The $A70,000, 1170 km Cycle Classis begins at Manly (Sydney) today and ends in Canberra, the National Capital Sunday week. It "will not only highlight where Australia stands in terms of world road cycling but will act as a useful barometer to next year's Atlanta Olympics."
The AIS team has raced over 40,000 kms this season in Asia, Europe, the US, South Africa and South America. Experts argue this is not the best preparation for this type of event and Australia's record in the classic has been dismal. The last Aussie winner was in 1989 (Mat Bazzano). Last year the AIS team fell into a heap under the attacking German team, who provided the eventual winner, Jens Voigt.
This year Voigt is not riding yet "a glance at this year's field ...suggests that Australia's drought is unlikely to be broken. The race boasts hardened professionals such as those from the European based US Motorola team, led by ...George Hincapie and Dutch Sprinter Max Van Heeswijk. And then there is Tour de France stage winner, Dutch Sprinter Jean-Paul Van Poppel." There are many international amateur teams from the 17 teams in the event. Teams from Germany (who have won the last 4 races overall), Sweden, the US, The Netherlands, Switzerland, England and New Zealand are racing.
"The German team (Bosch) may miss Voigt or 1993 winner Jan Ulrich - who now rides with the German Pro Telekom team - but their five man lineup is a mighty force with its leaders, Stephan Gottschling and Uwe Peschel."
Peschel's recent form has been very good. He has had two major results - a third overall in the pro-am Regio Tour of Germany in August (losing to two professionals), and a Bronze medal in the 43 km ITT in Colombia (behind Miguel and Abraham - the Spanish stars).
There is still an onus on the AIS team to come up with the goods. It will be led by sprinter, Robbie McEwan who is 23. Damian McDonald, 23 is a possible dark horse. Backing them are Allan Iacuuone, 26, NSW's Kelvin Martin, 23, and Queensland's Paul Brosnan, 23.
McEwan finished fifth on GC last year but says he is climbing better this year. His "season highlights of stage wins in the Rapport Tour, the Regio Tour, the Tour de l"Avenir, a second in the Championship of Zurich, and top-five stage placings in the Du Pont Tour" show he is in form. He has also recovered from a sciatic injury which saw him miss the recent Worlds in Colombia.
"Coached by former East German, Heiko Salzewedel, the AIS team knows it needs to avenge last year's defeat by the Germans. And every AIS team member knows that from the pool of local talent a lineup of contenders is pressing for AIS scholarships and Olympic selection."
Other OZ teams include Ansett (led by Matt White - 9th in 1994), the Casino Canberra team (led by 1994 World Junior ITT champion Dean Rogers).
"This year's route includes more hills which could potentially provoke greater splits in the field. This would obviously suit the AIS team, as McEwan also is a sprinter. But he'll still have his share of competition with the likes of Van Poppel, and fellow Dutchmen Michel Zanoli, Bob Rasenberg, and Van Heeswijk."
Rasenberg and Van Heeswijk are vying for a record number of stage wins. Rasenberg has won 11 races this year, and has won 4 Classic Stage wins in 10 starts. Van Heeswijk, won 4 stages last year.
The early controversy is that the Polish team has not turned up. The organiser, Phil Bates said: "We have not heard from them at all. We have not had any official notification that they are not coming and we don't know where they are."
Bates is a UCI commissioner and said the Polish Cycling Federation would be requested to compensate the Classic. "Poland has done itself a total injustice by this action." <>