German raider wins Cafe Roubaix opener

Peter Kennedy | Bendigo Weekly | 20-Jan-2012

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THRILLER: Darren Lapthorne leads Raphael Freienstein. Photo: DARREN CASEY
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THE Bendigo Cycling Club’s inaugural round of the Café Robaix Summer Series criterium racing attracted large fields to the tight Mayfair Park circuit on Sunday morning.
More than 60 riders competed in three grades for points as part of the aggregate series, all part of an initiative aimed at boosting the sport of cycling in a city with an already strong reputation as a cycling centre of excellence.
Racing for the Ronde Socks C Grade points, 20 riders took to the Mayfair Park circuit for what proved to be an energy packed 20 minutes plus three laps contest where Tom Floyd emerged the winner from Peter Sens and Mat Runnalls.
An evenly matched Hume and Iser B Grade contest saw 23 riders race for 30 minutes
plus three laps.
Justin Leske was a popular winner from Ash Harding and Owen Deacon.
Then it was the turn of the big guns, with an exceptional field of 22 quality riders starting in the Symes Motors A Grade event, racing for 60 minutes plus three laps.
In a thrilling finish, German under 23 team rider Raphael Freienstein held off local rider Darren Lapthorne by about the width of a tyre to win, with David Pell in third place.
Marshals were Petar Benjamin, Mike McManus, John Lucas, Paul Bowe, Garry Ponteladolfo and Justin Leske.
The Café Roubaix series continues this weekend from 8:30am at Mayfair Park, with Bendigo Cycling Club rooms at the Tom Flood Sports Centre open before and after racing to enable visiting riders to prepare for racing, ride out to the circuit, then return for a shower prior to travelling home.
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