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Tour of the Southern Grampians - NE
Australia, April 9-10, 2005
The Stages
- Stage 1 - April 9: Coleraine, 75km
- Stage 2 - April 9: Coleraine, 82km
- Stage 3 - April 10: Coleraine, 72km
- Stage 4 - April 10: Time Trial, 5.2km
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Paul Logan
- A grade assembled at the start of Stage 1
- A Grade looking a bit nervous on the start line
- Andy Graham trying to go one better in 2005
- B Grade keep the pace high
- B Grade KOM on Douglas Road
- C'mon, do it!
- B Grade strung out on Stage 1
- C Grade KOM - one of the steeper ones
- C Grade well and truly blown apart on Stage 1
- Michael Gallagher - C grade yellow jersey man
- James-Timmer Arends, B grade KOM
- Official tour vehicles by Vickery Bros
- It was a good show - tour vehicles and all
- All together now...
- Tim Decker rounding the last corner of the time trial
- Zak Dempster wins the time trial
- Chris Bradford (Wismilak) gives one last effort
- The look of pain
- Sign on, anyone? The numbers dwindled over the two days
Bigger, Better…HARDER!
By David Tozer
The small township of Coleraine, nestled in a picturesque valley in Victoria's South West, welcomed 154 competitors and support crews in the 2005 edition of the Tour of the Southern Grampians. The local acceptance of the Tour was clearly evident, with sporting clubs offering facilities and community groups providing a considerable amount of help in the smooth running of the event. The Bendigo Bank had also come on board with their advertising banner up at the finish line, adding just that extra bit of appeal.
Tour organisers tweaked with the format of this year's race, including an epilogue final stage to be completed after the three road stages. This time trial would prove to be pivotal in deciding the A-Grade result on General Classification. The road stages could have been called Toyota RAV 1,2 & 3 because they have all been "beefed up". The introduction of a climb known as Zig Zag, and a stage that included substantial rolling hills in and around the township of Merino and a hill top finish ensured that only the strongest cyclists would contest the finishes.
Whilst on the subject of strong riders, this year's A-Grade start list bulged with class and experience. Pre-race favourites included Chris Bradford (Wismilak) and Rhys Pollock (Marco Polo), both of whom had recently participated in international stage races; Bradford contesting the Tour of Langkawi and Pollock the Tour of Qatar. Last year's runner Andy Graham (De Grandi Cycles) had returned to attempt to go one better and young Patrick Shaw (VIS) was also a contender. Of Course the Tour of Southern Grampians would not be complete without representation from the Walker's. John was hopeful of emulating his brother, Will who unfortunately would be missing this years Tour due to his commitments in Europe for Rabobank Continental and keeping the trophy in the household particularly after the Walker family's domination of the event last year.
With World Junior 3000m Individual pursuit record holder Michael Ford in the field, along with many other big names of Victorian cycling the stage was set for vicious opening to this years Tour.
