CALLUM Fryer has taken out victory in his first attempt at the Camperdown Cycling Club’s annual Saul Pasque Memorial road race last Thursday.
The Melbourne rider competed against a near record 72 entrants to cross the finish line with a time of 22mins and 17secs.
Ryan Brodie from Warrnambool took second in his sixth attempt to win the race that is in remembrance of his good friend.
Third over the line was out-of-towner Nick Kennedy followed by local Michael Krybolder.
Scratchman Darcy Woolley took out the fastest time honours in 21mins and 27secs filing his way through the long line of tailed off riders.
Club president Shane West said the race was a great turnout with riders travelling from Melbourne, Geelong and Wangaratta to compete.
“It was a very successful race and good to see a huge complement of Camperdown riders also,” Mr West said.
“It really shows the popularity of cycling and the kind of person Saul was to have such a turnout.”
Riders began the 16km road circuit around the Chocolyn block in seven bunches organised by handicapper Davina Pickles.
The pace from the start was fierce from all bunches causing many of the riders in the first few groups to drop off as the faster than normal speed was too much for them to sustain.
It was on Old Geelong road that the third scratch bunch hit the lead of the race and then it was a matter of tactics as to who would win.
As they rounded “Pasque’s” corner 800m from the finish line it was six out of the 20 or so riders who were in contention for the number one spot.
By the 300m mark four were vying for the honours when Fryer jumped on behind two riders who were sprinting and passed them 20m before the line to take first place.
Mr West said Dylan Hately’s record from last year’s race remained.