News

Experts split on tour selections

Picking winners for this month's Skilled Tour of Tasmania has become almost a nightmare for cycling experts who will have a hands-on role with the five day race.

Phil "Skippy" Anderson, the first Australian bike rider to wear the prized yellow jersey in the Tour de France, Greg Nunn, president of the Tasmanian Cycling Federation and sports journalist Rod Morris, who has covered cycling for almost 20 years, are split on their selections who may win overall General Classification honours.

The Tour of Tasmania will start in Hobart next Wednesday, featuring 75 riders from 10 different countries and broken into 15 teams of five riders each.

Anderson will act as team manager for the newly developed Australian national unit known as IteamNova.com, Nunn will swap his TCF presidential hat for a role as tour commissaire and Morris will accompany the tour as Media Director.

But all three came up with different selections when pressed for tour predictions earlier this week.

Brett Aitken, David McKenzie and Alan Iacuone (pronounced I-Kwani) were the popular selections, but there was no shortage of other top contenders, including defending champion Glen Chadwick of Queensland, Canberra's Rory Sutherland and Sydney rider Ashley Humbert, who impressed Tasmanian cycling watchers when he raced in Tasmania in the 2000 Australian Junior Road Championships at Sheffield.

Our selectors also differed on predictions in the Wrest Point King of the Mountain Championship with Chadwick, Iacuone and New Zealand's Jeremy Yates all gaining support.

Sydney gold medal Olympian from 2000, Brett Aitken gained favouratism in the Country Club Sprint Ace Championship with Anderson and Morris in agreeance, while Nunn opted for Tasmanian rider Nathan Clarke.

Selections

Phil Anderson (First Australian to wear Tour de France yellow jersey)

General Classification: Brett Aitken (Skilled) 1; Alan Iacuone (IteamNova.com) 2; Rory Sutherland (Skilled) 3.

King of the Mountain: Glen Chadwick (Skilled Quest).

Sprint Championship: Brett Aitken (Skilled).

Rod Morris (Skilled Tour of Tasmania Media Director)

General Classification: David McKenzie (IteamNova.com) 1; Glen Chadwick (Skilled Quest) 2; Nathan Clarke (Tasmanian Institute of Sport No. 1) 3.

King of the Mountain: Alan Iacuone (IteamNova.com).

Sprint Championship: Brett Aitken (Skilled).

Greg Nunn (Tasmanian Cycling Federation president)

General Classification: Alan Iacuone (IteamNova.com) 1; Glen Chadwick (Skilled Quest) 2; Ashley Humbert (Francaise de Jeux, NSW IS) 3.

King of the Mountain: Jeremy Yates (New Zealand).

Sprint Championship: Nathan Clarke (Tasmanian Institute of Sport No.1).

Jeff Jones (Cyclingnews.com editor)

General Classification: Alan Iacuone (IteamNova.com) 1; David McPartland (Jayco U23) 2; Ashley Humbert (Francaise de Jeux, NSW IS) 3.

King of the Mountain: Glen Chadwick (Skilled Quest)

Sprint Championship: David McKenzie (IteamNova.com)

Dark horse: Sid Taberlay (Tasmanian IS)