A SUCCESSFUL test run at Warrnambool Airport has given Port Fairy Cycling Club the green light for its inaugural summer criterium series.
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PFCC president Andy Graham said the club was encouraged by the first night of criterium racing on Wednesday and would begin planning dates for the series, which will run in January and February.
"Wednesday was pretty much our first one just to test the waters and see what sort of reaction (we got) and how it all played out and it was successful and now we will confirm dates," he said.
"Over January and February on Wednesday nights we will have six to eight criterium races at the airport and, numbers permitting, there will be juniors and then we will run A, B and C grade races."
Graham said being based at the airport provided the club a number of benefits and a prime location for the series.
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"It's entirely closed to public and we don't have to worry about permits or road closures and it's extremely safe as we are only ones there," he said.
"It's also allowing us to have the ability to watch the races and see what is going on in a really safe and easy location.
"The man-power that is required is also minimal and we don't have to close roads and/or have corner marshals."
The cycling club gained access to the airport thanks to member Jason Puschenjak, who worked closely with Warrnambool City Council and airport manager Terry O'Sullivan.
Future races will use a one-kilometre course and run for varying amounts of time plus an extra three laps for each grade before a winner is decided.
Graham hopes numbers will be high during the holiday period when visitors race and train with the club.
Shaun King (A grade), Robert Hibburt (B), David Sagnol (C) and Asha Graham (juniors) claimed victories on their first attempts at the new series.
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