Results and Reports for April 9

BMC Software Criterium

Austin, USA, April 8, 2000

Men

By John Alsedek, cyclingnews.com correspondent

In unseasonably cold conditions, Mercury's Gord Fraser and Nicole Reinhart of Saturn won their respective events at the BMC Austin Criterium on Saturday evening. With speeds reaching 40 mph on the one-mile downtown circuit, it was no surprise that both events came down to field sprints, making for two highly entertaining finishes. However, as much attention was made as to who was in attendance as on the racing itself, and for good reason.

Besides defending Tour champion Lance Armstrong, whose Lance Armstrong Foundation is the beneficiary of the race's proceeds, there were two other Tour greats in Austin as well: Eddy Merckx, who fired the honorary starter's pistol, and Miguel Indurain.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Austin, TX, which is devoted to assisting people diagnosed with cancer.

Results

1. Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury
2. Todd Littlehales (USA) Navigators
3. Graeme Miller (NZl) Shaklee
4. Jonas Carney (USA) Shaklee
5. Vasilly Davidenko (Rus) Navigators
6. Ivan Dominguez (USA) 
7. Antonio Cruz (USA) Saturn
8. Kevin Monohan (USA) Mercury
9. Robbie Ventura (USA) Saturn
10. Steve Cates (USA) Mercury
12. Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn

Women

By Pam Schuster (racereport@vcnet.com)

The fast, furious, 4 corner course with a little speed bump between corners 1 and 2 set the stage of battle. Numerous break away attempts were made with the AutoTrader.com team on the offense in the 2nd half of the party. With the strong horse power of the peloton it still came down to a field sprint with Nicole Reinhart winning in front of the street lined crowd of Austin, Texas.

Carnegie-Caulfield Criterium

Mulgrave, Australia, April 9, 2000

A perfect Melbourne morning drew 136 riders to Glenvale Crescent to race over the 1000m flat, fast circuit. Many had ridden the season opener the day before and the double header weekend seems very popular.

Further news from the sad crash in D grade Saturday, Christine Fischer’s broken collarbone is complicated by floating bone fragments and the vision impaired Paralympian’s road tandem is bent. Christine’s pilot, Russell Wolfe (rwolfe@ani.com.au), reports that she is devastated by the further setback to their campaign for Sydney2000. Any offers of assistance would be gratefully received. ,P> A grade witnessed the ascendancy of Jayco/VIS rider David Salton who won a ten up sprint easing up. The break formed in ones and twos around half distance, the last across being Kristjan Snorrason (Mildara Blass) who bridged the eighteen-second gap in five grueling laps. Paul Richards (Gibson Cycleworks) was second by half a wheel ahead of South African U23 champ Jeremy Maartens (Giramondo) who closed Snorrason out in the final metres.

A big field sprint in B grade, coming after frequent big breaks going away only to be reabsorbed by the hard charging remnants.‘64 Olympian Mick Hollingworth turning a huge gear was pipped at the line by Stu Campbell. Recovering well from his C grade win Saturday, Darren Cathie managed third with U15 lad Mark French boxing on fourth.

Occurring twice in the past few months - an unclaimed place! C grade’s 40 riders ripped into each other throughout the race with the only creditable break coming at four laps to go when Alan Schnable drove off with a couple of helpers. Most spectators thought that was it and were surprised to see Ken Ford belt over the line ahead of Justin Dovaston and Mick Gibson. Whoever was fourth in the big sprint was too modest to claim, can’t be a real bike rider! Schnable and co. were caught in the back straight after some sterling chasing by Ford the younger paying back Dad’s long support.

D grade again suffered from low numbers but still raced for real. The bunch strung out under pressure from the stronger and many a game fight back ensued. Simon Clark led the thinned out bunch home from David Hendrey and another victim of Saturday’s disaster Aaron Moody who was nursing a bruised knee. Martin Harker rounded out the placings.

Results

A GRADE 39 starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 David Salton (Jayco/VIS)
2 Paul Richards (Gibson Cycleworks)
3 Jeremy Maartens (Giramondo)
4 Kristjan Snorrason (Mildara Blass)

B GRADE 41 starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 Stuart Campbell
2 Mick Hollingworth
3 Darren Cathie
4 Mark French

C GRADE 40 starters 40 minutes + 3 laps

1 Ken Ford
2 Justin Dovaston
3 Mick Gibson
4 Unclaimed!

D GRADE 16 starters 35 minutes + 3 laps

1 Simon Clark
2 David Hendrey
3 Aaron Moody
4 Martin Harker

Results and reports courtesy of Mark Chadwick