Numbers are still up at the track for this time of year, club president Ray Hamilton said, which is a promising sign for the year ahead.
As most other summer sports are finishing up ahead of the winter season of football and netball, the EMCC had 32 cyclists turn up for Monday’s criterium.
‘‘It went fantastically, with the new hot mix around the club house and the velodrome it means we don’t have to get permits now,’’ Hamilton said.
‘‘I think we’re the envy of a lot of clubs in the area. We’re getting riders come across from Bendigo and Shepparton to race with us.
‘‘We had 32 riders on Monday and for a crit at this time of the year we’re normally hoping for about 20 or so.’’
There was a tense moment when it looked like A grade rider Chase Costello would come off his bike, taking the corner ‘‘a little’’ wide, but he regained composure to finish second outright.
Ash Hall was not as lucky however, suffering a tyre blowout as he was taking a corner and came off, sliding across the new track and grazing his upper leg.
Juniors took to the track before the senior races began, with the 32 riders split between A, B, C and D grades.
Results:
A grade:
First: Josh Thomson
Second: Chase Costello
Third: Trent Stevenson
B grade:
First: Troy Griffiths
Second: Dom Orso
Third: Brian Crockart
C grade:
First: Adam Nicholson
Second: Garry Stevens
Third: Clint Flanigan
D grade:
First: Leo Welch
Second: Kevin Carr
Third: Zenon Gawronski.