BALLARAT cyclist Ashley Key’s bold breakaway bid about 12 kilometres from home paid dividends in the Greg Gleeson Memorial road race at Wangoom on Saturday.
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Key opened a gap starting the climb past Reservoir Hill near Framlingham on the second of two laps and sprinted clear to claim victory from Camperdown’s Bryce Morden and Hamilton rider Daryl Patzel.
All three started the race from the nine minute bunch, with Key storming through the outmarkers.
The race, run by the Warrnambool Cycling Club, was a round of the South West Series.
President Barry Warren said Key’s burst blew the race open.
“It was a fantastic solo ride and won convincingly over a very tough course,” Warren said.
“It was a very impressive ride. He has lost 40 kilograms since he started bike riding in the past 12 months or so. It was a marvellous effort. He could have ridden off second scratch easy.”
Warren said 55 riders set out in the 62km race over two laps of the Warrumyea circuit, starting at Wangoom.
He said scratch marker Warrnambool’s Sam Lane set the fastest time as he stormed home to finish ninth.
