.

Controversy surrounded Stage 2 finish of the ‘Tour de Vic’

.

.

The Bathurst 1000 car race and the start of the ‘Tour de Vic’ bike ride through the North Eastern Victorian high country were the two big events this past weekend. However both were marred in controversy.

Having been to Bathurst on numerous occasions in the past, this year we chose to travel south and witness first hand the elite athletes slog it out in the ‘Tour de Vic’. We headed to Milawa to witness the finish of the Wangaratta to Milawa stage of the great bike ride. This leg had numerous obstacles, flooded rivers and livestock running amok.

 

.

Brown Brothers Winery

.

It was noon on Tuesday October 11, Mollymook and Ulladulla were well represented, we anticipated the leaders of the peloton to cross the finish line of this Wangaratta to Milawa stage at about 2.00 pm. So with a spare hour or two, we chose to fill in our time doing some wine tasting at Brown Brothers winery a few hundred metres from the finish line. We couldn’t believe our eyes, whilst tasting wine in walked this motley crew with bike riding helmets in hand. They were already here, well ahead of time.

Elite athletes into wine tasting? I overheard one of the elderly female rider’s ask, was there any cost associated with the wine tasting. The answer was: “It’s Free”. Then another voice was heard saying, “She will have two of everything”.

**********************

Presentation and Dinner

.

I was perplexed, “they drink wine during the day, what do these elite athletes do in the evening”? I thought to tag along; having missed the finish I was especially interested to see the awarding of the ‘Yellow Jersey’. The venue for all the pleasantries on this stage of the ride was the local Milawa pub.

.

Awarding of the ‘Yellow Jersey’

.

The Chief Judge, chairperson, organiser and chief bottle washer rose to his feet and mentioned one young athlete after another. However with first across the line receiving a penalty he turned to this enthusiastic lady rider, who got a puncture on the 1st day, got a puncture on the 2nd day, had failed to book accommodation on the 3rd day and to the amazement of all attendees, awarded this enthusiastic lady rider the ‘Yellow Jersey’ for the Wangaratta to Milawa stage. Attendees were bewildered, one young rider was overheard saying “that if the ‘yellow jersey’ went to the fastest then she, herself would win every stage” it had all the hallmarks of the controversy seen at the finish of the Bathurst race only a few days earlier, where in each case the fastest was not the winner.

Credits for the photos: Chris, Simone, Kath, Heather and Sue

.