The contrast from last year's Keegan Downes Memorial Sundowner Handicap Cycling Classic to this year's, couldn't have been more pronounced for Sophie King.
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After competing in the race for the first time last year, the Gunnedah cyclist vowed she "was never doing it again".
"It was so hard. I got dropped at Mullaley and rode to the finishing line to my own," she said.
But about three months ago her cycling group decided they were going to enter and she thought she'd give it another crack.
And give it a crack she did.
Not only was King the first Gunnedah rider to finish the 100 kilometre trek from Coonabarabran to Gunnedah, she was the second woman across the line, won the masters 1-4 category and was crowned the Queen of the Mountain.
"This year I was very determined to stay on a wheel and I did, I didn't get dropped so it was fantastic," she said.
"Groups that came along I was able to stay with them."
She added that it is a good course for her because she likes hills.
King was in the first bunch to depart, and spoke of an immense satisfaction crossing the finishing line on Saturday.
"I got a cold at beginning of the week so I was worried I mightn't be able to race but I'm pleased I did and the training's paid off," she said.
Since she decided to race, she has been trying to do at least three rides a week, averaging anywhere from 80-140km rides of a weekend.
King describes herself as a bit of a cycling rookie.
"I dabble in triathlons and cycling's probably not my strongest point but I have worked hard to improve my cycling," she said.
Scott Dunlop was the first male of the Gunnedah contingent to finish and also took out the sprint for the men.
"It was good to be racing with some of the top riders in the state and see where the bar is at," Dunlop said.
He was with the lead group until the last couple of hills before the finish.
Gunnedah's Ben Thompson also finished among the winners claiming the King of the Mountain.
Dubbo's Luke Ensor showcased his sprinting prowess to outsprint his rivals and win the overall race honours.
In doing so the 18-year old became the second winner in as many years to call Dubbo home, following Kurt Eather's victory in last year's event.
Fresh from winning the road race at the Dubbo club championships the previous weekend, Ensor edged out MTOSS Mainpac team-mate Stephen Cuff and Devraj Grewal for the spots on the podium.
The lead group was about 30-strong. The bulk of the bunch were in the chopping block group (second last to depart Coonabarabran), the first scratch riders coming in five minutes behind.
The conditions - warm and not much wind - made for a quick race.
"That first 10-20 kilometres for a big bloke like myself is pretty hard but came onto the flats came into our own," Ensor said.
Noted as a strong finisher, he said the plan was "to get to the end so I can have a sprint".
"We (team) sort of got into the finish and thought there was a bit more to go and everyone was a little bit out of position so it was just every man for the themselves at the end," he said.
"We came out running all top four, the team, so it worked out well for us."
Ensor said when they are like that can be a little bit messy.
"It's basically if you get a clear run and get to give it your all then it can come together for you, and that's what happened," he said.
Oliver's Real Food Racing's Sean Whitfield recorded the fastest time for the race, while Illawarra's Chloe Heffernan was the first female to finish.