Results and Reports for March 22

Carnegie-Caulfield Criterium

Mulgrave, Australia, March 21, 2000

Clear blue skies, 25C with a sea breeze, perfect conditions for the final Tuesday evening criterium for this summer. Watch the club events page at cyclingnews.com for listings of our upcoming races, note also that daylight saving begins in August this year.

98 riders greeted the starter and heard the news from Europe that Carnegie Caulfield member Brad Davidson had won the 32nd Trofeo Comune di Capergnanciain Italy on March 12th. Brad, riding for GS Vezza Brunero Boeris, won the 130km U23 race in 2:58:00 (43.28kph) in a two up sprint.

Another Carnegie Caulfield member under discussion was 25yo Robert Tighello (Ashburton Cycles) who leads the Compaq National Road Series after winning the opening event on Sunday. The 120km, $6000, United Energy Grand Prix was contested by over 70 riders 10 of whom were Carnegie Caulfield members. "Tigs", with plenty of experience gained in multiple Herald-Sun Tours and holding both Victorian Criterium and Road Titles, turned it on for the crowd winning after going away in a typical display of terminal strength. Rumors are now circulating about an imminent departure for the Basque country in Spain to join a top regional squad.

Best placed Carnegie Caulfield woman in the 78km women’s United Energy Grand Prix was sixth placed Katie Mactier (Jayco-VIS). Katie spent probably too much time pounding on the front of the rapidly dwindling bunch chasing the three escapees (Wilson/Gaudry/Feldhahn). Flipped at the finish by Williams and Hemsley, "Macca" seemed content in the knowledge she had done her best just one day after competing in the National Road Time Trial Championship where she placed 13th.

In Italy, adopted Carnegie Caulfield pseudo-member Swiss Road Champ Priska Doppman (Master Team-Carpe Diem) capitalised on her summer with us to finish eighth in the Primavera Rosa World Cup second leg. She writes "The first 90km of the race were not fast at all, it was just dangerous with a field of 140 riders and small roads with a lot of parked cars on both sides. Everybody was trying to make positions for the last two climbs. The two climbs (Cipressa 6km and Pogio 2km) were rather hard with attacks from a strong Pia Sundstedt and dangerous descents. But the bunch that came over the second climb first, were the ones who were in the sprint in the best position. And I did not miss the win by much, probably next time."

Only 14 A grade starters, again riding with B grade at the start but the strongest soon slipped up the road to make their own little race. Ashley Goewie showed his strength to drive off the front with Dave Sturt late in the race then riding away from Sturt in the finish. A tight sprint for the remaining places with Warren Knevitt third from Matt Jackson.

B grade, with 26 starters, raced the latter half of the race strung out due to consistent high pace. The speed enough to ensure that even the few "Aces" remaining with them had a hard time as well. The finale saw Geoff Whiter victorious ahead of Glen Hutchison, Hayden Mead and Peter Costello.

C grade witnessed the strength of Neil Buckley who jumped away early, taking eventual victor Richard England with him and they established a lead of 1:40 by the bell. Buckley was clearly the stronger but England was able to recover then blast away in the finishing straight. The remainder of the bunch rode easy until the finish where Paul Kennedy led home Josh Rogers.

D grade was treated to early attacking, hoping to get rid of the pensioners who still sprint like teenagers, no such luck! Over 70 pair Bill Dove and Bruce Cochrane powered home in the finale displaying awesome resilience. Third place to James Giannakakis from another old guy, Ray Smith.

Results

A GRADE 14 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 Ashley Goewie
2 Dave Sturt
3 Warren Knevitt
4 Matt Jackson

B GRADE 26 Starters 60 minutes + 3 laps

1 Geoff Whiter
2 Glen Hutchison
3 Hayden Mead
4 Peter Costello

C GRADE 32 Starters 40 minutes + 3 laps

1 Richard England
2 Neil Buckley
3 Paul Kennedy
4 Josh Rogers

D GRADE 26 Starters 35 minutes + 3 laps

1 Bill Dove
2 Bruce Cochrane
3 James Giannakakis
4 Ray Smith

Courtesy of Mark Chadwick