National Club Esports Series: Canberrans in command after Round 2

24 Sep 2021 | 10:10 AMBy: Ryan Miu

The ACT has seized control of the AusCycling National Club Esports Series, with Canberra Cycling Club joining Vikings Cycling Club at the top of the standings after Round 2.

Vikings has extended its lead to over 100 points and now sits in first place with 582 points.

Canberra has moved up to second spot with 461 points, leapfrogging reigning premiers Waratah Masters and eRANDWICK.

Held on Wednesday evening, Round 2 was raced on the hilly Knickerbocker course in Zwift’s futuristic version of New York. Again, the events attracted massive turnouts, with over 700 riders signing up to race on Zwift. The 23-kilometre race began with tricky undulations through Central Park, before the steep climb to the New York KOM sorted out the strongest in each grade.

For Vikings, Kirsty Lower made it two wins from two starts in Women’s C Grade. Katie Gregory, Sophie Chapman and Cat Riley continued the theme of Vikings women picking up solid points.

Men’s D Grade was particularly profitable for the club, with Jonathan Lowe, Rob Fisher and Carl Linkenbagh all finishing in the top four.

Canberra rocketed into second place on the back of Vicki Whitelaw’s back-to-back victories in Women’s A Grade, paired with a top-two lockout for Ben Hill and Brayden Clews-Proctor in Men’s A Grade. Liam O’Dea, Nathan Schubert, Josie Pepper and Inez Cashman were also among the Canberrans who scored highly.

Looking beyond the podium, Victoria’s Knox BMX Club is holding its own among the track and road clubs, sitting on a respectable 125 points in 22nd place. Geelong Mountain Bike Club, Warrandyte MTB Club and Sydney BMX Club are the other off-road clubs represented in the standings.

The AusCycling National Club Esports Series continues next Wednesday evening on a course that will feature gravel roads for the first time in this competition.