Riders tackle gravel terrain in Albany Cycle Club’s Dirty Thirty and Twenty’s Plenty events

Red gravel slush decorated the bikes of the 18 riders who recently competed in Albany Cycle Club’s first gravel race, the Dirty Thirty, on July 16 after a series of highly successful gravel fondo-style events over the past two years.

Held at Lowlands Beach on a 10km mix of gravel roads and Munda Biddi single track, the racers completed three laps while competitors in the parallel ride event, Twenty’s Plenty, did two.

Starting en masse, the group was quickly split in two after Brent Schoof and Brett Dal Pozzo threw down some big watts and rocketed off the line from the Lowlands Beach carpark and up the only significant rise in the course to Francis Road.

Matt and Vince Bascombe, Ryan McLaren and Mike Staude made a desperate effort to stay with the leaders.

The following group was headed by the 2m diesels, Ben Murphy and Dave Beckwith.

The high pace set at the front eventually split the group, with Schoof and Dal Pozzo leaving their four followers in their muddy wake.

As the race went on, the young legs of Vince Bascombe gave him a boost.

Behind them, Beckwith, lapping consistently, gapped Murphy, with Brad Bootsma, Lucy Wellstead and debutant Brett Turbill also riding strongly a bit further back.

On the final lap, having reeled in an attack from Schoof, Dal Pozzo launched off the front, creating just enough of a gap to carry him to victory.

Vince Bascombe carried his form through to a well-deserved third overall, family bragging rights and first mountain bike to finish.

Wellstead was the first female finisher, piloting her gravel bike to a solid 10th overall.

Starting after the racers, the 18 Twenty’s Plenty riders tackled the same course, albeit at a much friendlier pace.

With an emphasis on maximising the social aspect of cycling as opposed to the watts, the heart rate and the speed, the riders enjoyed the company as they cruised, chatted and admired their surroundings.

The Albany Cycle Club would like to thank Impulse Cycles for the prizes it donated for the event, and all the volunteers who put out signs, timed the event, and ensured riders were safe on the course.

The next event is the Scottsdale Slam in the Western suburbs — aka Denmark — this Saturday, starting at 2pm.