Although numbers were down and the conditions challenging the 2nd annual Be Better Psychology Open Criterium was run and won on Sunday with some exciting racing. The venue the Glenvale Criterium circuit played host to the event and has recently had it’s first birthday. 4 main races with 8 divisions were run on the day.
The big draw card for the day was one of Queensland’s best road sprinters Peter Thompson from Ipswich. Thompson has recently competed in a number of the NRS series throughout Australia for his new team, Drapac Porsche and is off to compete in China next week. The former Tour of Toowoomba stage winner was the hot favourite for the day. Matt Ryan of the Hamilton Pine River Wheelers club had other ideas though. Ryan’s name has been on the winners list of a number of open races in recent years.
The pair broke away in the final laps of the A grade event and working together to firstly drop the peleton then fellow break-away rider Tim Dalgliesh who soloed in to take third. It was a straight out sprint between 2 of the best to get the win. In an upset Ryan’s experience shone through with a perfectly timed lunge to take the win by a few centimetres.
Other notable performances from local riders were by Bikeline Racing strong man Trent West to take the Men’s Elite B race. Jac Van Hoof of the Toowoomba Cycling club won a fast and furious sprint from the biggest field of the day in the Masters C. In Men’s Elite C young rider James Orchard from the newly formed Highfields Rollers club proved too strong for his older competitors winning the sprint in style. In the women’s division, Dalby rider Andrea Gormley proved the best of the girls and broke the pack up early to win from fellow Bikeline Racing club member Mia Wilkes.
Celebrating the 1st birthday of the track, rider Tim Dalgliesh said “it’s a great venue. I really enjoy this course and will be back for the next event here”. Local club races are held on average every fortnight and with 3 more planned for the remainder of the year at the Glenvale Criterium track.