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Preview Start List Report Results
Courtesy of Kristjan Snorrason and Mark Chadwick Run in conjunction with the second biggest triathlon in the world and in the midst of a week of multi-sport mayhem, The Rexona Noosa Criterium stood apart from the rest as it was one of the showcase events, featuring some of the biggest names in professional cycling. This race was going to be one of the events of the Noosa triathlon festival that was not to be missed. The start list revealed some of the current superstars of the sport as well as some of the emerging talent gunning for the professional ranks. Heading the field was undoubtedly the star of Australian cycling Stuart O'Grady, however with complications from his now infamous Toulouse incident arising only minutes before the start of the race, the 30,000 strong crowd were bitterly disappointed as O'Grady had to scratch from the race (imagine how O'Grady felt!). It was left to the remainder of the pro's to compete for the favouritism of the crowd. Marcel Wüst (recent winner of 4 stages of the Tour of Spain, and 2 in the Bank Classic), Robbie McEwen (winner of the final stage of this year's Tour of France) were now the favourites. Under the "emerging talent" bracket was Ben Day (Victor), winner of the Tattersalls Cup Tour of Gippsland earlier in the year, Ben Johnson (Johns), who has spent the Australian Winter living with the Wüst family in Cologne. From what Ben told me "I was learning from the best.... when I wasn't babysitting their baby!". Finally there was Kristjan Snorrason and Terry Nightingale who had both spent time in Belgium this year riding for the powerful Giant-Tacx team. This team is proving to be a nursery for emerging talent and webeditors: Kirk O'Bee, who has just signed for US Postal rode for Giant-Tacx this year, as did Jeff Jones who has signed for cyclingnews for an indefinite period. 1. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) 2. Anthony Kellen (Astra Merida) 3. Marcel Wüst (Festina) 4. Robbie McEwen (Rabobank) 5. Scott Sunderland (Palmans) 6. Christian Weghmann (Die Continentale) 7. Henk Vogels (Credit Agricole) 8. Jay Sweet (BigMat) 9. Patrick Jonker (Rabobank) 10. Jono Hall (Festina) 11. Nathan O'Neil (Navigare) 12. Unai Exteabarria (Euskadi) 13. Macelino Garcia (ONCE) 14. David Canada (ONCE) 15. Nick Gates (Die Continentale) 16. Jason Phillips (Die Continentale) 17. Sacha Poxleitner (Victor) 18. Chris White (Astra Merida) 19. Brett Lentz (Astra Merida) 20. Craig Saunders (Astra Merida) 21. Kimble Hugh (Lifecycle) 22. Mark Ledgerwood (University) 23. Jason Reed (Ffast) 24. Ben Day (Victor) 25. Dan Morrison 26. Ashley Hutchinson 27. Kris Tully 28. Bart Duraj (Blasters) 29. David Betts 30. Bradley Nightingale (Lifecycle) 31. Adam Ariel 32. Terry Nightingale (Lifecycle) 33. Peter Williamson (University 34. - 35. Tim Murford (Blasters) 36. Stuart Cowin (Victor) 37. Scott Davis (AIS) 38. Russell Tucker 39. Andrew Stewart 40. Peter Bartley (Blasters) 41. Allan Davis (AIS) 42. Martin Pearce (Ffast) 43. Kristjan Snorrason (CarnegieCaulfield/ Mildara Blass) 44. Steve Rooney 45. Heiko Zonn 46. Marcel Bankston 47. Aaron Kemp 48. Ben Johnson (Johns) 49. Chris Langdon (Johns) 50. Cameron Hughes (Astra Merida) 51. Franky Van Haesebroucke (Collstrop) 52. Jay Stockwell (Hamilton) 53. - 54. John Navarrete (Cats)Report The course was a simple flat 1.2km Hot Dog circuit with the crowds four deep round the course. With primes on offer every 5 laps of the 30 lap race, the pace was going to be on right from the start. As we lined up for the start and the favourites were introduced to the crowd, we were all informed that O'Grady would not be able to start the race, though we were unsure as to the reason. However, the gun was fired and we were underway. Around the first roundabout and it was Jono Hall who took a flyer: "Thanks Jono!" as the field quickly went single file as an attempt was made to bring him back. It was attack after attack as we approached 20 laps to go. So far no single break had managed to stay away, it all just seemed like everyone wanted to get their jersey on camera! I bridged across to Chris White and another rider and we stayed out in front for a couple of laps, but with a prime approaching, the bunch made a concerted effort to bring us back. It wasn't long after the bunch caught us that Scott Sunderland and Franky Van Haesebroucke attacked and sat 20 secs in front of the bunch for the most of the next 15 or so laps! They picked up 3 primes before the bunch came back together to set up the bunch gallop. The field was now shattered, reduced to about 25 riders and the last three laps were fast and furious. Jono Hall sat on the front driving the bunch with Wüst sitting on his wheel, thankful for the work his teammate was doing for him. Van Haesebroucke and Sunderland, both using their extensive Kermesse knowledge, never ventured far from the front and were positioned well for the finish. Approaching the the last U-turn before the finish line I was 3/4 down the field with McEwen now seen to be moving up. The surge out of the last corner was always going to be decisive - he who could hold the wheel and then surge again would be well placed for the line. I gave it a bit of stick all the way from the corner and was still easily accelerating as I crossed the line for 10th. McEwen got caught behind a slow moving camera bike(!) and couldn't manage to catch the in-form Wüst or Van Haesebroucke. The crowd had gone beserk and the comments at the end of the weekend revealed that the criterium was "The most exciting thing I've watched all week, in fact ever!". Once again the Rexona Noosa Criterium had managed to surpass itself and I am sure this race will continue to be a highlight of Noosa Multi-Sport Festival in years to come. Special thanks to Laurie Cranley from Bikestyle, Brisbane for making it such a good event. 1. Marcel Wüst (Festina) 2. Frank Van Haesebroucke (Collstrop) 3. Robbie McEwen (Rabobank) 4. Ashley Hutchinson 5. Steve Rooney 6. Bradley Nightingale (Lifecycle) 7. David Canada (ONCE) 8. Bart Duraj (Blasters) 9. Unai Exteabarria (Euskadi) 10. Kristjan Snorrason (Carnegie-Caulfield/ Mildara Blass) |