Sticking together.
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That's the ethos which has put Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club in first place of the Central West Inter Club Series after the first two meets in Mudgee and Bathurst, and it's the ethos vice-president Frank Ostini believes will help the club forge ahead at Dubbo this weekend.
Orange has raced ahead on 60 points - the maximum possible after two meets, while Mudgee is six points behind on 54, nearly neck-and-neck with Bathurst's 53.
Dubbo has 20.5 and Cowra four to round out the five-club competition standings heading into the meeting on the Macquarie up the highway on Sunday.
Ostini said while Rory Thornhill is still out with an injured wrist, he's backing both the numbers set to head up the highway "we all travel together" - the talent lining up to continue the club's lead.
We stick together, we're all friendly but we want to win and we enjoy the pressure, it's not a bad thing. It's what we strive for.
- Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club vice president Frank Ostini
"Rory's still injured but Jack Bilton and Tom Tudor both did really, really well on Australia day and the Dean sisters and Jess Richards are looking really good," he said.
Richards didn't race in the last start for the Piranhas on Australia Day in Bathurst due to prior commitments, while Jessie, Molly and Abby Dean have all been strong form across both seniors and juniors, while Ostini also mentioned Sophie Martin would be one to watch in Dubbo.
Heading into the meeting out in front isn't worrying the Piranhas.
"It's where we want to be sitting, it doesn't faze us," Ostini said.
"We stick together, we're all friendly but we want to win and we enjoy the pressure, it's not a bad thing. It's what we strive for."
The club will host the fourth round the next weekend at Gosling Creek, but has been forced to scrap the swim leg of the triathlon following a resurgence from the blue-green algae which has plagued the venue the past few summers.
The event will subsequently be a duathlon in a run-ride-run format, with more details to be confirmed next week.
"We've cancelled all our open water swim sessions for the rest of the year, we just don't want to risk it," Ostini said.
"The last thing you want is people swimming and getting sick."
Sunday's racing begins from 8.30am in Dubbo.
Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
