The Ring criterium series returned to Technology Park Bentley on Sunday, and while there were a number of Peel Districts Cycling Club members racing, with Ashton Sime winning the under 13s race and Tom Power winning E grade. The star of the show was Travis Meyer in his final race as a professional rider in WA.
The Men’s A grade featured a who’s who of Western Australian cycling.The start list included Orica – Bike Exchange’s Luke Dubridge, Avanti IsoWhey’s Anthony Giacoppa, series leader Pennsylvania Lightning’s Stephen Hall, former track world champion Michael Freiberg, Jai Hindley and Micheal Storer who both have been selected for the Australian National Team at the 2017 Tour Down Under. the only notable absentees were Travis’ brother Cameron and Sam Welsford who raced and won the National Madison Championship in Melbourne the night before.
The race was like any other A grade race, fast, aggressive, riders attacking, getting chased down, before the inevitable counter attack. Then Travis Meyer attacked and went off the front alone. The bunch decide to give Meyer his time in the sun. It was a very controlled race, nobody was allowed to bridge to Meyer. Then the bunch decided it was time to chase, and chase it did. It went from 30 riders to 10 as it closed the gap. However, Meyer rode the race to perfection and had enough time to enjoy his final victory as a professional on Western Australian soil, finishing a few seconds ahead of Hall and Giacoppa.
The Women’s A grade was equally exciting with Orica – AIS’s Jess Allen making a bold bid for victory with a couple of laps to go, only to be chased down on the last lap and Richelle Gamble winning the reduced bunch sprint.
The Ring series now takes a break, returning 15 January at Gnangara, for more information visit www.ringcritseries.asn.au