by Glenn Marriott
With warmer weather and without the threat of rain, racers again turned up in good numbers for the third week of the Warragul Cycling Club's February Friday night criterium races.

The pre-race under 10s cycling clinic - initiated and run by Jarryd Jones - also was well attended, showing the future was bright for Warragul Cycling Club.
It was great to see so many new faces, particularly in C grade with junior Alby Harrison making his racing debut.
A grade
While the return of the former national crit champion Brenton Jones should have bolstered A grade, there also were some notable absences.
To even up the numbers between grades and to make a race of it, some of the heavy hitters from B grade were promoted to the big show.
Despite Team Cranetech welcoming BJ back into the fold, their tactics suggested they either feared the promoted fast finishing B graders, or else were concerned their ageing sprinter had lost a yard or two.
Team Cranetech clearly didn't want this being decided in a bunch sprint and wasted no time in launching a three-man breakaway.
Despite the best efforts of the remaining riders who were collaborating nicely, the three escapees lapped the field with consummate ease.
Not content with lapping the field once, BJ went away again, this time solo, demonstrating what a complete cyclist he is and was not seen again.
Craig Skinner won the consolation bunch sprint, but it was too little too late, with Jarryd Jones and Adam van Stokrom sitting on the bunch, comfortably taking second and third in a dominant team performance.
B grade
With most of the placegetters from lastweek promoted to A grade, it was a golden opportunity for last week's feather dusters to become roosters.
Lambasted for his tactic last week of chasing down every break, Tom Edwards was not falling for the same trap twice. This time he used his strength wisely and attacked solo.
James Coveney thought a two-man breakaway was a better option and buried himself to get across to Tom.
Tom, however, is learning race craft quickly and was intent on finishing solo. After sitting up to let James bridge across and then letting James do another strong turn into the wind, Tom gapped James out of the bottom corner, then put the power down - leaving James in his wake.
James limped back to the peloton to lick his wounds and wonder what might have been.
The return of James to the bunch did little to assist with group dynamics and with little cohesion, Tom proceeded solo to the finish, taking first place in a strong performance.
Darren "Spitzy" Spiteri won the bunch sprint for second place followed by Keiren Love in third.
C grade
The bunch mostly stayed together for the first half of the race, with Callan Barker and Mal McLeod pulling strong turns.
While steady pace was set from the outset, it become too hot for some in the latter stages.
In the finish it was the cool, calm and experienced Levi Schmidt who held his nerve to emerge victorious, taking the win from newcomer Arlen and Isaac Lynn holding on for third.
Racers should note there is no racing this Friday night, due to potential traffic associated with the Warragul Show.
The club criterium championship is to be held on Friday March 7 at Endeavour St.