling Express Warburton Hill Climb are formatted and published. The original driven down by motorbike to the waiting riders list...

Food post race

Make sure to bring some money for food after the race. The catering will be once again be located at the finish line, perfect for some post race carbs whilst watching others complete the race.

There will be hot pasta, salad rolls, cake and drinks!

Great day to ride uphill!

A near perfect day greeted the 90 plus riders entered in today's Cycling Express Warburton hill climb. With the great weather came some blistering times up the mountain!

Fast times were posted across all grades, with Miranda Griffiths - Women's A grade winner finishing in 53:15 and Men's A grade winner crossing the line at the summit in 45:13!

Results, photos and more detailed report to come.

Road Race start times Sunday

Men A - 10:00 am

Men B - 10:10 am

Men C - 10:20 am

Men D - 10: 30 am

Women - 10:40 am

Registration will be open from 9am in Wesburn Park. Get in early,  as we have 164 riders signed up to race!

Weekend weather

Forecast for the weekend is looking great. No Milan San Remo weather here!

 Powelltown forecast

Not yet fired up for Sunday?

 Great set of photos taken by Rik Blazevic of last years Road race 

Expect more of the same, just without the rain!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blaze429/sets/72157629970599867/ 

Entry lists are now available.

Entry lists have now been posted!

Saturday - Time Trial including starting time http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/default.asp?Page=49724
Sunday - Road Race http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/?ID=49723

Metarace timing for Sunday

Friends and family want to know how your race went on Sunday? Live results will be available online at: http://metarace.com.au/

For those like me hitting the refresh button for the CV race calendar to see the final entry lists and ITT start list, these should be online today.

Entries close tonight - 19th March.

It is shaping up to be a stellar weekend for racing. In particular the weather is looking good for both days!

So for a nice change, the summit won't look like...

 There will be no more extensions to the closing date, so tonight it is. Get your entry in now!

Entries Extended till Tuesday Midnight

For those who missed out on getting their entry in last night for the Cycling Express Warburton race weekend - fear not. Entries have been extended till Tuesday night!

Mt Donna Buang

The Cycling Express Warburton Hill Climb this Saturday takes on the classic Victorian climb of Mt Donna Buang. From the start on the banks of the Yarra river, there is only 200 metres of flat ground before the ascent begins and only lets up 16.8 km later at the summit.

 Last years winner Matt Clark is on fire after taking out the Mt Buller Road race today. Other riders such as Jason Spencer weren't far behind, so I'd expect Matt's blistering time of 46:50 last year will be given a shake!

For those who haven't ridden this hill, be ready to power through the many twists and turns as the road climbs through the rain forest to the summit. 

  My tip- save something for the last kilometer!

For more information about the climb, check out http://theclimbingcyclist.com/climbs/yarra-ranges/mt-donna-buang/

Sponsors and Supporters

Blackburn cycling club would like to thank the naming Sponsor Cycling Express for supporting the coming weekends event by providing vouchers and goodies bags. Local company Cycling Express has been very supportive of the club and events we run, so appreciate their continuing involvement with this event.

We would also like to thank the other supporters for this event -

Deploy Management Solutions for the Traffic Management Plans required by VicRoads and VicPol to provide permits to race these great circuits.

Warburton Caravan Park on the banks of the Yarra River for the use of their scenic caravan park  on Saturday for parking and registrations.

Cycling Victoria for the continued support of racing in the state, and commisairres needed for the running of events

And finally the members of the Blackburn Cycling Club for the many hours already amassed in all the behind the scenes organising this and many other quality events require. Without volunteers, races like this are not feasible.

Get your entries in now!

Entries need to be in by tomorrow night (Sunday 17th March) to guarantee a start in what is a challenging weekend of racing in the beautiful hills around Warburton!

Details on registration and route information is available by selecting the relevant link in the menu above.