MIVA ARBUTUS EVENTS 130730

Miva Tuesday Criterium 130730

Arbutus Meadows Equestrian Centre, Nanoose

Organised by Mid Island Velo Association

Elimination race with sprints every two laps

The riders like these Miss and Out races and are developing the strategic skills that will save them from being called out too early. With two laps left, the field was down to three riders who contested the finishing sprint, with Don Gillmore taking the chequered flag from Nick Kupiak and Victoria Wheelers Evan Earp Jones.

After a five minute breather, there was a forty lap criterium, with four intermediate primes. As there were two youth riders participating in their own fifteen lap race, the first two laps were neutralised. Once the green flag dropped to signal the start of real racing, the youth duo of Aiden Hare and Ian Gillmore were left to get on with their own contest, while the senior pack upped the pace to over forty kph.

The pack stayed intact for the first five laps but then Don Gillmore, Ian Smith and Nick Kupiak established a small breakaway that steadily gained time on the remainder of the bunch. The first prime on the seventh lap was won by Don. By this time, there were two groups on the road, with five riders in the main chase and a trio of stragglers. The second prime at seventeen laps was for this group and was won handily by Patrick Burnham who put his growing experience on the Victoria velodrome to good use. Meanwhile, the break had increased its lead to well over half a lap, circling at just under forty-two kph., Scott Doran had pulled in with mechanical trouble, Mark Wieler had abandoned. and Mike Gill, Iain Hay and son Brodie had been lapped.

By the halfway point, Don, Ian and Nick had lapped the entire field, some riders twice and were well on the way to the top three places, with only the order to be decided. With twelve laps remaining, Don took the third prime from Ian, with Nick beginning to lose contact Soon afterwards the usually sure wheeled Don took the far upper bend on the circuit too fast and crashed. He took the lap allowed for such episodes but did not return to the start to report the mishap and was later cautioned.

With four laps to go, the fourth prime was given to the entire pack, the leaders having lapped the rest of the field for a second time. Patrick again won the sprint. Now Don and Ian pulled away yet again with only Nick Kupiak still not having been lapped. Now, Don showed his strength and left Ian to solo in for the win. Ian came a distant second and Nick, nearly a lap down third. Evan Earp Jones finished forst of the lapped riders

In the youth category, Ian Gillmore and Aiden Hare stayed pretty well together for the fifteen laps, with first one and then the other taking a few lengths. However, on the last lap, Ian pulled ahead of Aiden to take the win.

Thanks to Mike Gill for helping with course take down.