RACING at the Footscray Cycling Club’s criteriums at the VUT track in Hoppers Crossing had the usual howling easterly wind to make for tough competition on Saturday.
The tricky conditions didn’t stop in-form A Grade rider Dom Dudkiewicz though, who made it eight wins from eight races this year.
In typical A Grade style, a hectic pace was set early by the gun riders in an effort to break up the bunch, with Nathan Page among others delivering a barrage of attacks.
Within 15 minutes there was a clear lead bunch about 150 metres ahead of a strung-out peloton. The race then settled into an all-too-familiar pattern where the lead bunch gradually crept up on and then lapped the main bunch. When it came to the sprint, Dudkiewicz had Ben O’Leary and Paul Anders’ one-two and Nathan Page’s attack covered to claim victory.
Dudkiewicz, whose form has been impeccable this season, has been racking up the kilometres in an effort to be ready for a full season of racing.
The talented rider is hoping that his efforts might be rewarded with a spot in a team.
“I’m going to give next week’s club championship my best go, especially since I’ve never won it but my real goal is the National Road Series,” he said.
The B Grade race saw an improving Matt Heath hurting the bunch with repeated efforts on the front, which caused the riders to break up very quickly.
When the remaining riders lined up for the sprint, Travis Small added a new trick to his repertoire by winning the bunch sprint narrowly from Trevor Perry and Matt Johnson.
In CGrade, it was a harder race than normal, with the bunch being put under the hammer and lined out quite a few times.
Commissaire Dave Danson felt that C Grade had upped the ante, and rode a harder race than normal. Eventual winner Steve Bodey looked the goods for the whole race and won the bunch sprint convincingly from Leo Brunato and Antonio Marino.
In other results, Michael Albanese took out the D Grade race.
