Club Races
Kean wins Arapiles Classic
Horsham, Sunday 1st March 2009

	Frank Kean

Grampians Veteran cyclists lined up for the coveted Mt Arapiles Classic on Sunday , commencing at Horsham’s Wool factory

A strong southerly breeze ensured conditions would be tough for riders, which would favour the back markers.

Bridget Lang was first away, and made the most of her 19 minute handicap to establish a good lead over the next group of Meg Parnaby, Les Power and Shauna Heard.

Further back in the field, three minute markers Chris Scott, Drew Heard and Alan Barnett had combined with Gerard O’Brien, Tony Lloyd and Daryl Elliott and were riding strongly in an attempt to hold off the scratch markers.

As they turned with a tail wind along the Clear Lake road, speeds approached 50km/hr as they reeled in the limit markers. However, scratch men Frank Kean, Tim Schneider, Harvey Lang and Steve Monks managed to close the gap, and were on terms as riders began the ascent up Mt Arapiles.

Halfway up the climb, Kean launched an attack which no one could counter, and went on to win comfortably ahead of Barnett and O’Brien. All riders managed to complete the climb before heading back to Natimuk for a well earned coffee and snack.