There was a great turn-out for the first Byron Bay Cycle Club Summer Criteriums series event of the year.
Riders were given welcome relief from the heat by a strong southerly, but it meant there was a thigh-burning headwind on the final straight.
With the Shire hosting thousands of holidaymakers, the event welcomed a host of visiting riders from up and down the coast.
The A-Grade competition featured a small but classy field including 16-year-old Connor Gibney, who stepped up from B grade for the first time.
But Tim Van Berkel showed his class early in the race, riding away from the field and lapping all competitors to win easily.
Gibney managed to hold Berkel’s wheel on the second pass to take second place.
Adam Taylor was third.
There was a solid pace in B-Grade from the start with speeds averaging well over 40km/h.
Jason Agius took out the prime lap, but soon after Craig Morley rode away from the field and stayed out in front to take out line honours.
Jason Agius held on to take second while Danny Mena took third.
Tactics played a big part in C Grade with a number of riders breaking away only to be caught by the pack.
Matt Perkins and Christian Saurine managed to split from the field in the final laps, securing first and second respectively with Steve Gillman coming in third.
The riders in D Grade rode to their individual strengths with some happy to simply do their best, while others took a more competitive approach.
This resulted in the field spreading out.
Bruce Quinn rode strongly to secure the Prime lap and first place with Dave Scully second and Denise Matthews third.
The next race takes place on Feb 25.
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