Bramati also leads the Superprestige overall, 13 points ahead of Van der Poel, with one race to go.
1. Luca Bramati (Ita) 1.03.41 2. Adri van der Poel (Ned) s.t. 3. Richard Groenendaal (Ned) + 0.36 4. Paul van Santvliet (Bel) + 0.59 5. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) + 1.50 6. Daniele Pontoni (Ita) s.t.
1. Luca Bramati (Ita) 109 pts 2. Adri van der Poel (Ned) 96 3. Richard Groenendaal (Ned) 94 4. Paul van Santvliet (Bel) 86 5. Marc Janssens (Bel) 83
Veteran Canberra Pro Stephen Hodge, 34, said he would retire at the end of 1996 after winning the Tour of Tasmania in Hobart yesterday.
"I've got a family now and it's time to call it quits and get on with the second half of my life" Hodge said. Hodge is the team leader for the powerful Andorran professional team Festina on the European tour.
Hodge was hopeful his overall win by 53 secs from New Zealander Glen Mitchell in the 7 day Tour of Tasmania would ensure his position in the Australian road team for the coming Atlanta Olympics. Hodge had previously been ineligible for Olympic selection because of his professional status. But Olympic cycling will be open for the first time this year and Hodge and fellow European-based pro Neil Stephens are expected to lead Australia.
"About a year ago people started talking to me about my possible involvement in the Olympics." Hodge said. "At that stage my attitude was that normally I would be too old to be considered to be selected for the Olympics because ideally you have a lot of good talent coming up. I was pleasantly surprised at the Australian Institute of Sport training camp (last month in Canberra)."
"I was topping all the important tests, my training was very strong and I started thinking if at my age I am being very professional about my training and successfully competing then certainly I should go to the Olympics. Riding as I have this week I hope I have secured a place on the Olympic team and it would be a fantastic way to go out in my last year of competitive racing."
Experience was the key for Hodge to win the Tour of Tasmania, the first major selection trial for the Australian road team to go the the Atlanta Olympics.
34 year old Hodge, who rides for the Andorran-based Festina team, outrode his Olympic rivals, most of whom are at least 10 years younger than him, to finish the 7 day, 800 km tour by 53 secs over NZs Glen Mitchell.
Hodge secured the leader's jersey after a powerful ride in the 19 kms ITT in Launceston last Wednesday. But he was ably supported by strong tactical riding and his ability to motivate his teammates.
"I'm actually the team captain for Festina, and we've won the team classification in the Tour of France (1994)" Hodge said. He also confirmed that he would retire at the end of the coming season.
Gennie Sheer reports that "His decision to stop racing has increased his determination to make the Olympic team, although he had earlier thought he would be too old to be considered for selection."
Hodge had remarked that "I got a real surprise at the camp conducted by the AIS in December... when I was topping the important tests and my training was really strong. I thought well gosh, if at my age and by being very professional about my training I can compete successfully, then I certainly feel I should go to the Olympics."
Sheer reports that "Hodge admitted that as the father figure on the road squad, he was more than happy to prove a point to the younger members."
Hodge said "Its a buzz to be able to beat them. It's very good for my ego, and by riding as I have this week, I hope I've secured a place in the Olympics."
Sheer continues that "his performance has impressed national road coach Heiko Salzwedel, who said "I think very great emphasis should be put on the win by Stephen's team of the team's classification, because he basically had second string riders beside alongside him." If he can motivate them to such a great performance, that brings him not only one step, but two steps, towards Atlanta."
Sheer said that "Salzwedel, who has five spots to fill, said the selectors would have a tough time choosing the final team, "but I would prefer to have a difficult choice b/tw riders than no choice at all." While race form would be a selection criterion, Salzwedel said the ability to perform under pressure was a major asset."
"I want experienced riders in Atlanta, rather than take any risks with young hopefuls" he said.
The selection is likely to be a "choice between Hodge (Festina), his fellow professionals, Neil Stephens and Patrick Jonker (Once), Robbie McEwan and Henk Vogels (Rabobank), and AIS riders Damien McDonald and Brett Dennis, who are responsible for securing Australia the maximum number of places in Atlanta b/c of their respective performances in the road race and ITT at last year's Worlds in Colombia."
Two riders will contest the 42 ITT while five will be in the road race.