By MATT NICHOLLS
THERE was no shortage of thrills and spills in the Armidale Autumn Festival Criterium on Sunday.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of the Armidale CBD to watch the cyclists race around the city streets in the various grades.
In the A-grade race, the drama came at the very end.
A group of three riders – Mitchell Carrington, Dylan Sunderland and Dane Crawford – had broken away from the pack to have the race between themselves.
When the bell sounded with a lap to go, the trio extracted every bit of remaining energy left to try and get the ascendacy.
With 100 metres to go, Carrington grabbed the lead and went on to score a memorable victory.
But as eyes were focused down the track to see who would finish fourth, a loud bang and crash was heard up the road.
As Sunderland went to put his arm around Carrington to congratulate him on his success, their bikes collided and both came tumbling down.
“It was just one of those things,” Carrington said.
“Dillan and I are mates and there was no real harm done.”
That wasn’t quite the case.
While no bones were broken, Carrington was bleeding from his hand and legs at the presentation, while his carbon front wheel will have to be replaced after it shattered in the crash.
“This is my fifth time riding at the Armidale criterium and first win,” Carrington said.
The Tamworth cyclist was part of the Newcastle-based Paradice Investment Cycling Team, which included Armidale young gun Harrison Munday.
