Andre Eastough takes out Nabawa 50/50 as Fraser Pensini cruelled by tyre failures

The sun was shining but the wind was howling making for tricky conditions as Spokes Cycle Club hosted its second marquee race over the weekend — the Nabawa 50/50.

The race was a three-lap mixed-surface event with competitors racing across road, gravel and off-road trails in Chapman Valley.

Cyclists could choose from one, two or three-lap categories with the longest clocking in at 58.5km in a flat course with just 378m of climbing.

But the wind was tougher than any hill and it only got worse throughout the day.

Fraser Pensini was the early leader, a full minute ahead of chasing duo Andre Eastough and Wayne Denton, but he would be struck down by bad luck suffering multiple flats throughout the race.

This saw Eastough and Denton pass him on lap two with the two riding in lock step until the final lap.

But after pulling each other along it was Eastough who made the late charge, breaking away from Denton to take the win in a time of 1hr. 52min. 46sec.

He finished 52 seconds ahead of Denton with Pensini holding on for third despite his tyre troubles.

Dave Hammer missed a turn on one of his laps and rode the longest race to come home in sixth.

Gem Jones took out the women’s three-lap event in a time of 2:13:25, 3min. ahead of Debbie Gillam who opted for an extra lap after initially only signing up for the two-lap event.

The club will now prepare for the Geraldton Bikes Strada Rossa on June 11.