ReportLocal Queensland rider Robbie McEwen won the Brisbane International Criterium on Sunday. The race, organised by Lawrie Cranley of Bikestyle, one of the main sponsors for www.cyclingnews.com, featured the 5 Australian professional riders who competed in last year's Tour de France. Robbie McEwen (Rabobank), Henk Vogels (GAN), Stuart O'Grady (GAN), Neil Stephens (Festina) and Patrick Jonker (Rabobank).Here is Lawrie's Report. A crowd of over two thousand peolple came to see local hero, Robbie McEwen win the inaugural Brisbane International Criterium from a breakaway group of seven riders in what was one of the most exciting races ever seen in Brisbane. The race was run in extremely hot conditions and combined with the pace set from the start riders were soon being dropped. The heat didn't stop the attacks though as one after the other went off the front to take their chance to get away. With 25 of the 45 laps to go Stuart O'Grady attacked and got away with a group of seven including team mate Henk Vogels. It looked like this was the break, even though it seemed a bit early. The gap had blown out to 40 seconds when Pat Jonkers saw the danger signals and went to the front of the chasing group and virtually single handed, pulled them back in. After 12 laps of freedom the race was back together. Immediately (using the oldest and best tactic in the book) Vogels attacked again, taking another group clear of the peloton. Jonkers couldn't respond to this attack but he had done his job for team mate McEwen who this time went with the break. The break consisted of McEwen, O'Grady, Vogels, Jason Phillips, Nathan O'Neil, Warren Jennings and Nick Gates. This was surely the deciding break. Vogels drove hard with some huge turns at the front and with no one in the peloton able to respond they kept pulling away. With three laps to go Neil Stephens exploded from the pack with Ricki Lanyon in a desperate attempt to get across and for a while it looked like they might but not to be. The break continued to charge on. McEwen (with a slow puncture) lead out O'Grady in the sprint and went to the line a bike length clear with arms raised in victory. Jason Phillips was another bike length back in third with Vogels fourth, O'Neil fifth, Gates sixth and Jennings seventh. A further 30 seconds back came the escapers Lanyon finishing ahead of Neil Stephens sitting up applauding the crowd who had cheered his every move throughout the day. Local sprint specialist Anthony Kellen brought the remains of the peloton home in tenth place. The weekend was a huge success thanks to the professionalism of Neil, Robbie, Pat, Stuart and Henk. All the riders have expressed an interest to come back next year and we will be more than happy to have them. We have a lot to look forward to in the next few years as we follow these guys over the roads of Europe. What better place to see what's happening than right here. Complete Results1. Robbie McEwen (Qld) Rabobank 2. Stuart O'Grady (SA) GAN 3. Jason Phillips (Vic) 4. Henk Vogels (WA) GAN 5. Nathan O'Neil (Qld) 6. Nick Gates (NSW) 7. Warren Jennings 8. Ricky Lanyon 0.30 9. Neil Stephens (ACT) Festina 10. Anthony Kellen 11. Scott Davis 12. Bayden Jones 13. Anthony Johnson 14. Luke Stockwell 15. Justin Cowman 16. Cameron McDonald 17. John Stanley 18. Jay Stockwell 19. Cameron Hughes 20. Bart Duraj Masters- C Grade1. Marcus Elder 2. Milan Seeman 3. Tony Redwood 4. Gary Wilson 5. John Guy 6. John Schabb 7. Wayne Wilmott 8. Paul Howard 9. Greg Campbell 10. Terry Peters Women1. Bridget Evans 2. Bronwyn Biggs 3. Sarah Carrigan |