National Club Esports Series: eRANDWICK up to 3rd after MTB round

Vikings Cycling Club has maintained its lead in the National Club Esports Series while eRANDWICK has climbed back onto the podium after a brutal Round 5.

The latest Zwift event on Wednesday was a 27km mountain bike race along the ‘Serpentine 8’ course, featuring two interminable dirt climbs.

The course proved highly selective. Thanks to the hills and high rolling resistance, riders were split into small bunches across the course. The largest lead group in any grade consisted of only 21 riders, as most races ended in a sprint between a handful of competitors.

Having slid off the podium in Round 2, eRANDWICK moved back up to third place ahead of Waratah Masters Cycling Club by just 39 points. The club’s resurgence stemmed from strong results from the likes of Chris Ling, Nicholas Johns, Rob Hacker and Andrew Hughes in the men’s categories, and Marjan McGarry and Holly Cogle on the women’s side.

Thanks to its consistent overall participation, especially in the women’s races, Vikings CC extended its lead even though second-placed Canberra Cycling Club won three grades. Liam O’Dea (B Grade Men), Nathan Schubert (D Grade Men) and Margaux Jacquet (B Grade Women) each took maximum points for Canberra on the dusty roads.

With a lead of 311 points, Vikings CC’s overall victory seems all but assured, while Canberra has the silver medal position on lock. However, the fight for the podium will go all the way to the finish with eRANDWICK, Waratah Masters and Bathurst CC still in the hunt.

Next week’s final round will see racers take on a three-lap kermesse on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

AusCycling National Club Esports Series
Overall standings after Round 5

1. Vikings Cycling Club 1542
2. Canberra Cycling Club 1231
3. eRANDWICK 1083
4. Waratah Masters Cycling Club 1044
5. Bathurst Cycling Club 1007
6. Hawthorn Cycling Club 757
7. BrunZwick 742
8. Parklife Cycling Club 686
9. Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club 645
10. Jindabyne Cycling Club 593
11. Port Adelaide Cycling Club 527
12. St George Cycling 454
13. Sydney Cycling Club 452
14. Mornington Cycling Club 420
15. Sydney Uni Velo Club 402
16. St Kilda Cycling Club 393
17. Coburg Cycling Club 382
18. Gold Coast Cycling Club 366
19. Dubbo Cycling Club 330
20. Northern Cycling Inc 306
21. Southern Cross Cycling Club 287
22. Knox BMX Club 255
23. Blackburn Cycling Club 195
24. University of Queensland Cycling Club 185
25. Balmoral Cycling Club 160
26. Geelong Mountain Bike Club 156
27. Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club 136
28. Parramatta Cycling Club 113
29. Hunter Virtual Racing 107
30. Sydney BMX Club 97
31. Warrandyte MTB Club 91
32. Birrarung Cycling Club 90
33. Marconi Cycling Club 66
34. Norwood Cycling Club 51
35. Italo Australian Cycling Club 46
36. Sutherland Shire Cycle Club 44
37. Ipswich Cycling Club 34
38. Sunshine Coast Cycling Club 32
39. Camden Cycling Club 29
40. Morten Bay Cycling Club 27
41. Whyalla Cycling Club 27
42. Nambucca Valley Cycling Club 25
43. Mudgee Cycling Club 24
44. Hobart Wheelers 20
45. Orange Cycle Club 10

For full results, visit the National Club Esports Series results page.