1997 Results
ReportBelgian Bart Heirwegh, who is visiting Australia for the first time, won the famous Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic after outsprinting former Australian road champion Allan Iacuone. Australian Jason Phillips was third.The wind was initially favourable for the 215 riders and they reached Geelong (60 kms into the race) 15 minutes faster than expected. Past Geelong, however, the riders faced a tough north-westerly along the Princes Highway through Colac and beyond. Of the 215 starters, which included 4 women, only 48 finished. No woman finished. Anna Wilson lasted 145 kms into the race and abandoned. The action really began in earnest with around 50 kms left to ride. A break of 8 formed and as the finish approached this group dropped to five. They contested the sprint with Heirwegh triumphant. Canadian Eric Wohlberg was the most aggressive rider during the race picking up enough of the intermediate sprints to take the Sprint prize. The race results show the grade that the rider was entered for. Although a mass start event prizes were paid by grade. "The Warny", 265 kms:1. Bart Heirwegh (Bel) A 7.20.56 2. Allan Iacuone (Aus) A 3. Jason Phillips (Aus) A 4. Scott Moninger (USA) A 5. Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) A 6. Eric Wohlberg (Can) A 0.49 7. Koen Beekman (Bel) A 0.59 8. Peter Verbeken (Bel) A 6.13 9. Jaroslav Bilek (Cze) A 6.13 10. Gareth Atkins (Aus) A 6.13 11. Alexander Kastenhubel (Ger) A 6.13 12. Gary Parsons (Aus) A 6.13 13. Any De Smet (Bel) A 6.13 14. Brad Mills (Aus) B 6.13 15. Andrea Chiurato (Ita) A 6.13 16. Chris White (Aus) A 6.13 17. James Taylor (Aus) A 21.49 18. Stuart Terrell (Aus) A 38.33 19. Trent Perry (Aus) B 46.27 20. Ben O'Leary (Aus) B 46.27 21. Andrew Spry (NZ) B 50.59 22. Jeff Wheeler (Aus) C 52.04 23. Mark Gargioni (Aus) B 52.13 24. Brian McNamara (Aus) C 52.13 25. Gary Doyle (Aus) C 52.13 26. Murray Crawford (Aus) C 52.13 27. Gary Richardson (Aus) C 52.13 28. Tom McDonough (Aus) C 52.13 29. Darren Benson (Aus) B 52.13 30. Daryl Habel (Aus) B 52.22 31. Brett Cahir (Aus) D 52.25 32. Brendan Rowbotham (Aus) B 53.43 33. Christopher Tymms (Aus) B 56.20 34. Bruce Will (Aus) C 58.11 35. Ewin Williams (Aus) C 58.11 36. Jason Stirling (Aus) B 58.11 37. Ben Jackson (Aus) C 58.11 38. David O'Leary (Aus) C 58.11 39. Glenn Benson (Aus) B 58.11 40. Peter Bolton (Aus) C 58.11 41. Aaron Gullan (Aus) B 58.11 42. Dennis Bowen-Day (Aus) C 58.11 43. Scott Thompson (Aus) C 58.43 44. Christopher Riley (Aus) B 1.23.03 45. Greg Marshall (Aus) D 1.42.36 46. Damien Power (Aus) D 1.42.36 47. Joe Grazo (Aus) B 1.58.06 48. John Grima (Aus) D 1.58.34 49. Nick Lee (Aus) D 1.58.34 50. Jack Langedyk (Aus) C 1.58.34 51. Nick Osbourne (Aus) D 1.58.34 52. Brendan Budge (Aus) C 1.58.34 53. Peter Smith (Aus) B 1.58.34 54. Andrew Groeneveld (Aus) D 1.58.54 |