The Peel Districts Cycling Club took over the Kwinana Motorplex last Saturday and Sunday for the Peel 24 hour. An event to see how far you could ride in 6, 12 or 24 hours, either as an individual, pair or team of four.
The race started at Midday Saturday for the 24 hour riders. An hour later the 6 hour riders started. As riders could draft any other riders to save energy, you saw groups form, with a mix of 6 and 24 hours riders. To try and cover as much ground as possible while expending the minimum amount of energy.
The 6 hour it was a race between solo rider Wade Longworth and the duo of Adrian Pahl and Alistair Milne. After 6 hours of racing Pahl and Milne had completed 136 laps of 1.7 kilometres, for 231 kilometre. Longworth with 134 laps, no far behind with 131 laps was the duo of Jo Boulton and Dennise Lawrence. Jacqui Stevens was the first solo women home.
At 8pm the 12 hour riders started. The appeal of racing 12 hours in the dark, was less than 24 hours and the 24 hour riders dominated the next 12 hours, with tactical racing, when to make rider changes for the teams, when to take breaks for the solo riders.
At 8am, Sacha Dowell had completed 199 laps and take the win the 12 hour category. The 12 hours riders left the circuit as the rain started.
The last 4 hours was completed in the pouring rain, with the resting riders and support crews encouraging all the others racers, in what was miserable conditions.
At the end of the 24 hours, Colin Ottaway completed 444 laps and 751 kilometre, Diane Humphreys the most for a women with 320 laps and 544 kilometres. The team of Michael, Ricky, Jeremy and Steven completed 504 laps and 855 kilometres.