Stages 7 to 9

Stage 7, Yarrawonga to Wodonga (106.6 km)

                                    
 1: David McKenzie   2h27m40s
 2: Jacques Jolidon       +st
 3: Robbie McEwen      +2m13s
 4: Scott McGrory       
 5: Roberto Gaggioli
 6: Eddie Hollands        +st

GC after Stage 7

 1: Scott Moninger
 2: Stephen Hodge
 3: Henk Vogels
 4: Robbie McEwen
 5: Brian Walton
 6: Damian Forster

Report

The stage was won by David McKenzie after he and Jacques Jolidon broke away from the peleton with 60km to go and eventually came in more then 2 minutes ahead of the peleton. The peleton was brought home by Robbie McEwen with Scott McGrory and Roberto Gaggioli close behind. Taking it easy the peleton didn't as I had thought they might. Attacking early, a group of twenty riders had opened a 30 sec lead and were averaging 50kph. Eventually the group came back together and then McKenzie and Jolidon went away.

Stage 8, Albury Criterium (24 km)

 1: Andy Bishop    34m05s 
 2: Lee Davis        +11s 
 3: Chris White      +16s
 4: Robbie McEwen    +17s
 5: Scott McGrory    
 6: Arvis Piziks     +19s


GC after Stage 8
 1: Scott Moninger    21h36m14s
 2: Stephen Hodge        +1m01s
 3: Robbie McEwen        +2m28s
 4: Henk Vogels          +2m38s
 5: Brian Walton         +3m16s
 6: Damian Forster       +3m58s




Report

After the morning stage of 106.6km the peleton takes to the streets of Albury
for a 30 lap
criterium on a 800m course. With 12 sprints the racing should be frantic.

The afternoon criterium was held in wet, slippery conditions which had officals
pondering
cancelling the stage. The tour leaders consulted and they agreed that the
conditions weren't that
bad. Tour leader Scott Moninger suggested removing the time bonuses but they
weren't - luckily
for Moninger who extended his lead because of them. Racing went ahead and
though there
were a few crashes it was last years winner Andy Bishop who stole the show. He
attacked early
and went away with Lee Davis. Davis unfortuantely crashed but still managed to
remount and
take second place behind Bishop. Third was Chris White who attack late in the
stage. 

Stage 9, Albury - Mt. Buffalo, 161.2 kms:
 1. S. Hodge (Breaka Flavoured Milk)	4.19.19
 2. S. Moninger (Tattersalls)		
 3. A. Piziks (Malaysia Airlines)
 4. B. Walton (Mitre 10)
 5. R. Beuchat (Abom)
 6. J . Jolidon (Abom)
 7. R. Grabsch (Echucha-Moama)
 8. J.R. Luis (Phoswatch) 
 9. J. Phillips (Echuca-Moama)
10. S. Mercier (Mitre 10)


GC after Stage 9
 1. S. Moninger 			25.55.15
 2. S. Hodge			
 3. B. Walton
 4. R. McEwan (Malaysia Airlines)
 5. H. Vogels (Malaysia Airlines)
 6. R. Grabsch
 7. S. Mercier
 8. A. Piziks
 9. R. Beuchat
10. A. Bishop (Echuca-Moama)


Report

The longest day of the tour and the most demanding with 2 catergory 1 climbs up
the Tawonga
Gap followed soon after by the climb to the finish at the summit of Mt Buffalo.
This is the stage I
think will decide the race. The climbers will attack today and the rest will
minimise there loses.
There are 6 sprints and 5 hill climbs on offer today.

Veteran Stephen Hodge fough t back in the VicHealth Tour yesterday, beating the
overall leader Scott Moninger in the assalut on Mt. Buffalo But American
Moninger (tatersalls team) retained the leader's yellow jersey after the 161 km
9th stage from Albury after finishing only two metres behind Hodge (Breaka).
Hodge improved five seconds overall to trail Moninger by 56 secs in the GC
and seemed to be the only rider capable of challenging for the title.