Main Page Men Women Men B Grade Kristjan's Diary Race 3 - Torquay, January 7, 2000Courtesy of Brian Farrell and Jenny Kisler Brendan Gilholme started the attacks in the men's race not long after the starting gun. There followed attacks by Jay Sweet and several other riders, and at one stage Jay Sweet, Peter Milostic and Jamie Drew went clear, however could not maintain the gap for long. When they were brought back, Jay's brother, Corey Sweet attacked, but again this amounted to nought. At about half way a group of three (Pelle Kil, Simon Gerrans and Nic Brown) were just clear of the bunch. Then, there was a major crash in the middle of the back straight which brought down several riders (a few punctures/buckled wheels and very little skin off) splitting the field. At least half of the field were caught behind this crash, which was caused by too many cars parked on the median strip, but they were able to take a lap out. Most of the photographers were busy talking and missed the crash, however it enabled the breakaway riders to get clear. Peter Milostic (again) and Andrew Stalder jumped across the gap to the front three. The bunch chased, but not too seriously, and were unable to close the gap. Stuart O'Grady tried to get across to the leaders but it was never going to work. Henk Vogels and Magnus Backstedt weren't really seen at the front at all. Eventually the breakaways gained a lap so the field was pulled out with three laps to go, with Rik McCaig winning the sprint for sixth. In the break, Pelle Kil attacked with just over a lap to go and was able to stay clear for the victory. Andrew Stalder led in the remaining breakaways in the sprint with Milostic third. Brett Aitken remained the sprint and overall leader. Another notable performance was that of Shane Kelly (a crowd favourite) who usually just rolls around for a few laps and then pulls out and signs autographs for the fans (very much appreciated by everyone too!). Today he hung around at the back of the field until they got to five laps to go before pulling out. Results: 1 Pelle Kil (Ned) Brumby's Bakeries 12 pts 2 Andrew Stadler (WA) Bicycle S'store 9 3 Peter Milostic (NSW) Skilled 7 4 Nic Brown (NSW) Woolmark AIS 6 5 Simon Gerrans (Vic) Skilled D'vment 5 6 Rik McCaig (Vic) Limerick Arms Hotel 4 7 Stephen Pate (Vic) Puegeot 3 8 Graeme Brown (NSW) Pura Milk 2 9 Stuart O'Grady (SA) Skilled 1 10 Brett Aitken (SA) Jayco-VIS 1 Overall after 3 races: 1 Brett Aitken (SA) Jayco-VIS 23.5 pts 2 Rik McCaig (Vic) Limerick Arms Hotel 19 3 Pelle Kil (Ned) Brumby's Bakeries 17 4 Graeme Brown (NSW) Pura Milk 16 5 Stephen Pate (Vic) Puegeot 13.5 6 Andrew Stadler (WA) Bicycle S'store 11 7 Stuart O'Grady (SA) Skilled 9 7 Peter Milostic (NSW) Skilled 9 9 Corey Sweet (SA) Crash Bang Wallop 8 9 Nic Brown (NSW) Woolmark AIS 6 11 Hilton Clark (Vic) Mildara Blass 5 11 Brent Dawson (NSW) Pura Milk 5 11 Simon Gerrans (Vic) Skilled D'vment 5 14 Manuel Mori (Ita) Crown Casino 3 15 Henk Vogels (WA) Bicycle Superstore 1 16 Brad Davidson (Vic) Jayco-VIS 1 Sprints overall after 3 races: 1 Brett Aitken (SA) Jayco-VIS 16 pts 2 Baden Burke (NSW) Puegeot 6 3 Peter Milostic (NSW) Skilled 5 3 Corey Sweet (SA) Crash Bang Wallop 5 5 Henk Vogels (WA) Bicycle Superstore 4 6 Scott Sunderland (NSW) Puegeot 3 6 Brad Davidson (Vic) Jayco-VIS 3 8 Hilton Clark (Vic) Mildara Blass 2 8 Pelle Kil (Ned) Brumby's Bakeries 2 10 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Skilled 1 10 Graeme Brown (NSW) Pura Milk 1 10 Ashley Sheard (Vic) Limerick Arms 1 10 Jamie Drew (Vic) Jayco-VIS 1 10 Luke Stockwell (Qld) Crown Casino 1 10 Troy Clark (Vic) Jayco-VIS 1 WomenCourtesy of Jenny Kisler The first sprint was won by Katie Mactier. Before the second sprint the winner of the first race in Williamstown, Karen Barrow attacked and managed to establish a gap to the main field. She won the second sprint, followed by ever consistent NSW performers, Katherine Bates and Rochelle Gilmore. The gap to the main field hovered at around 16 seconds (about the length of the front straight) until the NSW girls started chasing. The gap came down to 12 seconds but once the sprinters started moving to the front the gap went back out. Karen Barrow won easily with Katherine Bates leading the field out nicely for Rochelle Gilmore to take second and Sandra Smith in third. Results: 1 Karen Barrow (Vic) 12 pts 2 Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) 9 3 Sandra Smith (WA) 7 4 Alison Wright (ACT) 6 5 Joanne Robinson (SA) 5 6 Katherine Bates (NSW) 4 7 Katie Mactier (Vic) 3 8 Bridget Evans (Qld) 2 9 Elizabeth Tadich (Vic) 1 10 Sara Carrigan (Qld) 1 Overall after 3 races: 1 Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) 27 pts 2 Karen Barrow (Vic) 24 3 Anna Wilson (Vic) 18 4 Sandra Smith (WA) 16 4 Katherine Bates (NSW) 16 6 Alison Wright (ACT) 13 7 Elizabeth Tadich (Vic) 9 8 Bridget Evans (Qld) 8 9 Katie Mactier (Vic) 5 10 Joanne Robinson (SA) 5 11 Emma James (NSW) 3 12 Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) 2 13 Sara Carrigan (Qld) 1 14 Margaret Hemsley (Qld) 1 15 Hayley Rutherford (WA) 1 Sprints overall after 3 races: 1 Katherine Bates (NSW) 11 pts 2 Karen Barrow (Vic) 6 3 Anna Wilson (Vic) 4 4 Katie Mactier (Vic) 3 4 Margaret Hemsley (Qld) 3 4 Alanya Burns (SA) 3 7 Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) 2 7 Elizabeth Tadich (Vic) 2 9 Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) 1 9 Sandra Smith (WA) 1 Men - B GradeResults: 1 Jeff Hopkins (NSW) 12 pts 2 Tim Bennett (Vic) 9 3 Brian Appleyard (NSW) 7 4 Peter Dawson (WA) 6 5 Cameron Jennings (Qld) 5 6 Damien Crange (Vic) 4 7 Nash Kent (NSW) 3 8 Franco Malvuli (Swi) 2 9 Bill Nickson (UK) 1 10 Paul Kenny (Vic) 1 Overall after 3 races: 1 Tim Bennett (Vic) 28 pts 2 Jeff Hopkins (NSW) 21 3 Mark Roach (Vic) 12 4 Brian Appleyard (NSW) 11 4 Bill Nickson (UK) 11 4 Cameron Jennings (Qld) 11 7 Douglas Kidd (NSW) 10 8 Damien Crange (Vic) 9 9 Paul Kenny (Vic) 8 10 Peter Dawson (WA) 6 11 Robert Wilson (Vic) 5 11 Franco Malvuli (Swi) 5 11 Nash Kent (NSW) 3 14 Tyson Lawrence (WA) 3 15 Adrian Laidler (SA) 2 16 Kevin Poulton (NSW) 1 16 Luke Stockwell (Qld) 1 16 Christian Rivette (Vic) 1 Sprints overall after 3 races: 1 Adrian Sansonetti (Vic) 7 2 Paul Kenny (Vic) 6 3 Tyson Lawrence (WA) 5 4 Tim Bennett (Vic) 4 5 Robert Wilson (Vic) 3 5 Rory Sutherland (ACT) 3 5 Douglas Kidd (NSW) 3 8 John Madden (Vic) 1 8 Simon Bishop (Vic) 1 8 Brian Appleyard (NSW) 1 8 Douglas Hunt (NSW) 1 Kristjan's DiaryCourtesy of Kristjan Snorrason Ouch! Today was tough, for a couple of reasons. Firstly the speed was kept high for most of the race, and secondly the desperation of most of the riders meant that several times a lap crazy moves through the corners meant that the bunch was all over the shop! We lost a rider today: Brendan Gilholme was involved in the crash of the day and is still in hospital as I am writing this in our room at the Ambassador in Geelong. He managed to slice his little finger open to the bone. It could be matter of "I told you so" because Brendan and I were sitting in the team car before the race today and he turned to me and said "Snozza, I've got a bad feeling about today, I reckon I'll come down" ! Well at least he didn't let himself down! But really, some people will do anything to get on television, so for that Brendan receives a nomination for Maddest Man! My Maddest Man Award today goes to the Skilled team for not getting a rider in the break and then driving the bunch single file for 15mins at about 50 something kms an hour. Speaking of television, without a doubt the star of our team is actually not a member of the mens team. Katie Mactier has spent more time on tele than on her bike! Admittedly for a girl who is only in her first season on the bike, she is having a great first Skilled Series! Now all she has to do is get a ride on a pro team! Well as has become custom in this year's races, the fight for a front position begins before the women's race has even finished. Madness... I managed a position somewhere in the vicinity of awful and shocking! I managed to be mid-pack throughout the first half of the race and then midway through the back straight the bunch seemed to upend themselves. We were all at full acceleration out of the 2nd corner when all of a sudden there were bikes and bodies everywhere. There was no road left. After a lap out I moved up through the ensuing chaos and shielded Hilton as best I could, against the relentless attacks, I brought back the bunch of 4 who had slipped the field just prior to the crash. The main break of 5 riders went clear and most of the impetus of the bunch's speed disappeared until the Credit Agricole strongmen set about trying to bring the break back. That is how the race ended with the bunch sprinting for 6th-10th places. The break won and you can read the full results when I get them! (above) Tomorrow is Geelong and I am looking forward to it, a rectangle/hotdog course with room to move! Hopefully not too many crashes! Snozza
|