1. Glen Mitchell (NZ - Sportscover) 2h10m25s 2. Duncan Smith (Vic - White Pages-VIS) 3. Tristan Priem (Vic - White Pages) 4. Lars Michaelson (Den - Interedge) 5. Kris Denham (NSW - Abom) 6. Damien McDonald (Jayco - AIS) 7. Nick Gates (NSW - Herald Sun) 8. John Kent (Skilled Engineering) 9. Matthew White (Skilled Engineering) 10. Adrian Nolan (EJ Steel)
1. Mitchell 2.10.25 2. Priem at 2 secs 3. Smith at 5 4. Michaelson at 6 5. Denham at 10 6. McDonald at 12 7. Matthew Keenan (EJ Steel) at 13 8. Kelvin Martin (NSW - Jayco-AIS) at 13 9. Gary Parsons (Interedge) at 13 10. Stephen Hodge (Interedge) at 13
Day Two - David McKenzie wins Stage 2 in a day marred by crashes and cold driving rain. Robbie McEwan (Australia - who has signed with Rabobank) broke away early citing boredom as the reason - at about the 40 kms mark. He was eventually caught with 20 kms to the finish. McKenzie took the sprint. Last night (OZ time), Steve Hodge (Australia - Festina) won the ITT and took an overall lead of 20 seconds from previous leader Glen Mitchell (NZ).
Today the stage is 163 kms from Launceston to the East Coast over some tough hills. I have nothing more specific than this as there seems to be a freeze on press releases and I had to rely on a phone call to get this. I am working on it though.
1. David McKenzie 4:30:07 2. Peter Rogers at 0:07 3. Glen Clarke 0:35 4. Duncan Smith 5. Kris Denham 6. Jay Sweet 7. Lars Michaelson 8. Glen Mitchell 9. Jamie Kelly 10.Henk Vogels all at st
1. Stephen Hodge 24:21 2. Henk Vogels at 0:19 3. Tim Christopher 0:26 4. Brett Dennis 0:27 5. Tristan Priem 0:33 6. Glen Mitchell 0:39 7. Jay Sweet st 8. Matthew White 0:40 9. Grish Neirman 0:45 10. Duncan Smith 0:51
1. Brendan Hart 4:32:23 2. Neil Stephens at 0:19 3. Glen Clarke 0:22 4. Matthew Tuck st 5. John Kent 0:42 6. Glen Mitchell 7. Stuart Mitchell 8. Tristan Priem 9. Damien McDonald 10. Nick Gates all st
1. Jamie Drew 3:52:45 2. Ryan Suckling at st 3. Allan Iacuone 2:17 4. Carsten Bresser st 5. David McKenzie 2:26 6. Robbie McEwen 7. Lars Michaelson 8. Jurg Paffrath 9. Glen Mitchell 10.Tristan Priem all st
1. David McKenzie 4:28:35 2. Brett Dennis at 1:55 3. Scott McDonald 3:13 4. Damian Forster 4:10 5. Henk Vogels 4:31 6. Stephen Hodge 6:01 7. Patrick Jonker st 8. Glen Mitchell 6:36 9. Kris Denham 7:59 10.Grish Neirman 8:11
KOM: David McKenzie Sprint King: David McKenzie Stage Information from Stage 2 to 6 Kindly supplied by Jeff Jones - Thanks mate!
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.
1. D. McKenzie (Vic - White Pages) 2. G. Mitchell (NZ - Sportscover) 3. H. Vogels (WA - Herald-Sun) 4. J. Sweet (Jayco-AIS) 5. R. McEwan (Qld - Herald-Sun) 6. L. Michaelson (Interedge) 7. T. Priem (Vic - White Pages) 8. H. Rudy Weiss (Bicycle Super Store) 9. N. Gates (NSW - Herald Sun) 10. N. Stephens (ACT - Once)
1. Stephen Hodge (ACT - Festina) 21:08:32 2. Glen Mitchell 21:09:25 3. K. Denham (Vic - Abom) 21:11:23 4. Damien McDonald (Vic - Jayco-AIS) 21:11:58 5. Tristan Priem 21:12:44 6. Matt White (NSW - Skilled Engineering) 21:12:46 7. Adrian Nolan (E.J. Steel) 21:13:31 8. Michaelson 21:14:39 9. Gates 21:14:55 10. John Kent (Skilled Enginereering) 21:14:59