All Spokes Festival Accomodation in the Hunter Valley

The ALL Spokes Cycling Festival incorporating the Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Grand Prix Criterium and CycloSportif Challenge was run and won over the weekend on NSW’s Hunter Valley region under beautiful autumn weather conditions.

Saturday afternoon’s Criterium events were run on a 2.6km hot dog circuit using the entrance road to Mt Broke Winery. The circuit was great with two tight turns at either end making it a tough affair and ensuring only the fittest survived. The uphill finish was designed to make life a little easier for the judges however the very first event was nothing but as Chrstine Twomey of the Parramatta CC edged out the ever consistent India Faehndrich by a mere 12 x 1,000th for victory with Belinda Diprose LACC finishing out the top 3 placing’s.

The Div 2 men rolled away next over their 30 minute event. Some good hard racing followed with another tussle to the line with Paul Archer from Sutherland Shire taking a well-earned victory over Kooragang Nathan Ruks and Central Coast’s Chris Murphy.

Division one was on from the start with riders like Kolbach, Apolony, Taylor, Wong, Curran, HAAS, Blick and Papworth doing all they could to unsettle the favourite JL Rathbone. With light fading and coming into the final turn Rathbone found himself at the back of the small but elite field of riders, straightening up and a little under 500meters to go with Crafty letting all of the Hunter know that JL stood no chance from there the amazing happened, One by one he clawed back putting everything he had into the big gear he was pushing past Taylor, alongside Curran and then over HAAS by the narrowest of margins to claim victory in this inaugural Grand Prix event .

Three fantastic Criterium events and great support from the locals who want to make this event bigger and better and hopefully will take out the tight turns for next year making this a truly wonderful Crit course for future years. Thanks to our hosts at Mt Broke Winery Mike & Chris for their hospitality and to Foxy and his mates at the finish line.

If Saturdays Crits weren’t enough the quench the thirst of our top riders, over 400 participants fronted up for Sundays Morning Xstrata Great Hunter Cyclosportif Challenge event outside the Pokolbin Hunter Gardens Estate under the most magnificent conditions.

29 riders got under way in the 19klm Family fun challenge. And what fun it was with one family taking a blanket and picnic lunch stopping half way to cheer on the hundreds of riders participating in the 60 and 100klm events.

As the two major events got underway, Matt Farley, Promoter of these great events had a real surprise in store for the spectators who gathered at the start. Bang on 8.00am he arranged for an acrobatic airplane to go through its paces and manoeuvers putting on a spectacular display for all to see. It was thrilling, loud and spectacular and matched the first years black helicopter that crept over the trees and hovered above the riders as they got underway in their events.

This years event saw record entries and through the efforts of Tyrrell’s wines every entrant over 18 years received a complimentary bottle of Tyrrell’s best wine just for entering. With over $15,000 in cash and prizes on offer for this event it was not surprising to see some of NSW’s biggest hitters out to grab the cash.

The 100klm event was covered in the very quick time of 2.20.04. Two riders made the race escaping from lap one and spending all but the last half lap out front. The big hitters reeled them in and with a 40 up bunch gallop it was anyone’s race. The crowds were screaming in support of their riders, there was noting in it as JL Rathbone edged out evergreen Eddie Salas and Newcastle’s young gun Dane Crawford across the line. What a finish, what excitement to end the third running of this great spectacle which runs through the beautiful Hunter Valley wine region and has a sprinkling of Paris Roubeaux along the way.

Indian Faehndrich got revenge for her second placing on Saturday over Yoni Cross and Marissa Madden. India finishing just over a minute down on the men which is a very creditable performance and demonstrates the ability of this young lady. 114 riders completed the 100klm course with Cameron Chapple closing the event in a time of 4.21.13.

37 ladies completed the 60klm course with a great ride from Dubbo CC Emma Apolony saw her take a great victory over Mikhele Rundle (Kooragang) and Hayley Follett (Hunter District CC).

Paul Archer Sutherland Shire CC made it a double for the weekend winning a close tussel from 14 year old Jack Edwards Lidcombe Auburn CC who dead heated with Stewart (Computer) Campbell of Bicisport with Bathurst Cc Harrison Jones just getting pipped and coming home in 4th place. Pauls’s winning time for the 60km was a very quick 1.27.48 and these two victories may very well attract the attention of the NSW handicapper!

NSW Road Series points were on offer for this weekends events. Cycling NSW will have the points table updated shortly revealing who is leading each division’s series.

Congratulations Matt Farley, Promoter of the Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Challenge and Grand Prix event. A truly magnificent weekend of events in NSW’s premier wine district, the Hunter Valley.

Kevin Young
Cycling NSW