2000 Results Results Past winners
Australian cyclists Robbie McEwen today won the fifth Noosa International Criterium in an action-packed race, that was unfortunately marred by numerous crashes. The biggest field ever lined up this year, all keen to end their season's racing on a winning note.
Over 20 European professional cyclists started in the line up and it was set to be the toughest ever criterium at Noosa. That's exactly how it turned out with constant attacks from the start. Nathan O'Neill was the most aggressive rider throughout the race, he was determined to split the event up and not let it all come down to a sprint finish, but his brave attempts were countered by the chasing group and inevitably it did come down to a race for the line.
The course was definitely one of the most challenging criterium course in Australia with tight corners at each end of the circuit and with the strong south easterly they blew in late in the day the faced a stiff headwind to the line.
With just three laps to go Matt White from US Postal and a team member of Lance Armstrong made his move, which was countered by Cadel Evans in his first appearance at the front. It was then left up to the Fakta teammate of Scott Sunderland Kurt Asle Arvesen to take up the running for Sunderland. O'Neill, who was still determined to take his place on the podium, then covered this move but it was not to be for him on this day.
With just one lap remaining the race was all squared up again and anyone's for the taking, it would come down to who had the most petrol in the tank. Coming over the bridge for the last time it was McEwen who took control and went to the front leaving Jans Koerts with no answer to his powerful sprint. For Bradley McGee it was yet another third again, having placed third at the Sydney Olympics and twice third in stages of this year's Tour de France.
This event is one of the major draw cards in the Multi Sport Festival week and the thousands that lined the course to watch the world's best cyclists in action confirmed that fact.
Sunday 4 November will see the highlight of the Multi Sports Festival with the Noosa Triathlon getting underway at 7am. Over 1700 athletes will compete in the event with a further 500 teams also involved.
Tim Francis was in Noosa and despite the less-than-sunny weather took these pictures.
1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Domo-Farm Frites 2 Jans Koerts (Ned) Domo-Farm Frites 3 Brad McGee (Aus) La Francaise des Jeux 4 Kristjan Snorrason (Aus) Selle Italia 5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Saeco Cannondale 6 Stefan Van Dyck (Ned) Batavus 7 Marcus Ljungquist (Swe) Fakta 8 Leigh Palmer (Aus) Harding-Get 9 Arron Kemps (Aus) Boylans 10 David Betts (Aus) Lifecycle
2000 Scott Sunderland (Aus)