Scotty's Race '08

Zac Dempster takes out Scotty's Race 2008 and donates winners cheque to the Scott Peoples Foundation!

Zac Dempster capped off a strong few months by taking out the 2008 edition of Scotty's Race.  A strong field turned out once again to take part in this great race and the pace was on right from the start with a successful breakaway being formed almost immediately after the flag was dropped.

Race Results

Click here for link to CSV website for full results.

Race Report

After a minutes silence in memory of Scott at the Queens Garden start area the 180 strong field in this years’ Scotty’s Race headed off out of Shepparton under control in preparation for the rolling start.  As the convoy of police vehicles, scouts, commissaries, spares and medical personnel and the peleton rounded the corner into Mitchell Rd the mood changed riders awaited the flag.  When it went the action started immediately.  A number of VIS riders launched the first attack and soon had the peleton on the move with a single line forming as riders battled cross winds from the south in the left hand gutter.  With speeds topping 60kmh it was clear that this years edition of Scotty’s Race was going to be on from the get go.Zac Dempster was in a small bunch (4-5) that established a small break in Mitchell Rd with the SRT Titans team and Tim Deckers Decked out team well represented at the front of the chasing group.  As they crossed the irrigation channel at Boundary Rd the pace was frenetic.  Once across the riders faced a block headwind which saw the bunch consolidate somewhat before turning at the Exchange corner on the Euroa Rd where the pace resumed.  The break group however kept the pace up and maintained their 20 second lead.  Those in the break included Sean Finning, Zac Dempster and Simon Clarke. 

As they hit the rolling hills before Violet Town the chase group caught the escapees but it wasn’t long before the action started again eventually seeing the main bunch split into 3 to 4 groups.  Out the front were Dempster, Finning, Clarke joined by a number of the VIS boys with members of Shepparton’s Titans and the Decked out team amongst others.Some hard work saw the lead group of about 30 extend their lead to around one minute as the race approached Violet Town.  Turning towards Nalinga/Dookie the lead bunch committed themselves and drove it hard with the tail wind all the way to Nalinga.  Shortly after the Dookie College feed station Trent Stevenson attacked 300 metres before the KOM.  Braunstein quickly responded with Nick Aitken on his wheel and it was Aitken who claimed the points.  This move split the group until it rejoined shortly before the left hand turn to Dookie township at the cemetery.  With the cross wind it was time to rev it up again and Zac Dempster was on the front in the right hand gutter making it difficult.  A number of riders started popping and by the time the group hit Dookie it was down to less than 20 strong.  Heading out of Dookie Dempster, Decker and Egan wound it up again and more succumbed to the pace. 

By the time the bunch hit Ford Rd there was 15 and another Dempster burst saw a further 4 guys unloaded.  At this stage the lead bunch included Dempster, Calabria, Braunstein, Clarke, Egan, Stevenson, Decker, McCarthy,as well as Robert Williams from Nowra, and Paul Richards.The remaining bunch worked hard to hold off any late chases down Ford Rd and managed to keep their lead clear.  By the time the bunch went across the highway another attack was launched but the group was back together by the time they passed the DECA centre.  Shortly afterwards at the base of a small rise before turning for home Dempster made what was his winning move with an attack which was followed by Braunstein, Calabria and Aitken.  They jumped clear of the bunch and grabbed a 15 second break by the time they had passed the golf club. 

The race was in the balance now and the chase bunch had their work cut out as the 4 lead riders cut out for home.  Riding through the Boulevard with 3 kms to go Egan, Stevenson and Decker were the protagonists.  First Decker produced a massive turn before he swung off spent at the Tarcoola Roundabout.  Trent Stevenson then took over duties at the front and by the time he had done his turn the gap had been reduced to 8 seconds.  Both riders doing their utmost to keep Egan in contention for an emotional win.  At the end of the day though the chase fell short with no more legs available or willing to bridge the gap and as the lead group of 4 rounded the last corner into Welsford St it was clear the tactics of Dempster had worked.  Finishing fast Dempster broke with about 250 to go and only Braunstein was able to follow and follow he did all the way to the line.  In the end there was only half a wheel in it with Dempster crossing the line with one hand on his heart, the other pointed skyward  in a nod to his mate Scotty.   Calabria was third followed by Aitken and then Egan.