GEELONG Cycling Club took revenge on Footscray CC with a dominating 35-22 win in the sixth annual Challenge Cup of cycling in Geelong on Saturday.
The tally now stands at three wins apiece in the head-to-head battle in what is fast becoming one of the hotly contested races on the western suburbs cycling calendar.
The A grade race was dominated by Geelong club champion Tom Paton. With a killer climb and a stomach-churning descent to contend with each lap, it was not long before the peloton was broken up.
In the end, it was Paton who took the long, drawn-out sprint from a gallant Chris Zucchet, with Nick Squillari third.
In B grade race, a strong bunch of 20 riders was thinned out to six by the end of the first lap.
The insane pace had B grade ranging up behind A grade for a while, with Matt Castles travelling as though he was on an electric bike to take the win from the in-form Chris Munro and the equally strong Mark Scouller.
C grade winner Ryan Burt led home a Geelong domination of the podium, taking the sprint from fellow club members Rylan Bird and David Rhodes, while D grade gave Footscray some solace with 17-year-old Stephen Liley winning from Peter Bloink and Phil Galea.
Challenge Cup – A grade: Tom Paton (G), Chris Zucchet (F), Nick Squillari (G), Steven DelGallo (G), Jason Costin (F). B grade: Matt Castles (G), Chris Munro (F), Mark Scouller (F), Sam Lane (Pt F), Tony Ross (G). C grade: Ryan Burt (G),
Rylan Bird (G), David Rhodes (G), Zac Dynes (G), Michael Dam (F). D grade: Stephen Liley (F), Peter Bloink (F),
Phil Galea (G).
