Brown wins handicap race

About 70 riders took on the popular 50km North Dandalup Handicap on Saturday afternoon, racing to Dwellingup and back.

A handicap race involves all riders participating in the same race, regardless of ability.

Riders are given a start time based on their ability, and if the handicapper gets it right, everybody sprints for the finish together.

With the race starting with a 6km climb, riders had to decide whether to stay with their starting group or strike out on their own.

Of the early groups, only the group starting at 18 minutes was evenly matched and strong enough to reach the top of the climb with most of their riders together.

In the group two minutes behind, Wayde Brown charged up the hill, chased by three other riders.

Brown made it across to the 18 minute group before the top of the climb and was soon joined by Paul George, the only member of the chasing trio to join the now strengthened group.

By the time this group hit Dwellingup, they were at the front of the race and were never headed.

Behind them, none of the other groups held together up the climb, breaking into smaller units and, while riders made gains, no one could come close to the leaders.

On the return, the lead group lost a few riders.

On the descent into North Dandalup, there were eight riders but an early attack resulted in five riders sprinting for the win, with Brown first, George second and Anthony Doherty third.