Race details    1999 Cycle Classic

What happens now?

The last sprint
Photo: © Tom Balks

The 19th edition of the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic rolled into Canberra for the final time, ending an important and memorable chapter in Australian road cycling. The Bank Race, as it was so often termed, represented one of the longest running major cycling sponsorships in Australia, only surpassed by the Herald Sun Tour which is 49 years old.

Full race wrap up.

Brown redeems himself in final sprint

Dariusz Wojciechowksi
Photo: © Tom Balks

NSW sprinter Graeme Brown came from the depths of embarrassment to the heights of success as he won the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic's last ever stage, a 36 kilometre criterium in Canberra. Brown overcame German Dirk Schumann (Bosch) on the line to claim the win, at the same time netting the Giant Sprint King jersey after a countback. In third place was Caravello's Mark Renshaw.

The overall classification stayed the same, and the Polish Mroz team walked away with first and third overall (Dariusz Wojciechowski and Grzegorz Wajs), with Australian Scott Suckling (Glen Parker-Fondriest) sandwiched between them. Suckling also took out the best Australian and best U23 rider awards. Julian Winn had already claimed his Coca Cola King of the Mountains jersey, and Mroz were by far the best team in the team's classification.

Full results & report

Damp finish in Canberra time trial

Peter Milostic
Photo: © Tom Balks

Chill rain greeted the 49 competitors on the final day of the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic, with a 13 kilometre time trial contested in the morning. The fastest early time was set by Australian time trial champion, Darren Rolfe (16:16), but his time was surpassed by three other competitors. Fastest time was Grzegorz Wajs in 15:42, followed by Julian Winn (16:12) and Australian Peter Milostic (16:14).

The result did not change the overall standings significantly, and Dariusz Wojciechowski still leads the race.

Full results & report

Race takes a new twist in Canberra

Brent Dawson
Photo: © Tom Balks

There is a new leader in the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic after today's 102 kilometre circuit race in Canberra. The race was dominated by an eight rider breakaway that had established itself very early. Second placed Julian Winn missed it, as did race leader Grzegorz Wajs. However, his teammate Dariusz Wojciechowski made the cut and took over the overall lead, with Aussie Scott Suckling (Glen Parker-Fondriest) moving into second.

The stage was won by Brent Dawson with Wojciechowski second and Dariusz Skoczylas third. Graeme Brown, who actually placed second in the sprint and rode a good race, was relegated for irregular sprinting.

Full results & report

Schumann takes another as sprinters crash

Matt Illingworth
Photo: © Tom Balks

German Dirk Schumann (Bosch) took his second criterium victory in a row in this evening's 30 kilometre race in Batemans Bay. The German speedster benefitted from being near the top of the field on the final lap, as a crash took out sprinters Jans Koerts, Graeme Brown and Ashley Hutchinson. Second and third places went to Dupont riders Matthew Illingworth and Yento Barker, however there will be some sore bodies tonight.

Full results & report

Pritchard and Brooks fight it out

Huw Pritchard
Photo: © Tom Balks

Stage 12 of the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic from Milton to Batemans Bay saw a similar result to 1999, with a small breakaway group staying away to win. In an extremely close finish, DuPont's Huw Pritchard outsprinted his professional teammate, Ben Brooks (NSWIS), with the always aggressive Dan Smith taking third.

Two others made the break, Pole Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz) and Australian Cameron Jennings (Puegeot), and the five held off the bunch by a minute and a half at the end. There were no changes in the overall classification.

Full results & report

Bosch strike back

Eight man break
Photo: © Tom Balks

The German Bosch team, who dominated the Cycle Classic for many years, took out their first stage of this year's edition, a 30 km evening criterium in Nowra. Dirk Schumann profited from the excellent work of teammate, Stephan Gottschling in the final lap, winning from Ashley Hutchinson and Jans Koerts.

The three were part of an eight rider break that contained all the sprinters in the race. Overall, there were no changes and Grzegorz Wajs keeps his slender lead in the General Classification.

Full results & report