FORTY races, 250 riders, three washouts and three heat cancellations. Winners, losers and the thrill of competition.
That, and an outstanding winning streak in A-Grade by Dom Dudkiewicz sums up the Footscray Cycling Club’s 2012-’13 Summer Criterium season.
Held at the VUT Track in Hoppers Crossing, the FCC hosted A to E Grade racing twice-weekly on the windswept, tricky one-kilometre course between October and March.
The first of the medallion races, the Christmas Classic, saw Melton resident Dom Dudkiewicz continue his early season winning form and take the A Grade race, showing his trademark lightning fast sprint that would serve him so well over the season.
In B Grade, Werribee resident Mark Micallef and Kona Ironman Xavier Coppock formed a two-man breakaway with Micallef taking home the medallion and C Grade saw young Josh Ryan take the win and then collide with Eddie O’Farrell as he crossed the finish line, leaving both riders battered and bruised.
Dudkiewicz continued his domination by taking out the Club Legends Race, with an emotional Anthony Rebesco digging deep and winning the B Grade race held in honour of his mentors Hugh Cram, Harry Jones and Frank Zanatta.
The Club Championships in February saw the coveted red number one go to Adam Murchie, who jumped into a three-man break that pre-race favourite Dom Dudkiewicz missed. In B Grade, veteran Ben Ryan took home a hotly contested race, with John Paxton wearing the C Grade Medallion.
Dudkiewicz took his revenge a few weeks later by wearing the A Grade winners’ sash at the Max Campbell Memorial with Ryan Kenny taking home the B Grade medallion with a turn of speed that saw him eat up the B Grade field and leave them in his wake.
The Salter Cycles Summer Series A Grade winner had to be Dudkiewicz, who was simply too consistent and too strong all season.
Dudkiewicz taking the double and winning the 2012-’13 FCC Criterium Aggregate with double the points of his nearest challenger.
Riders now have a few weeks off before the FCC commences its 2013 Road Season, which promises to be the most competitive and challenging season in years.
