Results and Reports for March 12

Geleuvenprijs - 1.12

Geleuven, Belgium, March 11, 2000

At 65 kms a group of 16 riders went off. Finn Jukka Heinikainen attacked alone with five kms to go but was caught with two kilometers left. Van Impe counterattacked and managed to hold the group off bu a couple of seconds.

Results - 117 km

1 Marnix Van Impe (Bel) Erpe            3.14.29
2 Brian Henriksen (Den) Kvickly            0.02
3 Lars van Thournout (Bel) Oostende

Carnegie-Caulfield Criterium

Mulgrave, Victoria, March 12, 2000

Courtesy of Mark Chadwick

With the Australian F1 Grand Prix and the Bendigo Madison as competition the field of 149 for the Sunday morning crits was a pleasant surprise. Excellent conditions - mild, sunny and a pleasant sea breeze.

With the top trackies absent contesting the Madison carnival at Bendigo the hardened road-men took to each other with vigor. The final 15 minutes of the race saw a series of strong attacks featuring, among others David Sturt, Murray Fenwick (Fitzroy Cycles), Justin Hogan, Karl Becker, Warren Knevitt, and the four placegetters. None of the moves gained more than a few seconds before the fast moving bunch pounced and the counter-attacking began.

At the 3 laps to go mark Michael Yarski and Robert Tighello were away in the company of Knevitt and Becker, holding a slender 7-second lead. The lead was halved in the next lap as James Taylor and Sturt attempted a late bridge. Entering the last lap Becker took his chance and tried the 1000m TT with no success. The final sprint saw Michael "Seppo" Yarski (Giramondo) hold off a late charge from Robert Tighello (Ashburton Cycles), Brendan Rowbotham (Fitzroy Cycles) was hard on his heels as was Paul Redenbach (Raceline).

B grade featured many attacks as well, also without affecting the result as it came to a bunch gallop. The difference from A grade, B grade was prepared to allow the triers the opportunity to fry, dangling off the front at 5 seconds or so. The usual escape merchants made a fair fist of their attempts, but at the bell the bunch was all together lead by Paralympian Peter Homann (Jayco-VIS) at his max. Nick Witkamp began his run at the second last corner, hit the lead through the final bend and never looked challenged as he held second placed Rob Tidey on his hip. Colombian Mauro Alvarez took third ahead of Guy Green.

The 47 starters in C grade rode at only 2kph less than B grade and spent much off the day lined out behind the few work-horses prepared to put in the big ones at the front. Russell Johnstone won the kick ahead of Geoff Vincent who was pleased to place after a 12-month drought. Andy Cominer was third with Matt Dowling fourth.

D grade’s 15 starters basically kept turning left and stayed out of the way until, late in the race, a surge or two saw John Hollingworth and Al Pham slip away. The twosome held the gap through to the end while Mick Cummings tried valiantly to bridge alone only to finish third alone. Ian Wolfe lead home the bunch to take fourth place.

Results

A GRADE 36 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 Michael Yarski (Giramondo)
2 Robert Tighello (Ashburton Cycles)
3 Brendan Rowbotham (Fitzroy Cycles)
4 Paul Redenbach (Raceline)

B GRADE 51 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 Nick Witkamp
2 Rob Tidey
3 Mauro Alvarez
4 Guy Green

C GRADE 47 Starters 40 minutes + 3 laps

1 Russell Johnstone
2 Geoff Vincent
3 Andy Cominer
4 Matt Dowling

D GRADE 15 Starters 35 minutes + 3 laps

1 John Hollingworth
2 Al Pham
3 Mick Cummings
4 Ian Wolfe