White hot favorite for Tour warm-up

by Michael Stevens

from: Herald Sun (Melbourne) Wednesday September 4, 1996.
Bendigo's Chris White will start favorite in today's Australian King of the Mountains Classic between Wangaratta and Mt Buffalo. The 176km event is the last in the Tattersall's Cup series of selection races for the VicHealth Herald Sun Tour.

White, 27, leads the series with 40 points after thirds in the opening two events and is favored because of his climbing prowess. Today's course follows a similar path to that riders will face in the Herald Sun Tour with two catergory one climbs over the top of Tawonga Gap and to the Mt Buffalo summit.

White says he has timed his preparation to peak for the tour and has been training on Mt Alevanger near Bendigo with teammate Tony Hughes. "Last week I noticed I was starting to climb a bit better through Daylesford and my form is coming up a lot better than last year," he said.

White is a veteran of the Herald Sun Tour and his best finish was last year's fifth. Today's field has been boosted by the inclusion of dual Herald Sun Tour stage winner David McKenzie, who has been racing in Spain for the past six months.

Last week's winner Josh Collingwood looked impressive with a daring breakaway about 40km from the finish and should again prove hard to beat. Other chances include strong Victorian Institute of Sport riders Duncan Smith and Wayne Kestle. Peter "Bulldog" Besanko, who is aiming for his 20th tour, needs to feature prominentley to secure a spot (in the top 10 for the 3 races) because he is currently in 18th position on the points table.


Submitted by Gareth Coco