Australian Open Road Championships - NE

Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, January 7-11, 2009

Photography

Stage 6 - January 11: Elite Men's Road Race, 163.2 km

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Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

• Club rider, professionals and a former World Champion head out of Buninyong in the bunch for the elite men's road race.
• The early break stuck for several laps. Within was Damien Turner (Total Rush), who won the mountains prize for the day..
• Michael Rogers (Team Columbia) was time trial Champion on Thursday..
• The bunch rolled up the climb behind the leaders.
• Drapac Porsche were active in the race and chased back the break and policing the front of the bunch.
• Jai Crawford (Savings and Loans) leads the break mid-race.
• The bunch, led by Drapac Porsche, chases the break.
• On the descent in to the finishing straight the Drapac Porsche team was still making the pace.
• The Rapha Condor team takes a turn on the front up Mount Buninyong.
• The summit of Mount Buninyong is easy to spot - at the end of the trees.
• Riders at the highest point in the race.
• The "S" bends which lead into Yankee Flat Road were fast, but bumpy.
• Michael Rogers (Team Columbia) takes a corner and is marked by a Drapac Porsche rider.
• Cameron Meyer (Garmin Chipotle) and Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) were out of the medals but in the final chase.
• Jonny Clarke (Jelly Belly) loses his bidon on the bumps on Yankee Flat Road.
• The Prates team lead a group with one lap of ten kilometres to go.
• Peter McDonald (Drapac Porsche) sprints in ahead of Michael Rogers (Team Columbia) and Adam Hansen (Team Columbia).
• McDonald wins the Australian Road Race Championship.
• Relief and delight for the new Aussie Champ, Peter McDonald.
• Cameron Meyer (Garmin Chipotle) took fourth.
• Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) was fifth and will now ride the Tour Down Under as a wildcard in the UniSA team. A team place is reserved for the winner, but McDonald is already committed to a different race programme.
• 2008 winner, Matthew Lloyd (Silence Lotto) crossed the line sixth.
• The Drapac Porsche team waited together to share in the joy of McDonald's podium presentation.
• Peter McDonald (Drapac Porsche) is the 2009 Australian Road Race Champion.
• The Australian road race podium: Rogers (Team Columbia), McDonald (Drapac Porsche) and Hansen (Team Columbia).

Images by Brenton Logan/www.durostrada.com

• Chris Sutton (Garmin) ,and Adam Hansen (Columbia) looking comfortable at the beginning of the race.
• Damien Turner (Total Rush) leads the early morning breakaway that included Trent Lowe and Jai Crawford.
• Adam Hansen (Columbia) climbs Mt Buninyong early in the race.
• Drapac Porsche riders chase for their team captain Peter McDonald.
• The strain is obvious as the Drapac Porsche riders force the pace.
• Steve Robb (Savings & Loans, right) admires Rory Sutherland's lack of breathing up the climb.
• Trent Lowe (Garmin) and Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) were the last caught from the morning breakaway.
• Adam Hansen and Peter McDonald stretch the bunch out in the decisive laps.
• Will Walker (Fuji-Servetto, left) looks to Allan Davis (Quickstep) to take up the chase up the climb.
• Michael Rogers (Columbia) forcing the gaps to form up the brutal climb.
• Michael Rogers (Columbia) and Simon Clarke (Amica Chips) hitting the bunch up the painful climb.
• 2009 Australian national champion Peter McDonald makes his way up the hill for the last time.
• Matthew Lloyd (Silence Lotto) struggles as the leaders were up the road.
• Chris Sutton (Garmin) digs deep to gain a top ten placing for the day.
• Will Walker (Fuji-Servetto) tries to chase down the leading group.
• Baden Cooke (Vancansoleil) will be riding for a new team in 2009.

Stage 5 - January 10: Elite/Under 23 Women's Road Race, 102 km

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Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

• The women's Championship road race rolls out of Buninyong.
• Eventual winner, Carla Ryan (Cervélo Test Team) was towards the back of the bunch in the roll out.
• Big smiles from Australian criterium Champion, Kirsty Broun (MB Cycles).
• Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) was a big draw for spectators on the Buninyong circuit.
• The women's peloton climbs Mount Buninyong.
• The race was run in hot, sunny conditions on the Buninyong circuit.
• The peloton descends towards Yankee Flat Road.
• Judith Arndt (Team Columbia).
• The peloton was tight.
• Nikki Butterfield (Webcor) follows Rochelle Gilmore's (NSWIS) wheel.
• Silver medalist from 2008, Briton, Sharon Laws (Halfords Bike Hut) worked hard today, but missed out in the sprint for second.
• Laws, Butterfield and Ryan on the climb above Buninyong.
• The leaders in the women's Championship road race.
• Sharon Laws (Halfords Bike Hut) and Carla Ryan (Cervélo Test Team) at the front of the race.
• Nikki Butterfield (Webcor) uses the corner to check back for chasers.
• Tiffany Cromwell (SASI) leads a small chase group on the climb.
• Alexis Rhodes (Webcor) was an aggressive solo breakaway in the latter stages of the race.
• Kathy Watt and Emma Mackie (Lotto Belisol) with Joanne Hogan (obscured).
• Peta Mullens (VIS) was the under 23 women's Champion 2009.
• Alexis Rhodes (Webcor) during her breakaway.
• The bunch climb after Rhodes.
• Amber Halliday (SASI) rode her first road race Championship today, having switched sports from rowing. .
• The leading bunch descends towards the finish line in Buninyong with 30 km to go.
• Sharon Laws (Halford Bikehut) leads the race through Buninyong as they begin the final ten kilometres, the final lap.
• Peta Mullens (VIS) rode confidently and took the under 23 title.
• Carla Ryan (Cervélo Test Team) enjoyed her win, celebrating from a long way out.
• Ryan (Cervélo Test Team) was overjoyed with her win, the second this Championships.
• Ruth Corset (QAS) and Nikki Butterfield (Webcor) sprint for second place.
• Peta Mullens (VIS) arrives in a small group and knows she's the new under 23 Champion.
• One – or should it be two? – from Carla Ryan after becoming the 2009 Australian Champion in the road race and the time trial.
• The under 23 podium: Sarah Kent (Plan B), Peta Mullens (VIS) and Tiffany Cromwell (SASI).
• The elite women's podium, Ruth Corset (QAS), Carla Ryan (Cervélo Test Team) and Nikki Butterfield (Webcor).
• Carla Ryan spoke to Cervélo Test Team manager Thomas Campana soon after her win.

Stage 4 - January 10: Men's Under 23 Road Race, 122.4 km

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Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

• The Under 23 men start their Championship race.
• Bradley Clark broke away early and stayed away over the climb for a couple of laps.
• The bunch at the summit of the climb of Mount Buningyong.
• Clarke looks over his shoulder for chasers during his lone escape.
• The bunch passing the scenic countryside looking back towards Buninyong.
• Travis Meyer (Team AIS) in the bunch, just ahead of Mark O'Brien (Drapac Porsche) and eventual silver medallist.
• The bunch streams through the descent to Yankee Flat Road.
• Michael Matthews (Team AIS) was the other eventual silver medallist.
• The chase was on to catch the escapee.
• Matthews (Team AIS) was away solo in the middle portion of the race.
• The bunch on Gear Avenue behind Matthews and led by his teammate, Travis Meyer.
• Matthews puts in the effort.
• The breakaways look at each other for an acceleration as they crest a hill.
• Travis Meyer (Team AIS) leads the bunch over a small incline.
• The chasing group is lined-out after the bunch splintered.
• The bunch on Fisken Road.
• The decisive break just beyond the summit of Mount Buninyong.
• Travis Meyer (Team AIS) leads teammate and eventual under 23 Champion, Jack Bobridge, Mark O'Brien (Drapac Porsche) and Nathan Earle (Prates).
• The breakaways corner in formation.
• The pressure's on the bunch as they chase the 4 breakaway leaders.
• Jack Bobridge (Team AIS) and Nathan Earle (Prates) pass through Buninyong with one lap to go.
• Bobridge (Team AIS) leads the break through Buninyong with one lap to go.
• The bunch chase the leaders, it might all be too late with just ten kilometres to go.
• Jack Bobridge (Team AIS) begins to celebrate well before the line, knowing that he will win the road race as well as the time trial.
• Jack Bobridge (Team AIS) wins the under 23 Australian road race Championship, 2009.
• The runners up were inseparable at the finish and so were awarded joint second place. The podium was quirky, with Mark O'Brien and Michael Matthews on one step and Champion, Bobridge on the top step.
• Jack Bobridge, under 23 Australian RR Champion.
• The medal winners celebrate.

Stage 3 - January 8: Men's Time Trial, 39 km

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Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

• First man off Chris Thompson on the climb
• Ben Cureton was tenth in the 2009 time trial Championships
• Reece Stephens from Victoria on the climb. Last week he was in criterium action in the Bay Classics
• Jacob Sutherland powered up the climb on the aero bars
• Rhys Pollock was thirteenth fastest
• David Pell rode to sixth place
• Dylan Newell finished in twelfth position
• Mark Hewat with David Fairburn in the distance on the long long climb of Midland Road Highway
• Cameron Wurf was fourth just over 2 minutes down on Rogers
• Chris Jongewaard is more usually seen on a mountain bike but his fifth place shows his speed on the road too
• Robert Hodgson out of the saddle
• Cameron Meyer (Garmin Chipotle) claimed silver in the men's TT
• Richie Porte was third and gained the bronze medal
• Michael Rogers in action on his way to victory
• Adam Hansen was disappointed with his ride and could only place eleventh overall
• Ben Cureton speeds to the finish line
• Chris Martin has the finish line in his sights
• Robert Williams buries himself on the way to the finish
• Michael Rogers (Columbia) on his way to the gold medal his first Australian elite time trial title
• The medalists wait for the ceremony to begin
• Michael Rogers (Columbia) tops the podium with Cameron Mayer (Garmin Chipotle) and Richie Porte (Prates), l & r.

Stage 2 - January 7: Elite/Under 23 Women's Time Trial, 28 km

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Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

• Ex-rower, Sally Robbins warms up
• Nicole Keily takes the first corner of the women's time trial
• Beth Canny was an early starter on the Buninyong Course
• Sarah Kent was third in the under 23 competition
• Carlee Taylor in action on the Midland Highway
• Sally Robbins settles into her ride
• Stephanie Frawley had a reminder to "focus" on her arm
• Rowena Fry, a mountainbiker won a race in the Bay Series over the weekend and was time trialling today
• Carla Ryan rides for the Cervelo Test team in Europe, a team with several national time trial champions within
• Kathy Watt was out of the saddle at the start of the Midland Highway climb
• Alexis Rhodes was only 6/10 of a second behind Carla Ryan
• Shara Gillow changes position as she nears the finish
• The finishing effort of Zoe Appel
• Josie Tomic was fastest under 23 rider
• Another ex-rower Amber Halliday, on the finishing straight
• Carla Ryan on her way to gold
• Vikki Whitelaw finished fifth, despite a mechanical
• Carla Ryan arrives for the podium ceremony
• The under 23 podium, Shara Gillow, Josephine Tomic and Sarah Kent
• Kathy Watt watches as Carla Ryan and Alexis Rhodes shake hands
• Carla Ryan reflects for a moment as the Australian National Anthem is played
• Carla Ryan was a happy winner
• Carla Ryan has been the Australian TT Champion before in 2007

Stage 1 - January 7: Under 23 Time Trial, 28 km

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Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

• Timothy White was first starter in the U23 men's time trial
• Mark Panopoulous started fast
• Luke Knox gets back into his aero position after cornering
• Silas Fisher on the first corner
• Andrew Roe started a minute ahead of his brother, Timothy
• Timothy Roe prepares to drop into the aero bars as he chases his brother, Andrew
• Michael Mattthews completed the Team AIS podium with his bronze medal ride
• Pip Grinter takes a corner in the U23 men's time trial
• Daniel Braunsteins had a hectic Bay Series and was tenth in Buninyong
• Travis Meyer begins his silver medal winning ride
• Zak Dempster finished fast, finished fourth
• Nick Aitken in the finishing straight
• Michael Matthews finished third
• The effort shows on the face of Alastair Loutit
• Nathan Hass in action close to the finish
• Jack Bobridge gasps for air on his way to gold
• Travis Meyer completes his ride
• Travis Meyer completes his ride
• Travis Meyer, Jack Bobridge and Michael Matthews (all Team AIS) on the podium