Bathurst Cycling Classic 2020 results

On the weekend of the 14th and 15th of March, the Camden Cycle Club went a little further West this time for racing, sending 16 riders to the 2020 Bathurst Cycling Classic.

Friday evening wasn’t pizza and relaxation for all Camden members, Rachel Eagles and Jared Madsen were preparing themselves for the NSW Hill Climb Championship. Both riders set out on the 4.1km course that started in Harris Park and finished in Sulman and Reid Park atop the famous Mount Panorama race track.

Rachel kicked off her incredible weekend with 1st in her age group, a full minute and a half quicker up the mountain than second place.

Jared competed in a very tough field of riders in the under 23 age group taking the 6th fastest time up the mountain, although was impressively 9 seconds faster than his time last year, on a course which many riders in fact took longer to reach the summit.

On Sunday, Bathurst hosted the Road Race event, a brutal 100 kilometres of hard and fast racing. With over 1300 metres of climbing, many riders were referring to the Mark Renshaw designed course, as a “climber’s race,” and didn’t our new NSW Masters Women’s 3 Hill Climb Champion Rachel Eagles make the most of that. After an almost solo effort throughout the race, Rachel Eagles managed to secure 2nd in her age group for the Road Race to top her weekend off.

Josie Talbot represented Camden Cycle Club in the short course event, taking out 1st place in the womens catergory and 3rd overall, Josie was also 3rd in the elite womens hill climb the day before, a great weekend for the female riders of Camden.

In the Elite Wave of men’s riders, Jared Madsen and Rhys Clarke lined up against a strong field of racers, Jared retaining a great position over the early Mount Panorama climb. Rhys commented on his “disappointing position” (R. Clarke) after the climb, although evidently road extremely hard to regain position and complete the course in just under 2 hours 40, with Jared coming in a few minutes after.

At 8 am the huge group of 19-34 aged riders set out as the Elite group crested the climb, which led to Jacob Jenkins holding a good position and finishing 12th overall in this age group, 10 minutes behind the Elite wave. Following this, Daniel Pomering raced across the line 21st in his massive field of 197 riders aged 45-49, with Mark Saliba also a few minutes behind.

Manuel Moncada, David Ward and Glenn Leechburch came across the line in their respective age groups at around the 3-hour mark, an impressive time on a tough course with a very tricky crosswind and undesirable headwinds for the most part of the last 20 kilometres. Many of the Camden Cycle Club members finished within the top 100 riders of their age groups.

This was another great weekend for Camden Cycle Club, recognised state-level achievements, personal achievements and a further display of team camaraderie and cycling passion.

Jacob Jenkins