Recently Toowoomba held the Tour of Toowoomba, with several criteriums held on the Sunday in support of the final criterium for the Tour. The 99 Bikes Team consisting of James, Michael and Stephen braced the cooler weather to compete in a combined Elite A, Elite B and Masters A race which was sure to be quick.

The circuit was a 2.4km road around the picturesque Queens Park with racing being either uphill or downhill. The beginning of the race was quite controlled by the peleton with many wondering how the long hill each lap would affect the legs towards the end of the race.

Stephen tested his legs early with a serge up the hill and staying away for a short while. The race came back together but moments later two cyclists broke clear of the peleton, taking their chances at staying away. Unsure as to whether the peleton were keen to pull these riders back, four cyclists including Stephen made an attempt to bridge across spending several laps in transition.

James and Michel worked well together controlling the bunch and watching the attacks. This didn’t quite work to plan as the groupetto came back together with just two lone cyclists working hard out front. The peleton were quite reluctant to work together apart from the odd few, with the majority saving their legs for the finale.

With 2 laps to go James made a ferocious attack off the front and rode hard to create a gap hoping to hold on for a podium finish. Stephen and Michael attempted to keep the peleton at bay praying that James had the legs to keep going. But just as James could see the finish line 100m away, the peleton surged up the hill for the final time, overtaking him to make the sprint for the line.

As Stephen and Michael were anticipating James staying away they became blocked in the uphill sprint. It took quite an effort but Stephen placed a respectable yet somewhat disappointing 5th place. Meanwhile Michael and James finished in the bunch with James still cursing at the fact he was robbed a podium finish.

Overall the 99 Bikes Team did considerably well with many riders not finishing due to the hilly race and a couple of accidents. Well done and we certainly look forward to the same race in 2012.