2000 Photos

As the 2000 race unfolds, you will be able to follow it via our very extensive photo gallery. Regular cyclingnews.com photographer, Tom Balks, will be the main contributor to this page, along with occasional submissions from Jeff Jones.

Stage 1 - November 4: Kempt Field Criterium, 30 km
Stage 2 - November 5: Newcastle Circuit race, 60 km
Stage 3 - November 5: Warners Bay Criterium, 30 km
Stage 4 - November 6: Newcastle - Nelson Bay, 60 km
Stage 5 - November 6: Nelson Bay Criterium, 30 km
Stage 6 - November 7: Port Stephens - Bumble Hill, 156 km
Stage 7 - November 7: Terrigal Criterium, 30 km
Stage 8 - November 8: Centennial Park Circuit Race, 100 km
Stage 9 - November 8: Coogee Criterium, 36 km
Stage 10 - November 9: Wollongong - Nowra, 106 km
Stage 11 - November 9: Nowra Criterium, 30 km
Stage 12 - November 10: Milton-Batemans Bay, 120 km
Stage 13 - November 10: Batemans Bay Criterium, 30 km
Stage 14 - November 11: Canberra Circuit Race, 102 km
Stage 15 - November 12: Canberra Time Trial, 13 km
Stage 16 - November 12: Canberra Criteirum, 36 km

Stage 1 - November 4: Kempt Field Criterium, 30 km

• Making it happen - Before the race
• Action - From the Trishaw Grand Prix
• Huw Pritchard (DuPont) - Signs on
• Jeremy Hunt (QANTAS) - Signs on
• Dan Smith (QANTAS) - On the attack.
• The German Bosch team - Power along
• Phil Thuaux and Jaarod Poad - During their escape on stage one.
• The bunch - Sweep round the corner in Hurstville
• Jans Koerts - In the thick of things
• Jans Koerts - Comfortable up the hill
• The pack - At full throttle.
• Tino Haakman (Websdale) - With Ben Brooks (NSWIS)
• Jans Koerts (Websdale/Farm Frites) - Wins stage one in impressive style
• The place getters - Throw the traditional frisbees

Stage 2 - November 5: Newcastle Circuit race, 60 km

• The peloton - Speed up Hunter Street Mall.
• Danny Clark (QANTAS) - Rides in the middle of the bunch.
• Jans Koerts - Concentrates in yellow during stage two.
• The peloton - On the top corner
• Jans Koerts - Leads Dirk Schumann (Bosch)
• Dirk Schumann (Bosch) - On the outside of Andrew Payne (Caravello)
• Ashley Hutchinson (3rd) - After the stage

Stage 3 - November 5: Warners Bay Criterium, 30 km

• The Polish Mroz team - Line up for stage 3.
• Rory Sutherland (Casino Canberra) - Leads Darren Rolfe and Danny Clark.
• Dariusz Skocylas - One of several Mroz riders on the attack.
• Graeme Brown - Rides in the centre of the pack in stage 3.
• The peloton as one
• Dariusz Wojiechowski - With Phil Thuaux and Grzegorz Wajs.
• Hilton McMurdo (Glen Parker Cycles) - Triumphs in stage 3.
• The crowd - Enjoy the action after the stage

Stage 4 - November 6: Newcastle - Nelson Bay, 60 km

• Mroz team - Smile before the start
• All important Wheel Truck - Prior to the start of stage 4
• The wedge - During the early part of the stage
• The peloton - Cross the first bridge of the day
• The peloton - Climb Stockton Bridge
• Early break: Jeremy Hunt, Dan Smith and Huw Pritchard
• The final attack!
• The harbour - Port Stephens
• Grzegorz Wajs - Interviewed by Paul Sherwen after the stage

Stage 5 - November 6: Nelson Bay Criterium, 30 km

• Caravello's Chris White - Focuses around the top corner
• Dan Smith (QANTAS) - Follows Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz) during the break
• Jans Koerts - On the fatal corner
• The peloton - Not organised enough to chase
• Jaarod Poad (Glen Parker Cycles) - Second on the stage
• Jaarod Poad - Concentrates on the task
• Stage winner Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz) - Drives the break
• Grzegorz Wajs (Mroz) - Rides in yellow
• Race doctor Jonathon King - Attends to Jans Koerts' wounds

Stage 6 - November 7: Port Stephens - Bumble Hill, 156 km

• The riders line up - Outside Salamander Shores for the stage start
• Ben Day (Bates Bikes) - Attacked early in the stage
• The leading break - Worked smoothly
• The break - Established a comfortable gap on the long slow climbs
• The Polish Mroz team - Helped drive the break to success
• Phil Thuaux (NSW Sport & Rec) - Finished a gallant 10th.
• Dariusz Wojciechowksi (Mroz) - Wins the stage
• Phill Bates and Jackie Panter - Beside the Darren Smith Memorial

Stage 7 - November 7: Terrigal Criterium, 30 km

• The group - Round the first corner in the Terrigal Criterium.
• Jeremy Hunt (QANTAS) - In full flight
• Dan Smith (QANTAS) - In full flight
• Night and day - The bunch on the top corner
• A rear shot of the peloton
• Cameron Hughes (Peugeot) - With Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz)
• Thorsten Wilhelms and Dariusz Skocylas - Around the first corner.
• Jans Koerts - Powers in purple.
• Jans Koerts - Rounds the first corner
• Grzegorz Wajs - Held his yellow jersey
• Julian Winn - In the KOM jersey near Jans Koerts and Grzegorz Wajs
• Josh Collingwood - Leads Graeme Brown near the finish
• Graeme Brown - Wins stage 7 from Ashley Hutchinson and Jeremy Hunt
• The winners - Ashley Hutchinson and Graeme Brown

Stage 8 - November 8: Centennial Park Circuit Race, 100 km

• The start - Of stage eight
• Honi Rowley - Expert camerawoman on the Cycle Classic.
• Jans Koerts - In the Purple Sprint King jersey.
• Dariusz Skoczylas - Leads the break.
• Phil Thuaux (NSW Sport & Rec.) - Leads the chase
• Glen Chadwick (Peugeot) - Rounds the top corner.
• Mroz - Control the pace
• Dan Smith (QANTAS) - During his bridging attempt.
• Heiko Szonn (QANTAS) - Rides in the pack.
• Steve Williams (Caravello) - Finished second.
• Grzegorz Wajs (Mroz) - Stayed in yellow.
• Dariusz Skoczylas (Mroz) - Wins the stage

Stage 9 - November 8: Coogee Criterium, 36 km

• The beautiful Coogee seafront
• Ashley Hutchinson (NSWIS) - Stood out in the peloton.
• Jeremy Hunt (QANTAS) - Rides with the pack.
• Scott Suckling (Glen Parker-Fondriest) - Rides with the pack.
• Ben Brooks - Puts on the pressure
• "Hurricane" Hilton McMurdo - Was part of the final break
• Pawel Niedzwiecki - Leads Josh Collingwood.
• Hilton McMurdo - Ageless again
• Ben Brooks - Works with Hilton McMurdo
• The leading four: McMurdo, Illingworth, Brooks and Day.
• A rear view - The peloton going up Arden St.
• The peloton - Round the top corner
• Matt Illingworth (DuPont) - Came close
• The sprint for the line - Brooks gets it from Illingworth
• Ben Brooks - A well earned victory.

Stage 10 - November 9: Wollongong - Nowra, 106 km

• Glen Chadwick (Peugeot) - During the early stages
• Steve Williams - Rides next to Glen Chadwick early on
• The main field - Before they hit the first climb
• A perfect - Pole-led arrow
• The field - Were in pieces up Jamberoo Pass
• Ben Brooks - Rode like a man possessed on Jamberoo Pass
• Julian Winn (Dupont) - Climbs with Heiko Szonn on Jamberoo Pass
• Still time - To adjust the helmet for Brooks
• Julian Winn (Dupont) - Impressed in the Polka Dot Jersey
• Glen Chadwick (Peugeot) - It was his day today
• The schoolkids - Come out in force.
• Danny Clark - Enjoys a chat with Ben Day
• Josh Collingwood (NSWIS) - Did not have a good time of it
• Cameron Jennings (Peugeot) - Grimaces in pain
• Scott Suckling (Glen Parker-Fondriest) - Another impressive ride
• Peter Milostic (NSW Sport & Rec) - A daring late attack
• Dariusz Wojciechowski (Mroz) - Was put under pressure

Stage 11 - November 9: Nowra Criterium, 30 km

• Wheels at the start - Spinergy synergy
• The peloton - Flat out during the early laps.
• Bjorn Hoeben (Websdale) - Flies around a corner
• Matt Illingworth (DuPont) - Flies around a corner
• Local favourite - Darren Rolfe (NSWIS)
• The pain - Felt by the bunch in the early stages
• Darren Rolfe - Leads Grzegorz Wajs in yellow.
• Graeme Brown (NSWIS) - Leading the break.
• Dirk Schumann (Bosch) - Eventual race winner
• Ashley Hutchinson (NSWIS) - Rode well for second place
• Dirk Schumann (Bosch) - At the end of his victory lap
• Jans Koerts - Signs autographs in purple

Stage 12 - November 10: Milton-Batemans Bay, 120 km

• The Mroz Merida bikes - Lined up before the stage start
• Race leader Grzegorz Wajs - Signs autographs before the start
• Giles Baudet (Caravello) - Rides between Jans Koerts and Julian Winn.
• The breakaway group
• Jonathan Davis (NSW Sport & Rec) - Gets instructions
• The peloton strung out - In pursuit of the break
• The peloton - Cross the bridge into Batemans Bay
• Race winner Huw Pritchard (DuPont) - Does it tough on the climbs
• Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz) - Drove the break all day
• Dan Smith (QANTAS) - Was always on the attack.
• Ben Brooks (NSWIS) - So close to another win.
• Cameron Jennings (Peugeot) - An important part of the break
• The kids of Moruya Public School - Come out to watch the race
• Huw Pritchard - Passes through Moruya in front of local schoolchildren
• Huw Pritchard - Relaxes after the race

Stage 13 - November 10: Batemans Bay Criterium, 30 km

• The morning's winner - Huw Pritchard (Dupont)
• Matt Illingworth (Dupont) - Rode aggressively throughout
• Matt Illingworth - Leads Jans Koerts
• Matt Illingworth, Dan Smith and Graeme Brown - Lead the bunch
• Cameron Jennings (Peugeot) - Leads Dirk Schumann (Bosch)
• Cameron Hughes - With Glen Chadwick (Peugeot)
• Yento Barker (Dupont) - Finished third
• Dirk Schumann (Bosch) - Two out of two
• Jans Koerts - Is patched up after his crash in stage 13
• The power of AAP technology...

Stage 14 - November 11: Canberra Circuit Race, 102 km

• Graeme Brown (NSWIS) - Leads Dariusz Wojciechowski early on
• Danny Clark and Jans Koerts - Toward the back of the bunch
• Matt Illingworth and Huw Pritchard - Urged on by an Angel
• Ben Brooks - Leads Thomas Buchacek and Ben Day
• Thomas Buchacek - And Dariusz Wojciechwoski.
• A bandaged Jans Koerts - With Pawel Niedzwiecki
• The peloton - On one of the scenic descents
• Brent Dawson (QANTAS) - During the stage
• Brent Dawson (QANTAS) - Climbs during the stage
• Scott Suckling (Glen Parker-Fondriest) - Heroic bridging attempt
• Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz) - Corners in the wet
• Dariusz Wojciechowksi - Leads Graeme Brown on the descent
• Scott Suckling (Glen Parker-Fondriest) - Was one of the strongest riders
• Dariusz Wojciechowksi (Mroz) - Rode himself into the lead
• Brent Dawson (QANTAS) - Winning the race
• Chief Commissaire, Mike Victor - Has words with Graeme Brown and Gary Sutton
• Graeme Brown - Not amused after the commissaire's decision

Stage 15 - November 12: Canberra Time Trial, 13 km

• A damp start to the day
• Glen Chadwick (Peugeot) - Rode well for fifth
• Peter Milostic (Sport & Rec) - Was the best Australian in third
• Scott Suckling (Glen Parker Cycles) - Maintained his second position
• Julian Winn (Dupont) - On the start ramp
• Dariusz Wojciechowski (Mroz) - Finished 9th but held his leader's jersey
• Grzegorz Wajs (Mroz) - Was the fastest on the day

Stage 16 - November 12: Canberra Criteirum, 36 km

• A happy looking Grzegorz Wajs - Warms up for the final stage
• The riders - Line up for the stage of the final stage
• Graeme Brown - Goes on the attack, closely marked by Jans Koerts
• Graeme Brown - Rides in the middle of the pack during the final stage
• Best placed Australian - Scott Suckling during the final stage
• Dirk Schumann (Bosch) - Rides in the pack
• Best climber, Julian Winn - Puts his head down
• Julian Winn - Rides in the pack
• Scott Suckling - Gets some assistance after puncturing
• Grzegorz Wajs (Mroz) - Concentrates during the race
• Yellow jersey wearer Dariusz Wojciechowski - Grits his teeth
• Dariusz Wojciechowski - Corners during the final stage
• Graeme Brown and Dirk Schumann - Go right to the line in the final sprint
• The winning team - Mroz-Supradyn
• The five winners: Suckling, Wojciechowski, Wajs, Winn and Brown

Photos from past Classics