Alex Arancibia, Olivier Dharma Ratne & Rolly Delaytz at Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre June 2014
The 3 Peaks Challenge in early March and Tani Ruckle rode the 240k over Tawonga, Hotham & Falls Creek in 9hrs 16mins and set the fastest time in the womens category. The Challenge had 1,800 starters (11% were female) and 92% finished in ideal conditions. Fastest time was 7hrs 35mins.
The Sydney Champs at Penrith in late May and BiciSport topped the medal count with 3 Gold 2 Silver. W3/4 - Martinette Van Vuuren took Silver in W3 with good rides by Kirsty Flanagan & Karen Thornton M2 - One of the sharpest Bici team displays (and we`ve had a few over the years) you`re ever likely to see as Alex Arancibia, Rolly Delaytz & Oliver Dharma Ratne got in some serious team time trial training and put the knife in lap after lap. To finish off the job Alex led the team out & Rolly took a great win with Oliver right up there. Rolly has taken several good wins at Heffron Park and this was pay day. M3 - Jays Austin recharged the batteries this year and it was back to business. Stewart Campbell won an intermediate sprint prime then Jays won another and simply kept going off the front. Another Gold for Jays, Stewart finished 4th with solid team rides by Matt Glanville & Andrew Curro. M5 - Geoff Baxter is always a chance if you wave a checkered flag at him and that was good for Silver. Graham Cockerton & Dom Zumbo did a lot of work and were both a peloton finish. M6 - Graham Tierney was all over the front of M6 supported by Peter Verhoeven. Mike O`R was also a bunch finish. M7 - David Willmott is preparing for the Manchester Track Worlds in October and was at unbackable odds to win M7 (he duly obliged).
In mid July BiciSport entered 8 teams into the TTT Championships which is an all time high for Bici road entries. Conditions were standard Nowra ... being cold and windy. BiciSport finished 4th in the NSW Club Shield Pointscore based on overall performances (25 clubs participated).
Women Masters - 18 teams entered and the # 1 team of Sue Tierney, Tani Ruckle, Merryn Truskett & Martinette Van Vuuren took the Gold medal by just 11 seconds from Manly. The #2 team of Karen Thornton, Louise Brown, Kirstie Dolton & Kirsty Flanagan took 9th (from 18 teams) in 1hr5min. Sassafras Challenge - 10 teams entered with 5th place to Stephen Brown, Graham Tierney, James Thornton, & David Browne in 1hr dead. 6th place went to Raoul Westbrook, Dom Zumbo, Joc Young & Kevin Emery in 1hr5min. Masters 150+ 19 teams entered and in 2013 Bici was 6th and in 2014 saw improvement up to 4th with Geoff Baxter, Mike O`Brien, Peter Verhoeven & Mike Lawson. Masters All Ages - 44 teams entered with the #3 team of Dean Degan, Graham Cockerton, Jason Keane & Graham Tierney (out again) took 28th in 1hr dead. The #2 team of Alex Arancibia, Rick McArdle, Stan Genakis, Rolly Delaytz took 12th in 55min21secs. The #1 team of Jays Austin, Stewart Campbell, Matt Glanville & Olver Dharma Ratne took 4th (just 7 secs off Bronze) in a time of 52min34secs.
Griffith Masters Road Champs in late September - Road Race - Bici had 5 starters but only 2 finishers. M2 - Oliver Dharma Ratne was a bunch finish (for 26th). M7 - Mike Lawson punctured with 2k to go when looking comfortable. W3 - Martinette Van Vuuren launched the uphill bunch sprint a touch early and paid the price (12th from 19). Oliver, Martinette & Mike rode prominently and were in medal contention until the end. Criterium - W1-4 - Martinette, Merryn Truskett and Karen Thornton contested the W1-4 with Martinette in velodrome mode doing it easy and covering any moves. Martinette took a close Bronze medal in the bunch gallop. M2 - Oliver Dharma Ratne was all over the front of a fast & furious M1-M2. Oliver attacked after the Sprint prime at halfway but was caught. Two laps to the finish and another sharp attack and Oliver missed the win within sight of the finish line. Great ride for a top 10 result. M7 - Mike Lawson was in an attacking frame of mind in the crit and was prominent for a bunch finsh. ITT - M3 and Dean Degan did a fine ride for 7th (in 26-08). M7 and Mike Lawson was equally competitive with 5th (in 28-03). W4 - Merryn Truskett hit her strides for an excellent Silver in 30-50 with Karen Thornton 5th in 33-44.
At the Ballarat Nationals Masters Road Championships in early October Mike Lawson finished 6th in the M7 ITT over 20k in a time of 29min 11secs, 10th in the Criterium in a bunch gallop and 14th in the road race.
Grafton to Inverell Classic on 25 October - Oliver Dharma Ratne had a tough day at the Grafton Inverell Classic and finished 33rd from 36 starters in B grade.
Tour of Bright in early December the BiciSport squad included Oliver Dharma Ratne, Mike Lawson, Graham Tierney, Monica Dalidowicz and Kirsty Flanagan. Monica won the opening day ITT stage and then Stage 3 to Mount Hotham.
