Lassen Series Race #4 - 17 April 2011

On a cold and cloudy morning we lined up for the 4th Lassen series race in Camperdown.


The pros from the Tasol GT team made an appearance as well as Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser fresh from their Cape Epic win.


This meant the race was going to be tough, and it was.

Burry and Christoph were on their 29er MTB's, this obviously gave them a big advantage as they could corner quickly in the wet corners and never had to swerve for any of the numerous potholes. Good thinking by team Specialized.

The bunch remained together on the 1st of the 7 laps, but the pace picked up on the climb on lap 2 and the bunch started to splinter into smaller groups.


Halfway through the race a break of 5 riders moved clear off the front group. Stander, Dean Edwards, Mat Goetsch, Mike Adey and Martin Hillerman were in the move. In the 2nd bunch was Sean Merredew and Andrew Reeves from Mr Price, and we had Christoph Sauser, Deno van Heerden and Jean Spies with us. Bryan Cusack was in a small group behind with Werner Venter and Mike Viljoen in a larger bunch further back.

There were no 30+ riders in the break but Mr Price still had to chase for the overall. In the final lap the break started playing around which slowed them and the second group caught them with about 2km to go.


Just after the groups merged there was a lull and I put in an attack.


The group was keen to chase however. and I was caught with 1km to go.


A huge acceleration by Stander and Sauser up the final climb saw the bunch break up.


At the line Burry outsprinted Jean Spies for the win and Sean came in 3rd overall and 1st vet.


This means Sean leads the series comfortably now.


Andrew Reeves