Trevor Jackson
IT was another successful Mount Gambier 100 Mile Classic cycling event on Saturday, with a starting field of 109 for the 86th running of the event.
The weather played its part for most of the race, with pleasant conditions greeting the riders on Saturday morning.
Michael Kepka claimed the honours after a sprint to the finish, where he powered down the Bay Road hill to leave behind Paul Collins.
His elapsed time for 3 hours, 55 minutes, 33 seconds, just four seconds clear of Collins.
Brendan Davids claimed the fastest time with 3h, 42m, 30s.
David Bryant was the first Mount Gambier rider home, although Kepka did claim to live in the Blue Lake City for a couple of years for work reasons.
It was his third tilt at the 100 Mile Classic and it is fair to say Kepka was pleased with the result.
“This is my third crack at it and first win,” he said.
“Every time I do it I say that’s enough … I’m not a sprinter, but you forget the pain,
“I think the satisfaction of finishing the race stays with you well after the pain and keeps bringing you back.
“It is probably the biggest race I have won.”
Interestingly, Kepka said he had not really planned to compete in the 100 Mile Classic, but that is now history.
“I was actually having a bit of an off-season before this race,” he said.
“I came to help a mate and was graded into a good bunch.
“With the group we had, I thought I was in with a chance, but it is a tough race.”
Kepka said while the conditions were good, the wind did provide a challenge, but mid-way through the event he received a boost from an unexpected source.
“I was racing with Tim Decker and when he turned around and said ‘you are going alright, I reckon you might get this’, that’s when I thought I might be a chance,” he said.
“When you get a legend like that whisper in your ear it gives you some motivation for sure.”
On the return leg from Port MacDonnell, the groups began to close up, with the scratch riders fast approaching Kepka’s group and another bunch out in front.
With few riders keen to take the challenge and break away, Kepka saw his chance and grasped it with both hands.
“We had the group in front of us in sight, but with the cross wind it was hard to get everyone motivated to work,” he said.
“Once we saw it I thought I would try to get across.
“Then I had a crack over a couple of hills before the Blue Lake.
“I knew I was climbing a bit better than some of the other guys, so I had a crack over that hill.
“A bloke came across to me and the two of us worked together.
“I had another kick at the Blue Lake and managed to stay away from there.”
While Kepka powered to the line alone, the race was anything but settled at the top of the Bay Road hill.
Not being a sprinter suggested Kepka needed a big gap to hold off the second-placed Collins, but that confidence and motivation he received earlier out on the road helped him remain at the pointy end across the finish line.
“I looked behind and thought I had enough of a gap going down the hill,” he said.
“You never quite believe it until you cross the line.”
Kepka said after working in Mount Gambier for a couple of years – ironically at the police station opposite the finish line – the region has a piece of his heart, which was certainly added to on Saturday afternoon.
Katelyn Nicholson claimed the honours for the women, with back-to-back wins after successfully defending last year’s crown.
Sunday saw the State Kermesse Championships held around a closed circuit of the Blue lake.
Liam White claimed the honours in the Open Men’s category, while Nicola MacDonald won the Open Women’s race.
100 Mile Classic results
ASW Lawyers U11/13 Junior Classic – 10km Handicap Caves Road: Joel Gooley; Molly Opperman; Jack Pentland (also fastest time).
ASW Lawyers U15/17 Junior Classic – 39km Handicap Caves Road: Liam Underwood; Hunter Wood; Elmer Buckland; Fastest time – Jami Buckley.
Pristine Skin and Laser Clinic, GT Bobcat and Fennell Forestry Womens Classic – 111km Handicap – Mount Gambier, Millicent, Glencoe, Mount Gambier: Katelyn Nicholson (defending Champion); Eloise Sandow; Nicola MacDonald; Fastest time – Katelyn Nicholson (3:05:41).
She’s Apples Market 100 mile Classic – 160km Handicap – Mount Gambier, Millicent, Glencoe, Mount Gambier, Port MacDonnell, Mount Gambier: Michael Kepka; Paul Collins; Matt Burchell; First local rider home -Dave Bryant, fourth place; Fastest time – Brendon Davids (3:42:30).
State Kermesse Championships – Held around Blue Lake
U11 Boys and Girls: Lyndon Winter; Diesel Petz.
U13 Boys: Nicholas Lowrie; Jack Pentland; Joel Gooley.
U13 Girls: Molly Opperman.
U15 Men: Liam Underwood; Jett Petz; Hunter Wood.
U15 Women: Freya Miller.
Under 17 Men: William Brown; Jamison Buckley; Maxx Nuspan.
Under 17 Women: Leani Van Der Berg; Madeleine Wasserbaech; Riegan Stanton.
Open Women: Nicola MacDonald; Elizabeth Nuspan; Eloise Sandow.
Open Men: Liam White; Aston Freeth; Louis Perriman.