The total distance of the Classic is 1158 kms over 8 days.
The Tour is obsessed with Criteriums allegedly because the crowds only come to them and so the sponsors need that exposure. Hmmm, don't care that the route is short, no really hard road stages, longest stage around 170 kms, and fairly flat. Big gears most of the way.
32 laps today for 36 kms the course is an extended oblong with two tight left handers.
Lillywhite led the race early. Liggett and Sherwen provided terrible commentary as usual.
Jan Koerts, looking much slimmer than previously (lost 10 kgs so they say), attacked early but no-one really wanted to go with him until Paul Williams (OZ), Glen Mitchell (NZ) and John Tanner (UK) (winner last year) joined him.
A Giant-AIS rider (Paul Brosnan) crossed gap (20 secs) at about the 18 lap mark. On the front of the chase bunch is the Bosch team with no-one in the break. The Dutch World Team is also helping.
Koerts is powering still and effectively keeping the break away. The break is trying to work with him. Break is at 10 secs. Jens Voigt (Bosch) is on the front of the chase. No significant ground being made.
9 Laps to go.
Gap is now slowly closing. Pierre Montier (French Hour record holder - recently rode the 6th fastest hour ever) is riding for Bosch and he is the big wheel in the chase. He only arrived in Sydney at 5.30 am this morning. The break is now closed with 7 laps to go.
Rod McGee (Giant-AIS) is now on the front (former world teams pursuit champion) and Bosch are in the back of the pack after bringing the gap down. Jay Sweet (Giant-AIS) is looking good in the bunch.
5 laps to go.
McGee, Hickson (Aust). Simpson (Central Coast) is out with mechanical problems (no lap out in last 5 laps). White (Giant-AIS) setting up sprinter Sweet with 4 laps to go. Marcel Wust is also there. The Dutch team is well back which is surprising given its sprinting strength (Heeswijk, Koerts etc).
Speed is very high and is preventing the sprinters from coming up. White is doing the work for Sweet. Hickson is second wheel. Baden Burke (winner of a sprint stage last year) is looking set too. Jeremy Hunt (UK) is trying to get to the front. Now Hickson is on front. Hunt going through to front. Koerts and Van Heeswijk move up with 2 laps to go. Lillywhite is moving close to the front.
McGee on front pushing very hard. Field strung right out. Hickson, Sweet, Hunt, Ritsall, Koerts, Van Heeswijk....
Last lap.
Koerts coming to front with Van Heeswijk losing his wheel. Ritsall, Sweet, Koerts. Sprint....Gates (Giant-AIS) doing a super turn with Sweet (teammate) on his wheel, Koerts tries to get over. But Sweet takes it.
1. Jay Sweet (Giant-AIS) 47.54 2. Jan Koerts (Websdale Printing, NL) 3. Jeremy Hunt (UK) 4. J. Konecny (World Team) 5. Max Van Heeswijk (Websdale Printing, NL)
There is some climbing on this stage the first being the climb out of Hawkesbury River along the old Pacific Highway and again at the Mooney Mooney river climb at Calga. It finishes along the north side of the Lake through Morisset, Toronto then Warner's Bay.
Wet and windy and not warm. Unusual spring weather for this region. Jay Sweet with a 5 sec lead carries the yellow from yesterday. First climb (Hawkesbury) at 28 kms. Voigt and Kelvin Martin attack at 10 km mark. No-ne chasing. Over the Hawkesbury, 1 minute lead. Second category climb and Voigt is strongest. Postle (UK) chasing. Koerts and Vestey (NZ) are at 3 and 4. Voigt gets 6 secs time bonus over the climb.
Main field at 1.35 secs. A crash just before climb brought 0 down. Matthew White the worst injured and receiving attention.
Voigt and Martin being chased by Den Braber (NL). Koerts and Vestey join Voigt and Martin at 60 kms mark. Voigt leader on road. Along the freeway north. Gap down to a minute. Giant-AIS team on front of bunch and bringing the time down. Brosnan and Sweet (Giant-AIS) multiple punctures.
Into Warners Bay, the four will not be caught. Koerts wins the sprint and takes the leader's jersey (by 12 secs) from Voigt. Martin third, Vestey fourth. Hunt wins the bunch sprint for 5th.
1. Jan Koerts (NL) 2.57.35 2. Jens Voigt (Germany) s.t. 3. Kelvin Martin (Giant-AIS) s.t. 4. Brendan Vestey (NZ) s.t. 5. Jeremy Hunt (UK, Banesto) 0.56
1. Jan Koerts (NL) 3.44.56 2. Jens Voigt (Germany) 0.12 3. Kelvin Martin (Giant-AIS) 0.21 4. Brendan Vestey (NZ) 0.29 5. Jeremy Hunt (UK, Banesto) 1.24
Big headwind in the finishing straight. Very windy. An early break of around 15 riders went. Leading Marcel Wust (Ansett Team, Germany). Bosch team are trying to mark him. Teutenberg (Bosch Team, Germany) sitting Wust's wheel.
8 riders away now, Hunt trying to get across. Teutenberg, leading Voigt. Gap is opening up, and although flat, the wind has become a factor. Koerts is in break and trying to build up some time bonuses. John Tanner (UK), Peter Rogers (Australia - second tour of Holland) are in break. Koerts is riding with the small out the front bars. Voigt (KOM leader) leads Wust. Jay Sweet is in break (he lost two minutes this morning - 2 punctures). Danny Van Elfen (NL) is in break working for Koerts.
10 laps to go (13 kms). Wust who made the break is driving around the two roundabouts. Break is at over half a lap and field is losing time - 45 secs is official gap. Wust is breaking the 8 riders up around each roundabout.
6 laps to go. Gap still at 45. All the riders in the break are working. 2 Bosch team members (Voigt and Teutenberg), 2 Websdale Printing (Dutch team, Koerts and Van Elfen). 4 laps to go. Main field in danger of being lapped now - 250 metres in front of break.
Tanner tries to go for it with 3 to go. Voigt catches him. Break back together again. Main bunch is only 11 secs in front of break (nearly a lap down). 2 laps to go.
Break is slowing down. One lap to go. Voigt leading. Tanner attacks. Tanner, Voigt, Wust. Voigt back on front with Teutenberg on his wheel. Sprinters lining up now. Voigt goes early. Wust goes through very quick. Koerts goes over just on line (2nd stage win for the day).
1. Jan Koerts (NL, Websdale) 41.38 2. Marcel Wust (Germany, Ansett) s.t. 3. Sven Teutenberg (Germany, Bosch) s.t. 4. John Tanner (UK) s.t. 5. Jay Sweet (Australia, Giant-AIS) s.t.
1. Jan Koerts (NL) 4.25.08 2. Jens Voigt (Germany) 0.32 3. Marcel Wust 1.40 4. John Tanner 1.50 5. Peter Rogers (Australia, Canberra Casino) 1.55
Sunny conditions at finish. Websdale team on front over Bridge with Koerts sitting at 5th wheel. Heeswijk setting pace but Vanhaesenbroek attacks. With tail winds some attacks were at 80 kms per hour. Brosnan and Haasen attack. Crash with 3 riders, and Frenchman Pierre Mentheour riding for Bosch abandons with knee problems worsened by the crash.
High speeds prevent any real attacks. At Nelson Bay, Damon Simpson (Central Coast) attacks, and the race effectively becomes a criterium. Dutch riders controlling the race. Czech Konecnyy attacking with Simpson. Inside 3 kms, Peter Rogers, Konecny, and Hunt (UK) away now. Rogers is driving break to get time bonuses.
Sprint comes down to Rogers, Konecny and Hunt. Hunt hooks the Czech rider and crosses first but on protest the Czech rider gets the win. Hunt displaced to second and Rogers is third. Main bunch a few seconds back but get s.t. and Koerts getting a 5 seconds time bonus for 4th place.
1. Thomas Konecny (Czech) 1.39.53 2. Jeremy Hunt (UK, DuPont) s.t. 3. Peter Rogers (Aus, Canberra Casino) s.t. 4. Jan Koerts (NL, Websdale Printing) s.t. 5. Frank Vanhaesenbrouk (Belg) s.t. 6. Baden Burke (Aust, Caravello Joinery) 7. Nigel Perry (Aust, Caravello) 8. Ric Reid (NZ, Coca Cola) 9. Glen Mitchell (NZ, Coca Cola) 10. B. Johnson (Aust, Central Coast)
1. Peter Rogers (Aust, Casino Canberra) 3.55.00 2. Matt White (Aust, Giant-AIS) 3.56.00 3. Paul Brosnan (Aust, Giant-AIS) 3.57.00 4. Miroslav Kejval (Czech, Husquarna) 3.58.00 5. Marcel Wust (Germany, Ansett) 3.59.00 6. Jens Voigt (Germany, Bosch) 3.59.00 7. Rod McGee (Aust, Giant-AIS) 4.01.00 8. Marcel Gono (Aust, Canberra Casino) 4.02.00 9. Jay Sweet (Aust, Giant-AIS) 4.02.00 10. Jan Koerts (NL, Websdale) 4.03.00
1. Jan Koerts (NL, Websdale) 6.09.51 2. Jens Voigt (Germany, Bosch) 0.37 3. Marcel Wust (Germany, Ansett) 1.41 4. Peter Rogers (Aus, Casino Canberra) 1.42 5. John Tanner (UK, DuPont) 2.00 6. Jay Sweet 6.12.23 7. Sven Teutenberg (Germ, Bosch) 6.12.38 8. Kelvin Martin (Aust, Caravello) 6.12.41 9. Brendan Vesty (NZ, Coca Cola) 6.12.57 10. Danny Van Elven (NL, Websdale) 6.13.04
1. Germany - Bosch 18.36.50 2. Netherlands - Websdale 18.37.37 3. New Zealand - Coca Cola 18.40.28 4. Australia - Canberra Casino 18.41.03 5. Australia - Giant-AIS 18.41.39 6. Australia - Caravello Joinery 18.41.41 7. United Kindgom - Sportscover 18.42.24 8. World Team - Du Pont 18.42.40 9. Australia - Central Coast 18.44.20 10. Australia - NSW Sport and Rec 18.44.21
1. Voigt 12 2. Martin 8 3. Vesty 6 4. Hunt 1 5. Postle 1
1. Koerts 19 2. Konecny 6 3. Sweet 5 3. Voigt 5 3. Martin 5 3. Hunt 5 7. Wust 3 8. Vesty 2 9. Teutenberg 2 10. Rogers 2 11. Tanner 1
Lead now at 48 secs at 52 kms with bunch just letting him go. NZ rider Ric Reid went across with another 3 soon to join. Simpson, Reid (NZ Coca Cola), Mathew Postle (UK World Team), Nick Gates (Giant-AIS), Sven Teutenberg (Bosch) are now together.
Dutch have missed the move, no-one is helping and gap is at 8.5 minutes.
Simpson dropped. 4 riders on finishing circuit. Postle attacks and Teutenberg covers. Bell lap now, Reid wins sprint from Teutenberg, who misjudges the final corner. Postle then Gates. Simpson comes in 2mins 07 down. The main bunch is down at a stunning 12 mins and 51 seconds.
1. Ric Reid (NZ, Coca Cola) 4.07.06 2. Sven Teutenberg (Germany, Bosch) 3. Matthew Postle (UK, World Team) 4. Nick Gates (Aust, Giant-AIS) all s.t. 5. Damon Simpson (Aust, Central Coast) 2.07 6. Jason Pierce (Aust, NSW Sport and Rec) 11.21 7. Steve Williams (Aust, NSW Sport and Rec) 8. Jay Sweet (Aust, Giant-AIS) 9. Frank van Haesenbrouke (Ansett) 10. Jan Koerts (NL, Websdale Printing) all s.t. main bunch at 12.51 secs
1. Sven Teutenberg 10.19.26 2. Matthew Postle 2.00 3. Ric Reid 2.07 4. Nick Gates 2.14 5. Simpson 3.36 6. Jan Koerts (NL, Websdale Printing) 10.30 7. Jens Voigt (Ger, Bosch) 10.30.29 8. Marcel Wust (Germ, Ansett) 10.31.37 9. Peter Rogers (Aust, Casino Canberra) 10.31.38 10. John Tanner (UK, Sportscover) 10.31.56
They had the Mooney Mooney climb (which had been done on the Sunday stage to Warner's Bay) to do and then a small climb into Kariong, then a very rapid descent into Gosford for the finish along the main drag into West Gosford.
Wust descended the best and was never challenged in the sprint. Main bunch a long way down at around 5 minutes. Voigt in a smaller bunch that caught Jones wins the sprint for 5th.
In a post stage interview, Wust tells of his disappointment in losing his friend Louis Espinosa last weekend in Spain and dedicates the victory to him.
1. Marcel Wust (Germany, Ansett) 2.20.39 2. Bart Hickson (Aust, NSW Rec and Sport) s.t. 3. Marcel Gono (Aust, Casino Canberra) 4. Andre Morgan (Aust, Casino Canberra) 5. Jens Voigt (Ger, Bosch) 2.09
1. Sven Teutenberg (Ger, Bosch) 12.44.52 2. Ric Reid (NZ, Coca Cola) 2.07 3. Nick Gates (Aust, Giant-AIS) 2.14 4. Damon Simpson (Aust, Central Coast) 3.36 5. Matthew Postle (UK, Sportscover) 3.47 6. Marcel Wust (Ger, Ansett) 6.54
As main bunch catches them, McGee goes off front. Corey Sweet helps. McGee on wheel with Lillywhite third.
6 laps to go. Vanhaesebrouke and Hunt take over the work. The Dutch team is doing nothing. Matt White and McGee trying to set up Jay Sweet. Lillywhite wins the premie ($100) with 5 laps to go.
Pace is very high now. White on front, McGee next wheel. Sweet is 6th. Teutenberg moving up. 3 laps to go. 2.5 kms to finish. Giant-AIS are massing 4 of 5 at front. Hickson in the KOM Jersey he took
White is now going for it alone with team blocking. Dutch Van Elvan goes to front but has gone to soon. Teutenberg looking ominous. 3 Giant -AIS on front as bell sounds. Teutenberg elbows into 4th wheel, so Sweet Giant-AIS) is now 5th and the Giant-AIS team is working more for Teutenberg (Bosch).
In the sprint, Wust is out to the right, Sweet comes of Teutenberg's wheel but Teutenberg gets it by cms and gets a valuable 20 sec time bonus. Sweet second, daylight to Wust.
1. Sven Teutenberg (Bosch) 39.12 2. Jay Sweet (Giant-AIS) 3. Marcel Wust (Ansett) 4. Jeremy Hunt (Sportscover) 5. Frank Vanhaesebrouke (Ansett) all s.t.
1. Sven Teutenberg (Ger, Bosch) 13.23.44 2. Ric Reid (NZ, Coca Cola) 2.27 3. Nick Gates (Aust, Giant-AIS) 2.34 4. Damon Simpson (Aust, Central Coast) 3.56 5. Matthew Postle (UK, Sportscover) 4.07 6. Marcel Wust (Ger, Ansett) 7.14