Excitement Builds for Club Championships

This Sunday, the Sunbury Cycling Club will hold it's road championship race on the Lancefield - Newham circuit. Meet and depart from the Lancefield Footy Ground, Woodend-Lancefield Road. Be there at 10am. Race start 10.30am. Then the family day and picnic afterwards at the footy ground after the race.

Over two laps of the rolling Lancefield - Newham circuit, a field of 25 will duke it out to see who can claim the title. This years race looks to be the most hotly contested race in years. Here are some of the contenders.Pre-Race Favorites. Hutchy(2008 Champion) and Butler (2011 ITT Champ)

Chris Steffanoni: Reigning club champion will be back in a desperate attempt to defend his title. This will be Steffo's first road race since October last year. Rumors have been circulating in the peloton about a secret training regime he may have undertaken in the months leading up to this race. Steffo could win the race, or possibly get dropped by the bunch on the first lap.

James Butler: Comes into the race with excellent form recently winning a number of A-Grade criteriums in Melbourne. Butler has been quite vocal about his chances of victory this weekend. He rides for the John West Cycling Team and is one of those riders who can turn himself inside-out to win a race. Butler has to be a race favourite. He will do all he can to defuse the faster sprinters in the bunch.

Daniel Abotomey: New to the club in 2011, Dan is a well established racer for years, Daniel is the only Sunbury member with an Australian Championship title in his palmares. Consistently finishing highly in Northern Combine races this season, Dan has proven to be a dangerous contender in any race. Although his sprinting capabilities are a little unknown to many club members, Dan will undoubtedly be the man to follow over the hills.

Andrew Hutcheson: The 2008 Club Champ will be looking to reclaim the title off Steffo this year. Recently riding strongly in the Melbourne to Warnambool Classic Hutchy is a skilled race tactition, with plenty of racing experience. He has shown good form in recent criterium races, proving that he will be fired-up and ready for action come Sunday morning. Watch out for his fast sprint finish.

Mick Skerritt: Another member with plenty of race experience under his belt. Skerritt recently won his catagory in the Melbourne to Warnambool Classic which is a huge accomplishment. Although he may not have the raw horsepower of Butler or Abotomey, If he plays his cards well Skerritt could find himself on the podium.

Heath Jamieson: The former Jnr. Australian MTB Orienteer Champion has improved greatly in the past few months. The course suits Jameison with it's rolling hills and he will be trying to make the most of the breakaway moves. The only negative for this young gun was a recent fall at the StKilda criterium. Hopefully we can see him with all cylinders firing. 

Nick Smith: One of the club's junior riders. Nick has improved leaps and bounds this season. He has gained a reputation for being one of the most hard-arsed riders in the club by completing 4 hour ergo sessions regularly. If he sits back and watches some of the more experienced riders, Nick is a good chance of finishing on the podium.

David Steinhauser: One of the club's newest members, Steiny has been racing both road and off-road for years. Based in Gisborne he will know these roads well. His form is a little unknown but expect him to be seen on the front driving the breakaway at some stage.

Col Bell: A man who we have watched transform himself in the leadup to the Melbourne to Warnambool. Although not the most experienced racer in the bunch, Col is probably one of the fastest learners in the bunch and you can count on him to use every trick in the book to try to sneak a podium finish.

Paddy McIntyre: A man possessed. Paddy has been rumored to clock up 900km weeks this season. He will be disappointed that the race is not 200k but that will not stop him following the moves up the road to snatch a taste of glory. Can pack a sprint.

Mark Ukotic: The club president is another rider who has been missing in action race-wise for the late part of road season. He has however been spotted recently conducting secret training on the Calder Fwy which suggests he may turn up on Saturday with good form in his legs. Not the fastest sprinter, but can ride up the hills faster than most on his day.

Eric Thompson: Mr Consistancy. Eric has never had a bad day on the bike in his life. The long time Sunbury member is sure to ride his way into the front of the race. If he wishes to finish on the podium Eric will need to race aggressively and put it all on the line. His form is good. Always has been. Always will be.

Craig Sullivan: Consistent rider with plenty of race finesse. His ability to sit back and read a race will help him finish strongly. A local to the roads around Newham, Sullivan will know exactly where to be positioned when the going gets tough. Recently returning from a short break off the the bike, expect Sullivan to arrive on the startline with fresh legs.

David Cutajar: Another rider known for his extreme training techniques. David is constantly seen training between Sunbury and Melbourne at all hours of the night. David has been downplaying his form in the past couple of weeks. Expect to see him working hard in the bunch or in the break.

Fernando Toro: Riding his first race for the club Toro will come in as a complete dark horse. If he is anything like his namesake Oscar "EL TORO" Friere, Expect an explosive sprint finish and spectacular victory salute.

Andrew Dixon: Missing in action for much of the season, Dicko has been working hard cross-training. He recently completed the Melbourne Marathon. Another rider not afraid to ride the front of the bunch he will need to restrain himself from too much work if he wants to show off his impressive sprint at the finish.

Peter Share: A self proclaimed "old bugger". Share has been sharpening up his legs in recent weeks with some vets racing. Probably the most experienced racer in the club and one with consistently good form. Share will be able to take advantage of the less experienced riders.

Paul Morgan: Will come into the race with slightly unknown form. Paul has a good amount of racing under his belt but will have to race conservatively to stay with the race leaders. Another rider who is not afraid to pull some hard turns in the bunch.

Gary Munro: Always enthusiastic and up for a good club race, Gary will have to ride a composed race. If he races wisely and can bury himself when the going gets tough to hang on to the stronger riders, he might just walk away with a win in the sealed handicap.

Mitchell Allen: A new Sunbury member this season, Mitch has been progressing through the ranks on the road, MTB and Criterium scene. With a good base fitness thanks to his Melbourne to Warnambool Preparations he is capable of finishing strongly with the front bunch in this race. Mitch will need to ensure he doesn't do too much work in the bunch.

Tim Green: Was unfortunate to crash last weekend in a criterium with Heath Jameison. Tim's late season form is looking impressive now that he has more time to commit to training. He has scored some promising results in recent criterium races and has a very powerful sprint finish. A roughy for the race win.

Sean Anderton: Honing his sprint skills throughout the year on the track, Sean is one of the club's up and coming young guns. He will need to ensure that he sits back in the bunch for the early stages of the race and commit to his strengths on the closing stages of the race.

Anne Roberts: A gutsy rider, Anne will have to ride an attentive race to ensure she doesn't get caught out when the race splits. If all goes to plan she will be able to hang onto a stronger group of riders and may take out the sealed handicap.

George Gabranis: One of the club's best secret trainers. These roads are George's stomping ground. Recently he has been working in the hills around this area to sharpen up his climbing skills. George will ride a smart race.

Laura Butler: One of the club's two junior girls. Laura showed good form mid season at the State Championships and has recently been spotted mixing it up with the boys on club training rides. 

John Marcan: Nine times Melbourne to Warnambool finisher, this race should be a walk in the park for Marcan. All will be expecting to see his signature move in the first lap, the solo attack. If he wishes to make his attack stick he will need to arrange for some counterparts to attack up the road with him. Or alternately if he can sit back an snivel for the early part of the race, he is capable of pulling off a successful move late in the race.