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Race Results

Race 1 - Hastings - 45 minutes

On a cold summers day, Race 1 of the 2004 series took place in the rain. It was very heavy at times and was blown in on a strong wind which made the course very hard going just after the start / finish area. Straight into the headwind, after a tight left hand corner also meant uphill along an energy-sapping drag. The course was amended for all races for safety reasons due to the wet weather, but this did not stop several riders falling - some more than once - including 3 of the 4 race leaders with just 8 laps to go.

Before the race started, Hayley Rutherford took (Australia's) Channel 10 TV motorbike camera on a lap of the circuit - watch out for it on Sports Tonight........ 

The race was split up by intermediate sprints at 15 minutes and 30 minutes. By 30 minutes, the break was well away and gaining on the bunch, which was not quite in sight to be lapped, but getting close.

With 8 laps to go, three of the leaders fell, causing them to have a lap out before being 'collected' by the only member of the breakaway to stay upright. Had they all gone down things might have been very different, although by this stage of the race, the 4 were close to catching and lapping the main group anyway. 

The sprint for the minor places was dominated by Kate Nichols, followed in by a group led in by Rochelle Gilmore. There was a crash at the back of the circuit with 8 riders falling. This disrupted the middle places, with many riders coasting in - happy to have survived. 

Day 2 sees the action move to Portarlington, race time 12:30pm.

RESULTS

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