Main Page Men Women Men B Grade Kristjan's Diary Race 1 - Williamstown, January 5, 2000Courtesy of Jenny Kisler and Brian Farrell In the men's race, Henk Vogels took the first sprint and soon after, the first move was made. Five riders attacked with several more joining them later, but Vogels missed it. The lead bunch of 10 containing Scott Sunderland Stuart O'Grady and a very strong list of riders soon pulled away, with the big Swede, Magnus Backstedt slowing the bunch down on all of the corners. Towards the end, Sunderland withdrew for no apparent reason so the break was down to nine. Brad Davidson gave Aitken a nice leadout in the last lap, with Aitken just managing to catch McCaig on the line. Third went to a photo. Stuart O'Grady blew his chance on the first bend of the last lap, when he tried to sneak up the outside and almost ended up on the footpath. The other excitement occurred with 1 lap to go for the bunch, and 4 for the breakaway, when an ambulance drove onto the course (lights and sirens going) and tried to drive the wrong way down the finishing straight...right at the riders! Luckily it decided that through the nearby park was a better option. Report from Mark Chadwick On arrival, "the voice of cycling", Phil Liggett answered the inevitable "what do you think of the weather" question by saying "I've just flown in from Capetown where the weather is perfect. This reminds me of an English summer". Indeed conditions in Melbourne belie any fears of global warming, Southerly winds of 30 kph and only 16C at 3 pm as the race neared its end. Brief showers fell throughout the morning and also during the women's race. Phil Anderson, co-commentator on TV with Liggett, said "it's hard to comment on the individual riders, as many are coming off a break. With the field so deep in talent it's hard to pick a favourite". Anderson's final words were saved for his protégé, Simon Gerrans (Skilled Development-Vic), who was seen taking the great man's advice right up to the gun. Improved weather saw the 80 man field in the feature event of the day rip around the course at warp speed. After Henk Vogels (Bicycle Superstore-WA) took the first sprint points ahead of Brett Aitken (Jayco-VIS SA) and Ashley Sheard (Limerick Arms Hotel-Vic), seven men established a growing gap over the field. Graeme Brown (Pura Milk-NSW), Stuart O'Grady (Skilled-SA), Simon Gerrans (Skilled Development-Vic), Brad Davidson (Jayco-VIS-Vic), Scott Sunderland (Peugeot-NSW), Brett Aitken (Jayco-VIS SA), and Rik McCaig (Limerick Arms Hotel-Vic) set about the task of keeping the bunch at bay. Over the next three laps Hilton Clarke (Mildara Blass-Vic), Dan Bridges (Brumby's Bakeries-UK), Nigel Grigg (Herald Sun-AIS-SA), Peter Milostic (Skilled-NSW) and Corey Sweet (Crash, Bang, Wallop-SA) managed to get across the growing gap. At the second sprint the gap stood at 29 seconds and Simon Gerrans (Skilled Development-Vic) faded and returned to the bunch. At 40 minutes gone, Scott Sunderland (Peugeot-NSW) stopped, leaving nine men rapidly approaching the back of the main bunch. After the third sprint at 45 minutes, the break drew to within 50 metres and appeared to ease. The commissaires declared that the main group would sprint for 10th place at three to go, leaving the road clear for the leaders. Near disaster as an ambulance attempted to cross in front of the mass of cyclists intent on the finale as the main field jockeyed for position at four to go. After being held up for 20 seconds the ambulance got through without the need to call another ten back-ups! Brent Dawson (Pura Milk-NSW) got the single point on offer for 10th then the breakaway group had the last three laps with a clear road. As the bell rang, the Mildara Blass sprinter Hilton Clarke pulled off what appeared impossible by forcing O'Grady off the wheel of his teammate Milostic. As they barrelled through the roundabout, O'Grady pulled his right foot in the midst of it all costing him any chance of victory. The mass of sprinting talent left Clarke in 6th, however the sight of the youngster leaning into the likes of O'Grady says a lot for his determination and guts. Aitken's leadout came from teammate Brad Davidson. On the podium Aitken described the situation as "perfect, Brad led me out through the last corner, I laid off the wheel and gave it everything". He said "this year is very important, Olympic selection is a high priority", and "it's probably my only win this week" as he felt his form is on the decline but he expects others to improve as the week progresses.
Results: 1 Brett Aitken (SA) Jayco-VIS 12 pts 2 Rik McCaig (Vic) Limerick Arms Hotel 9 3 Graeme Brown (NSW) Pura Milk) 7 4 Corey Sweet (SA) Crash Bang Wallop 6 5 Dan Bridges (UK) Brumby's Bakeries 5 6 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Mildara Blass 4 7 Stuart O'Grady (SA) Skilled 3 8 Peter Milostic (NSW) Skilled 2 9 Brad Davidson (Vic) Jayco-VIS 1 10 Brent Dawson (NSW) Pura Milk 1 Sprint points: 1 Brett Aitken (SA) Jayco-VIS 8 pts 2 Henk Vogels (WA) Bicycle Superstore 3 3 Brad Davidson (Vic) Jayco-VIS 3 4 Corey Sweet (SA) Crash Bang Wallop 2 5 Graeme Brown (NSW) Pura Milk) 1 6 Ashley Sheard (Vic) Limerick Arms Hotel 1 WomenAttacking immediately after the second intermediate sprint, at 26 minutes gone were the eventual podium girls, Karen Barrow (Jayco-VIS-Vic), Anna Wilson (Jayco-VIS-Vic) and U19 rider Katherine Bates (NSWIS-NSW). Bates had already won the first sprint and made sure of her points competition lead by taking the second sprint. The blistering attack of Wilson took a lot for the young lass to cover, only to discover that Wilson's teammate Barrow bridged in the next lap, leaving the threesome with a handy lead of 20 seconds. Once away, Wilson powered the three and soon there was a big gap, with Wilson cursing the media motor bike for hogging the corners. The gap grew as the bunch dealt with three separate crashes all on the roundabout in the first bend. With the road slick from light rain, caution was required in the large bunch. Among those who fell was Katie Mactier (Fitzroy Cycles-Vic) who rejoined the race after landing heavily on her left hip to finish a creditable 8th by taking 5th in the field sprint. At six laps to go Barrow drove off the front after Bates had just reeled back an attack from Wilson. Bates had no answer and as she looked to Wilson the race was lost. At two to go, Wilson left Bates, jumping out of the first bend hard and dashing down the left-hand gutter. The remaining laps saw the three women finishing solo, then the bunch kick where Sandra Smith was bettered by Rochelle Gilmore as the remaining riders flew home for the lesser points. Wilson is returning to the USA after tomorrow's race at Barwon Heads. Her Saturn team require her until she returns to ride the Portarlington Nationals on the January 16, then the Queen of the Park in Mulgrave on January 18. Barrow can count on Wilson's support again tomorrow in an effort to make up for last years disappointment after crashing out at Torquay while wearing the leaders yellow jersey.
Results: 1 Karen Barrow (Vic) 12 pts 2 Anna Wilson (Vic) 9 3 Katherine Bates (NSW) 7 4 Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) 6 5 Sandra Smith (WA) 5 6 Bridget Evans (Qld) 4 7 Elizabeth Tadich (Vic) 3 8 Katie Mactier (Vic) 2 9 Hayley Rutherford (WA) 1 10 Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) 1 Sprint points: 1 Katherine Bates (NSW) 6 pts 2 Anna Wilson (Vic) 4 3 Karen Barrow (Vic) 1 4 Alanya Burns (SA) 1 Men - B GradeResults: 1 Tim Bennett (Vic) 12 pts 2 Bill Nickson (UK) 9 3 Paul Kenny (Vic) 7 4 Cameron Jennings (Qld) 6 5 Damien Crange (Vic) 5 6 Jeff Hopkins (NSW) 4 7 Tyson Lawrence (WA) 3 8 Adrian Laidler (SA) 2 9 Luke Stockwell (Qld) 1 10 Christian Rivette (Vic) 1 Kristjan's DiaryCourtesy of Kristjan Snorrason I am riding for the Mildara Blass team which is composed of the following riders: Hilton Clarke Jnr, Brendan Gilhome, Chris Carr, Michael Gill and myself (Justin Hogan will replace Micheal Gill for the Melb-Sorrento race). Brendan, Michael and Chris are all relativly inexperienced riders, with Michael being more experienced than the other two members despite being only 17 years old! I, on the other hand have only being racing bikes for 14 months - I spent two months racing in Belgium in '99 (a baptism of fire!) and was a former Australian Representative at Triathlon World Championships. After the B Grade men's race was won and lost, the women took to the flat rectangle course. Once again, as was the case last year, the notorious roundabout at the end of the finishing staight caused a few problems for some riders, including Fitzroy Cycles/Mildara Blass rider Katie Mactier. Katie had riden off the front of the women's field only to come unstuck whilst negotiating the tight roundabout and its drain covers all over the road. Katie manged to get back on her the bike and join the passing bunch. Although she could have taken a lap out to rejoin the field where she left, Katie opted to immediatly rejoin the race! Incredibly it wasn't long before she was back in the thick of things. Unfortunately, the effort took its toll, as she moved her way up the bunch, the eventual placegetters made the winning move off the front of the bunch and Katie was unable to respond. However an eventual 8th place was some compensation for the road rash! The Elite Men's race was similar in that a breakaway controlled the final result. The race itself took a predicable route to it's finale: Fast and Furious. The desperation of riders to move up the bunch early resulted in fast times. Mildara Blass were placed towards the back half of the bunch on the start grid, so it was a relief when early in the race I saw Hilton in second wheel. It wasn't until 10-15mins into the race that I moved up into the front 15 or so. I was also relieved to see that Michael and Brendan where already up near the front bunch. It was time to ensure we had a representative in the break that I was sure would come sooner rather than later... Sure enough, after the first Prime for the day was won by Henk Vogels, the break was made. I saw the intial break of 5 or so riders go and knew that this was the break to be in. (The fact that I saw O'Grady and Aitken in it helped me draw a quick conclusion!). Another group of 3 riders started to move across to this group. I wanted to be part of it! I tried to jump across, (I had to also ensure that I didn't bring the bunch with me as I had my teammate Hilton Clarke Jnr in the break) but I could only get to within 25m of the 3 riders before I succumbed to the headwind. I was out for about 4 laps in the wind, 4 laps too many! Ah well I still had Hilton in the break! The lead bunch of 10 containing Scott Sunderland, Stuart O'Grady and a very strong list of riders soon pulled away, with the big Swede, Magnus Backstedt slowing the bunch down on all of the corners. The Mildara Blass boys weren't even required up the front, such were the numbers of riders on the front of the bunch doing the right thing by their team mates in the break. From then on the race was over - there were 10 riders in the break, but then Scott Sunderland was dropped from the front break. That left 9 in the break, ahh well, the race was back on! We were now fighting for 10th. Even still, I figured that the race was over, and the majority of the field felt the same. It was all pretty easy until the last lap as the trackies fired up for the sprint for 10th. The break caught up to the rear of the main peloton and were given another 3 laps to sort themselves out. Brad Davidson gave the former Australian Track Representative and VIS/Jayco teammate Brett Aitken a leadout - a rider of his standing doesn't mess up, however it was close between him and McCaig. It was a great result for us to have Hilton get 6th and all the other remaining members of our team to finish. Let's see what tommorrow brings, the forcast is for fine but mild weather and with all of us getting a good night's sleep (at the Ambassador in Geelong) and a few km's in the morning all looks good.
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