Sam Spokes 16 from Tamworth and Jared Triggs 15 from Sydney showed good form in the Ride for life circuit race in Centennial Park last Sunday. The pair along with three other Real Aussie Kids riders have recently returned from a 6 week training and racing camp in Breckenridge Colorado gaining vital experience and exposure to the pro peloton along with the benefits of training at altitude. Ride for life is a non profit charity race designed to raise money for the Prince of Wales hospital in Sydney. It is in its 5th consecutive year and has been organised by Phil Bates AOM.
The fields were large on the fairly technical 2km circuit. Jared was racing in B grade and Sam was racing in the open A grade. Jared dictated the pace early. With two laps to go Jared attacked off the front which strung out the pack. In the run into the line Jared gapped the field with 400m to go and went to a clear win ahead of Randwick botany rider Benjamin Elliot and St George rider Nathan Saunders.
Sam had it tough riding against the likes of Drapac Porsche rider Peter MacDonald, Kris Koke and commonwealth games gold medalist Ben Kersten. Halfway through the race a group of five riders built up a 45 second lead. With 5 laps (10 km) remaining Spokes, MacDonald and two other riders attempted to bridge the gap. With only one lap remaining the breaks lead over the chase was only 10 seconds. The 9 riders who were clear of the main field were all in the finishing straight together with Nathan Page from northern Sydney taking the win from Robert Carter and Luis Trueba. The main bunch ended finishing approximately 1 minute behind.