Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Giro finale Photo ©: Bettini |
Southbank Cycling Grand Prix Criterium - NE
Brisbane, December 7, 2003
2002 Results B Grade report & results Past winners
Underdog Roland wins Grand Prix Criterium; McEwen & Cooke fight for leftovers
By John-Michael Flynn in Brisbane
|
A much anticipated sprint clash between Tour de France green jersey rivals Baden Cooke and Robbie McEwen failed to eventuate today, as a dark horse emerged in the shape of Brisbane local Mark Roland, who claimed the honours in the first of two Queensland Cycling Grand Prix events at Brisbane's Southbank Parkland.
Riding for his future, the 25 year-old struggling professional, formerly of the Giant Asia Racing Team, finished the strongest of a four-man breakaway, providing a much needed boost on the end of a difficult 2003 road season.
"I've been looking forward to a win, it's been a tough year," said Roland shortly after crossing the finish line. "I'm glad to get a bit of consolation out of it."
Racing before a 3,000 strong crowd, the field which also included Australia's European road racing stars Matt White, Bradley McGee, Allan Davis and Matt Wilson, had its work cut out in the sixty minutes plus three laps criterium on a tight, technical street circuit.
With a three-man team contesting the race (Bradley McGee, Matt Wilson and Baden Cooke), the boys from FdJeux.com emerged from their off-season Australian training camp to dominate proceedings up until the closing stages.
A combination of McGee's strong out-of-season form and plenty of tactical cunning from his team-mates Cooke and Wilson, kept the bunch in check.
The hopes of hometown favourite Robbie McEwen were dashed soon after the race start, when McGee led a decisive four-man breakaway. "I tried early because as often happens on this circuit it was an early break that succeeded," McEwen said.
"I was in one (breakaway) and then as soon as we got caught back the move with McGee and Lademann and Betts and Mark Roland went away and then they were really well protected by their team-mates back in the group."
|
Roland (Team Flight Centre) and fellow Queenslander David Betts proved the real surprise packets, forming a strong combination with McGee and German Christian Lademann as the four man breakaway establish a thirty second lead by the twenty minute mark of the race.
"A nice group formed, riding really well and smoothly," Roland said. "Everyone was doing equal work, it was good."
Far from outclassed in such elite company, Roland was offered plenty of help by Betts, the Australian under 23 representative giving it everything to ensure the break succeeded. With his family watching and younger brother Jeremy also racing, Betts admitted it was "pretty hard early on" to get the break established. The young Queenslander who'll return to Europe in 2004 with the AIS men's squad and to compete for an Italian-based amateur team, showed plenty of promise.
Adding more punch to the four-man break the highly credentialled Lademann, from the visiting MGZT team, wasn't shirking the workload either as the breakaway caught up to the main bunch with ten minutes to go. "I was lucky to lap them," said Lademann. "I had a strong team and tried to keep the peloton together."
But the same tactics which allowed the break to get established proved costly in the final washup. At the scheduled race end, the lapped peloton bowed out with a consolation sprint finish, leaving the four race leaders to fight it out in an every man for himself contest won by Roland, with Lademann second, Betts third and McGee fourth.
The earlier bunch sprint saw Bundaberg's Allan Davis climb out of the shadow of Robbie McEwen to finish a credible fifth overall. Davis's performance all the more impressive, given his tireless efforts to bridge the gap with the main bunch.
Swamped by autograph hunters and kids eager to meet their hometown hero post-race, McEwen meantime was, as always, direct with his assessment of the race tactics dished out by his opponents.
"The guys that were doing the blocking at the back the Francais des Jeux and MG guys backfired on them because Roland took advantage and won alone so good on him." McEwen said.
Sun, sand and cycling: next stop Surfers Paradise
The cycling Grand Prix series now heads to Robbie McEwen's summer home on Queensland's Gold Coast next weekend on an incredibly tight, technical street circuit in the heart of Surfers Paradise.
While it's still pre-season for the Lotto-Domo speed machine, a victory on Australia's tourism glitter strip would auger well for Robbie's 2004 plans, which along with gaining Olympic selection, not surprising include winning back the Tour de France green jersey from fellow Aussie Baden Cooke.
Far from surprised with the below par result at Southbank, the Queenslander described the race as a 'good hitout' just three weeks back after resuming training. As eager as he is to score a morale boosting victory over the Victorian, McEwen won't be pushing too hard too soon, despite badly wanting to win at home.
"Everything's possible but I wouldn't bank on it at this time of year," Robbie said.
Traditionally the weeks leading into Christmas for McEwan are spent climbing the mountains of the Gold Coast Hinterland, racing the local 'Burleigh Worlds' criteriums and preparing his body a demanding European season.
"We know our teams are relying on us to be good during the European season and at the earliest at the end of January" added McEwen. "We've still got a few weeks where we've got to get up to some sort of good form."
Local riders shine against the stars of Australian cycling in Southbank.
By Heath Carney in Brisbane
|
Local riders were too strong for the big names in Brisbane's South Bank Cycling Grand Prix on Sunday, with Mark Roland (Flight Centre) taking out the first of the two main races of the Grand Prix Cycling Series.
With only limited training under their belts, the star attractions - Robbie McEwen (Lotto), Brad McGee, Baden Cooke, Matt Wilson (FdJeux.com) and defending champion Matt White (USPS) - were left to fight it out for the minor placings in the 1-hour plus 3-lap race around the streets of Southbank's café strip.
The support card for the main event included a women's race of 30-minutes plus 3-laps. Contested by a small field of only 8 riders, including a team of five, this race had all the makings of a procession. It wasn't to be however, with a number of early breaks testing the bunch. By the end of the 30 minutes all riders were together again, with the win going to Wendy Habermann in a sprint ahead of Diane Monk and Bridget Evans.
The men's race got underway at a cracking pace, with attempted breaks coming from all directions. Victoria's Paul Richards decided to test the field with a short lived break after just two laps of the 1.2km circuit. It wasn't long before Queensland rider Craig Mackie took over, leading on his own for the third and fourth laps.
After 8 minutes, the tone of the race was set, with a lead group of four opening up a 10 second lead from a small chase group including Matt White, with the peloton just a couple more seconds behind. By the 15 minute mark, the lead group consisting of locals Mark Roland and David Betts, Brad McGee and Germany's Christian Lademann and had widened the gap to 25 seconds.
|
White wasn't going to let his title slip too easily, and he took three riders with him at the 25 minute mark to try and bridge the ever-growing gap to the leaders. They could only manage to put 5 seconds on the peloton before being brought back in, with the FdJeux.com riders protecting the interests of their man McGee in the lead bunch.
At the half-way mark, the lead bunch of four continued to work together, with the lead now out to half a lap. Another four man chase group formed, but was again swallowed by the main bunch without making an impression on the race lead.
As 40 minutes ticked over, the lead group was only 10 seconds off the back of the main peloton, no doubt with the catch and a well earned rest at the back on their minds. Two minutes later and the lead four latched on to the back of the bunch with 18 minutes remaining.
With the first four places all but accounted for, it became a race for 5th to 10th, with a number of small breaks opening up over the final 10 minutes. Queenslander Allan Davis was the first to go, opening up a small lead with 9 minutes remaining before the final three laps were called. Luke Stockwell, another local rider tried his hand on the next lap, but he was also brought back to the bunch before getting too far away. When the peloton was given the three laps to go call, Matt White had a slight lead, but couldn't keep it for long. The scene was set for a bunch sprint for the minor prizes, with the four leaders given another three laps to sort out their places.
As the finish line approached for the main bunch, local rider Allan Davis put the hammer down and won bragging rights for life, crossing the line ahead of Tour de France Green Jersey winners McEwen and Cooke.
With the minor places decided, the peloton was pulled off the course, letting the four leaders fight it out on their own for another three laps. Things stayed pretty tight until the bell lap, when Mark Roland opened up a five second gap. After the race, Roland said that when he heard the bell, he realised that his three rivals weren't working that hard, so he took advantage.
Roland managed to hold on to his lead for the final lap, winning by a couple of seconds over Lademann - riding as a guest of Team MGZT- with Betts in third and McGee bringing up the rear. This was a big win for the Queenslander, who has had a tough year fighting off bouts of Hepatitis-A and pneumonia and will be aiming to finish off on an even higher note with another win on the Gold Coast next weekend.
Photography
Images by John-Michael Flynn
- Robbie McEwen thirsty for a win before the start.
- Baden Cooke engages in some pre-race talk with his FdJeux.com team-mates.
- A star-studded line-up.
- Mark Roland looks spent, but the win makes it all worthwhile.
- "You want me to write what?" asks Robbie McEwen.
- Robbie McEwen looking fit and tanned.
- Up-and-comer David Betts looks the part in his national team kit.
- Christian Lademann formed part of the lead break, eventually finishing second.
- The peloton en masse during the early stages of the race.
- Local boy Allan Davis was keen to show his colours in front of a home crowd.
- Talented QAS rider Lorian Graham will join the AIS women's team in Italy next year.
- Lorian Graham decided to race amongst the men in the B Grade race for the best workout possible.
- Queenslander Lorian Graham in amongst the blokes in the men's B Grade race.
- Lorian Graham rides within herself in the middle of the peloton.
- Brad McGee buckles up.
- "Hey, let's stuff this race and just undo and do-up our helmets all day long!" thinks Brad McGee. No such luck, Brad.
- Allan Davis prays for a win.
- Second place-getter Christian Lademann looking very pleased with himself.
- Mark Roland gives a post-race interview to the media.
- The winning smile of Mark Roland.
- "Ummm... I dunno," says Mark Roland when thrown a doozy of a question.
- David Betts has has got the beefy arm action happening, too.
- David Betts was very satisfied with making the break and the podium.
- Matt Wilson shares a joke with one of his FdJeux.com team-mates.
- Matt White is all horsepower.
- Robbie McEwen focuses on the race ahead.
- Matt Wilson's boyish face belies the toughness of the sport.
- Robbie McEwen, up close and personal.
- Robbie McEwen's expression hidden behind his Oakleys.
- Mark Roland leads the winning break.
- Mark Roland surges to an emphatic victory.
- Allan Davis wins the consolation sprint for fifth place.
Images by David Magahy/www.goldcoastphotography.com
- Baden Cooke, Matt White and Matt Wilson share a joke before the start - and somehow their bikes have got mixed up...
- Robbie McEwen lines up at the start
- An MGZT rider takes the corner flat-out
- Allan Davis (ONCE) applies some mid-race pressure
- Matt Hayman (Rabobank) goes hard
- Bradley McGee leads the break
- The top four in their eventual finish order: Mark Roland, Christian Lademann, David Betts & Bradley McGee
- Matt Hayman leads Baden Cooke
- Robbie McEwen rounds the bottom turn at Southbank
- Allan Davis speeds towards an Adina Prime watch prize
- Mark Rowland salutes the crowd at the finish line
- An MGZT rider displays the wounds from one of the a spills of the day.
- Christian Lademann sprays the crowd with champagne after finishing second.
Images by Heath Carney
- Hi speed cornering
- An early break goes clear.
- The main bunch were vigilant in chasing down breaks during the early stages of the race.
- Naturally, one of the best seats in the house is dedicated
- With the locals keen to show off in front of a home crowd, the men's race got underway at a cracking pace and never let up.
- After eight minutes, the tone of the race was set, with a lead group of four opening up a 10 second lead from a small chase group including Matt White, with the peloton just a couple more seconds behind.
- With the first four places all but accounted for, a number of small breaks opened up over the final 10 minutes, with Queenslander Allan Davis was the first to go.
- It wasn't Robbie McEwen's day today, but that didn't stop the locals cheering him on.
- The lead group of four riders.
- Bundaberg rider Allan Davis lurks in the background, waiting to pounce.
- Baden Cooke leads Matt White in the closing moments of the race.
- Once the lead break lapped the field, the peloton knew they were fighting for fifth.
- Things stayed pretty tight until the bell lap.
- As the finish line approached for the main bunch, local rider Allan Davis put the hammer down to take fifth place.
- Matt Wilson rides in the peloton, followed by Cameron Hughes.
- Go Alby! Allan Davis takes a flyer.
- With speed and strength being the order of the day, there were plenty of casualties.
- The lapped riders were given the three laps to go call to allow the lead group to contest the race victory.
- Spectators (and the cameras) get ready for a photo finish.
- Bradley McGee gives the obligatory post-race interview.
- Ditto for Robbie McEwen.
Images by James Worrell
- Plenty of action in one of the races earlier in the day.
- Baden Cooke (C) with Robby McEwen (far R) in the peloton.
- Local Brisbane cycling identity Robby McEwen in action.
- Allan Davis, Jarrard Poad and Matt White attempt to chase down the breakaway group.
- The last the peloton saw of the breakaway group.
- Brad McGee drives the break of the day.
- Local Flight Centre rider Mark Roland raises his arms in victory as winner of the elite men's race.
Images by Michael Gall
- The women's race whiz past the front straight of Little Stanley St, South Bank, Brisbane.
- B grade riders take the fast bottom corner.
- B grade riders taking the bottom corner into Grey St.
- No brakes!
- The front straight of the hot dog-style course, Little Stanley St.
- The B grade bunch.
- B grade riders going wide on the bottom corner.
- B grade bunch climb the false flat up the back straight of Grey St.
- The Superscreen!
- Baden Cooke relaxing before the main race.
- Robbie McEwen looks ready, commenting how the next hour was going to hurt.
- "When does this show start?" asks Robbie McEwen.
- Looking down the main straight to the fast bottom corner of Little Stanley St.
- Robbie, Brad and Baden warm up.
- Brad McGee waiting for his chance to make a move off the front of the bunch.
- Lifecycle riders working hard.
- Brad McGee about to join the winning move.
- And they're away! Brad McGee and the final three place getters make the winning move.
- The break extends their lead.
- The break working well together to gap the main bunch.
- Baden Cooke polices the front of the main bunch covering any counter-attacks.
- The break continues to extend their lead down the main straight...
- ... while the main bunch chases hard.
- "Man, these guys are flying!"
- The break is out of sight of the main bunch.
- It looks like the break are going to lap the field...
- Almost there!
- Caught! The four break away riders lap the main field. Lapped rider Baden Cooke leads FDJeux.com team-mate Brad McGee, followed by lapped rider Adrian Booth.
- Fourth-placed McGee is mobbed by his fans.
- The race according to Brad McGee.
- "Well, it happened like this, see…" says Brad McGee.
- "... and then it went like this…"
- Baden Cooke collects his prize.
- Baden Cooke collects his prize.
- Robbie McEwen collects his prize.
- Robbie McEwen post-race.
- Brad McGee collects fourth place.
- The winner's podium.
Results
Elite Men 1 Mark Roland 2 Christian Lademann 3 David Betts 4 Bradley McGee 5 Allan Davis 6 Robbie McEwen 7 Baden Cooke 8 Jeremy Betts 9 Tony Mann 10 Daniel Newnham Women 1 Wendy Habermann 2 Diane Monk 3 Bridget Evans B Grade Men 1 Jeff Harris 2 Todd Dawson 3 Nathan Seage 4 Daniel McCulloch 5 Tim Bartlett C Grade Men 1 Shane Meulling 2 Tim Golding 3 Brendan O'Connell
Past winners
2002 Matt White (Aus) US Postal
