The Avanti Classic handicap has a different race format to other road races. Riders of similar ability are sent off in small groups of 10 with the slower riders starting first and the fastest groups following up to 32 minutes later with the winner being first rider across the line.

This format essentially turns the race into an 80km paceline where the later starting groups are always looking to catch those in front. The 2011 edition of the race was 2 laps based around a 40km loop through Lowood, Fernvale and over the Wivenhoe Dam wall and included a few riders from the Jayco AIS squad in the scratch bunch.

Mike, Jimmy, Evan and Rick made the trip out to Lowood for the race. Evan started 12 minutes in front of scratch, Mike and Rick 8 minutes in front, and Jimmy 4 minutes in front. With none of the 99 riders having ever competed in a handicap before, team tactics were essentially up in the air as none of us knew how the race would pan out.

Evan picked a very hard first open race and unfortunately he was dropped from his group mid-way through the first lap. Jimmy worked well with his group and managed to hold off scratch until the 60km mark and from then on continued to work at the front right up to the finish.

Rick and Mike’s group worked really well together and were continually catching groups and stragglers that had been dropped. Unfortunately all of our work came to nothing as a group of approximately 30 riders finishing 3 minutes in front of the second group containing Rick with Mike winning the bunch kick.

Jimmy’s group flew home and narrowly missed catching Rick and Mike, finishing 40 seconds later. Although all of team 99 missed the prizes it was still a great and hard day out providing valuable fitness before the key races in a few weeks.