A string of race falls failed to mar a spectacular performance by Chelsea rider Steele von Hoff to take out the Victorian 100-kilometre cycling championships at Port Fairy yesterday.
Normally a scratch rider, von Hoff crossed the line in two hours 15 minutes 49 seconds on the 50th anniversary of the event.
Coming off a win in the Preston Classic the previous weekend, von Hoff said yesterday's victory was "even better".
"It was a tough race today so I'm pretty stoked with the win," he said.
"I normally race in mountain bike events but I am definitely happy to do more of this now."
It was carnage on Port Fairy's roads yesterday as five riders hit the bitumen during the championships.
Hawthorn Cycling Club's Timothy White fell an hour into the race and was taken to Warrnambool's South West Healthcare with minor head injuries.
The race was stalled for half-an-hour and a hospital spokesperson said White was released late yesterday afternoon.
Von Hoff, 22, pipped world BMX champion Leigh Egan for first place. Egan said yesterday's race proved "pretty ruthless".
"Racing has changed so much. The younger guys fight for 10 to 15 kilometres and just keep going until the end," he said.
"Racing is getting harder and harder."
The championships kept spectators on their toes with a five-strong breakaway group leading the field for the first 50 kilometres.
After trailing by more than a minute, the second bunch gained ground and closed the gap to 40 seconds with 27 kilometres to go.
More than 60 riders continued the chase and with six laps remaining, the packs merged.
But a second collision with just five kilometres to go saw three riders fall out of first place contention.
Port Fairy Cycling Club secretary Jeff McLean said while the day was plagued with falls, he was thrilled with entry numbers.
"In the end we only had three scratchings so 73 riders raced," he said.
"It was a tight finish which is unusual because quite often it breaks up a bit because of the wind, but conditions were rather still which resulted in a bunch finish.
"I thought it looked really exciting. The big bunch kept together, then some riders broke away before they were dragged back in the last stages of the race," he said.
On Saturday, 72 riders took to the road for Hamilton's annual Cecil Shore Memorial handicap race.
Warragul's Darryl Anderson took out first place in 3:5.10.
He had a comfortable win over second-placed Liam Harland from Echuca Moama and Wayne Hately from Camperdown.
Hamilton club president Steven Lanigan said it was Anderson's first year back racing after an 18-year absence. "Darryl hasn't raced since 1992 and he was very happy with his win," Lanigan said.
"I think he might have even put his hands in the air as he finished a bit too early he was that keen, but he did have four lengths on the other riders."
Patrick Shaw took out the memorial's fastest race time with 2:45.28.
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