Pacific Power-Commonwealth Bank Cycling Classic
Stage 6 - Newcastle to Bayswater Power Station
Here is my early, before training report, for Tuesday's weather conditions. The
race this morning heads out of Newcastle which is on the east coast and goes
due west up the Hunter Valley to the Bayswater Power Station, a distance of
146.3 kms. Along the way, it winds through the world reknowned Hunter Valley
wine growing and producing area near Cessnock and Pokolbin. The upper valley is
a large underground coal producing area and several Pacific Power Stations are
located there. Pacific Power is the NSW State Government electricity
producer.
Anyway, as is often the case at this time of the year, the south westerlies are
howling. Like really heavy winds. I will ride for 40 kms myself this morning
into them before I turn around and loop back home for 50 kms with the winds
behind me. I expect to average around 24 kms per hour going out and around 48
kms per hour coming home. Strong winds.
So the race will be really hit by them. The terrain is undulating. But given
the road largely will he heading north west, the winds will be cross-head and
so echelons will have to form. Last year, the same sort of conditions prevailed
on a stage which headed in the same sort of direction to the power station, and
there were huge time gaps with several big names being eliminated on time and
then reinstated due to the impact that the depletions would have had.
Incomplete Stage 6 Results - 146 Kms - Newcastle to Bayswater
Stage 6: Newcastle to Bayswater Power Station, 146.70km
1. Chris Lillywhite (England-Caltex/Ampol) 3h32m54s
2. Patrick Moster (Germany-Bosch)
3. Matt Illingworth (World-Pacific Power)
4. Stephen Swart (Motorola)
5. Steve Williams (NSW Sport and Rec.)
6. Mike Themann (Switzerland-Lot/Coca-Cola) all same time
7. Mark Rendell (New Zealand-Sanitarium +10s
8. Ben Wilson (England-Caltex/Ampol) +22s
9. Craig Saunders (New Zealand-Sanitarium) +1m19s
10. Martin Rittsel (Sweden-Sportscover) same time