Results and Reports for December 23Carnegie Caulfield Criterium Victoria, Australia, December 21, 1999 Courtesy of Mark Chadwick 152 riders greeted the starter for the final Tuesday night criterium of the year. Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club goes on the road to participate in the famous Victorian Christmas carnival circuit and returns to normal racing Sunday 1 January 2000. Fine, cool conditions again with a steady sea breeze. A grade, with 31 starters, saw a virtual repeat of last week's action. An early breakaway of four was joined by two others at half distance, only to be thinned down to the final four again. Bendigo youngster B.J. McIntosh (19) riding for the VIS, tired and dropped off, leaving the finish to three team-mates from the upcoming Bay Criterium Series and the luckless Chris Carr. As the sprint was launched, Carr saw his chances evaporate as Robert Tighello proved why he holds both road and crit State Championships. James Taylor took second with Mt. Waverley carpenter Luke Weir fourth. Add Stephen Pate to the top three steps of this podium, then add an as yet un-named Euro pro and the Peugeot team is looking good for January. Veteran Doug Garley used all his considerable experience to husband the resources of his four-man break in B grade. With 32 men and the trio of Anna Wilson, Liz Tadich and Karen Barrow in pursuit the gap hovered at around 20 seconds for over half an hour. Garley led home the charge from David Milward who received a roasting from Anna (his new wife) and Garren Buckland. Fourth place to Chris Burke whose sprint was affected by the A grade break passing through at an unfortunate time. The traditional big bunch in C grade, 56 riders kept the pace high all evening. Many spoke of the effort required holding the relentless pace, including the eventual winner Warren Potma. On a brief return visit from W.A.'s gold mines the geologist burst from the pack in the last 150 metres holding off Tony McGurrigal, 14 y.o. Kieran Love of Leongatha and 15 y.o. Johnny Clarke in a rollicking sprint that covered the full width of the road. D grade witnessed the continued ascendance of Michael Ford (13) of Mulgrave. Already a state rep on the track, the lad worked hard throughout the race and proceeded to win the sprint from a field of 26 using only a 77-inch gear. Second place went to Lincoln Belcourt by the barest margin with Nigel King third and Lee Sherman fourth, the top six finishers all within a bike length.
Results A GRADE 31 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 Robert Tighello 2 James Taylor 3 Luke Weir 4 Chris Carr B GRADE 39 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps 1 Doug Garley 2 David Milward 3 Garren Buckland 4 Chris Burke C GRADE 56 Starters 35 minutes + 3 laps 1 Warren Potma 2 Tony McGurrigal 3 Kieran Love 4 Johnny Clarke D GRADE 26 Starters 35 minutes + 3 laps 1 Michael Ford 2 Lincoln Belcourt 3 Nigel King 4 Lee Sherman |