Well even the locals started whinging today so you can assume that it's cold (**!!!?? Cold). Tough conditions rain, flurries of snow, strong winds and the thermometer not getting over six degrees. A couple of saddles on the forgotten world highway (and there's quite a few who would prefer to forget it today) proved to be decisive in the morning stage with most of the grades in tatters. The afternoon stage meant to be easy saw more carnage with the winds affecting most of the bunches.
Aaron Strong leads the A grade from Patrick Bevan (2 Seconds) with Ramblers Andrew Barlow (5th @ 31 secs) Dan Warren (10th @ 1 minute) and Jeremy Yates (11th @ 1:37) handy for tomorrows 90km tough stage. It wasn't Dylan Stewarts day and he is now 32nd.
Sean Joyce continues to have a strong ride in the B Grade and is 2nd at 3 seconds from Daniel Smith. Jeremy Stevens got involved today and has now moved to sixth at 1:20 and also scoring KOM points.
Fraser Gough played a big part in destroying the U17 boys and was unfortunate to throw a chain with 7km's to go after a big breakaway with Alex Frame he is now second on GC at 2:07,Lance Welch showed heaps of spirit and sits on 14th in the decimated field.
Sam Haslett 19th and Su Daniel 40th are the only Ramblers surviving C grade.
Laura Harris found the morning a challenge but hung on in the afternoon slipping back to 19th GC in the D Grade.
The Met Service forecast for fine weather tomorrow will be much anticipated by the field much reduced in numbers after todays damage.
Full Results >> Here <<
