Skilled Geelong Bay Classic - NEAustralia, January 2-6, 2002 |
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Stage 1 - January 2: Rye. Start 12.30pm, finish 3.30pm
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Scrymgeour takes first day after duo breakaway
By Karen Forman in Rye
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A two-horse race. That's the only way to describe the women's event on the first day of the 2002 Skilled Geelong Bay Classic at Rye today.
Although the girls were joking on the start line that it was going to be (as Liz Tadich put it) "war" between NSW and Victoria riders, when it came down to it, the State of Origin contest was NSW versus Queensland - Kristy Scrymgeour and Sara Carrigan.
While spectators were focussing on the likes of Liz Tadich (second in the 2000 Australian road titles), comeback rider Narelle Peterson and Rochelle Gilmoure, favourite in the absence of last year's winner and world number one Anna Millward, Scrymgeour and Carrigan were quietly breaking away in the 45-minute event and opening up a gap that ranged from eight seconds to a massive maximum 45 seconds - and never looked in any great danger.
The pace was frenetic from the outset, with Scrymgeour and Zoe Southwell working together early to get away.
The first sprint went to Scrymgeour with Alison Wright second and Katherine Bates third.
Even intermittent rain and chilling winds did not slow the pace, although two thirds of the way in, Wright and Emma Louise Rickards put in a sterling effort to reel in the breakaway.
The second sprint was no contest - it belonged to Scrymgeour and Carrigan with Bates third again and the breakaway opened up a 45 second margin.
Gilmore at this stage was six back, The sun came out and Wright applied some pressure with 10 laps to go. Tadick started to move forward with four laps to go and Olivia Gollan put in an appeared at the front of the field.
With two laps to go it was Scrymgeour and Carrigan swapping turns at the front.
Twenty night seconds separated them from the main bunch at the bell but Scrymgeour was never in doubt as the winner, with Carrigan second, Gilmore third and Bates fourth.
"Initially I was in a breakaway with another girl, but basically it was me and Sara," a delighted Scrymgeour, 28, from Sydney said.
"We weren't really thinking that much of Anna not being there . . . it is good for cycling if she is here and a lot feel privileged to race against the number one in the world.
"For sure it was good for us to get a headstart without her, though. But I think the race was a fun way to get a lot of women in Australia involved."
Scrymgeour will be returning overseas to the Saturn team this year.
Photography
- NSW riders in the womens race pause to answer a few questions before the race.
- Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) - the centre of attention as the race starts.
- Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) and Sara Carrigan (Qld)- during their outstanding breakaway.
Results
Elite Women
1 Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) 2 Sara Carrigan (Qld) 3 Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) 4 Katherine Bates (NSW) 5 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) 6 Hayley Rutherford (WA) 7 Alison Wright (ACT) 8 Emma Rickards (Vic) 9 Olivia Gollan (NSW) 10 Lorian Graham (Qld) Sprints Sprint 1 1 Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) 2 Alison Wright (ACT) 3 Katherine Bates (NSW) Sprint 2 1 Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) 2 Sara Carrigan (Qld) 3 Katherine Bates (NSW) Overall standings after race 1 1 Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) 12 pts 2 Sara Carrigan (Qld) 10 3 Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) 8 4 Katherine Bates (NSW) 7 5 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) 6 6 Hayley Rutherford (WA) 5 7 Alison Wright (ACT) 4 8 Emma Rickards (Vic) 3 9 Olivia Gollan (NSW) 2 10 Lorian Graham (Qld) 1 Sprint Ace 1 Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW) 6 pts 2 Alison Wright (ACT) 2 3 Sara Carrigan (Qld) 2 4 Katherine Bates (NSW) 2