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Peloton Sports Criterium - NE
Sydney, Australia, October 22, 2005
A fast day on the cobbles of the Olympic stadium
By Nathan Germaine
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As the sun rose and butterflies floated in the stomach of the competitors, the circuit for the 2005 Peloton Sports Olympic Boulevarde Criteriums was being finished and having the final touches put on it.
What a sight it was, the fully barricaded 800m circuit was finished off with the 5m high Enervit inflatable start finish banner and was of international standards. Riders signing in were greeted by a smiling Chris Greaves and after receiving their numbers, race programs and Bicycling Australia Show ticket were either off to warm up or check out the show.
It all kicked off with the juniors and whilst the sun was blazing so were the handicaps the U15, U17 race in particular show casing some of Australia's up and coming talent which impressed all onlooker present, our own Liam Melville took fifth. Division 5 was filled with many Peloton Sports riders and with myself and Paul "Crafty" Craft on the microphone our guys (in particular Ray Potter) were being talked up and rising to the occasion by putting on a show for the onlooking crowd. The Enervit promotional girls were handing out sample products, the sun was out, the commentators blaring out excited calls and red hot racing was being witnessed by the crowds drawn out to Homebush on this warm October day.
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All Divisions were hotly contested. In Division 4, Jason Tsang, in his first open came home in an impressive third, showing his experienced Homebush sprint. In Division 3 Jon Brittan and John Gee were extremely aggressive, on the attack all race. Both were encouraged by the author on the microphone but went a little too much in the red during the race, unable to feature in the final sprint.
The circuit was relentless, allowing no time for riders to sit up and recover - from the gun it was on and there was no where to run or hide. Division 2 was hotly contested and saw a lot of attempted breaks, none of which stuck. Garry Millburn, who recently returned from representing Australia in the Junior World Championships took out one of the intermediate primes but was overpowered come the final sprint, won by a flying Richard Lang, a centimetre in front of NSWIS rider Matthew Pettit.
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Division 1 saw some of Australia's best riders take centre stage. With Ben Kersten out due to a back injury it was anyone's race. Peter Hatton, State U23 Champion and recent KOM winner from the Herald Sun Tour was hot from the gun, testing the field with some agressive attacks. A five man break containing Peter Hatton, Dave Whyman, Jose Rodriguez, Peren Delacour and Josh Fleming put time into the peloton, eventually lapping them. With a few minutes to go Fleming and Hatton got away to take first and second, leaving a super quick Delacour to take third.
It was the first year of this race which will be even bigger and better next year as Peloton Sports looks to take Australian racing to a whole new level. It was a day enjoyed by competitors and spectators alike, a result of the hard efforts of our club members and sponsors Turramurra Cyclery, Enervit, Campagnolo and Bicycling Australia.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com
- The second group in A Grade with Brad Mills in second wheel.
- The winning A Grade break.
- Jose Rodriguez and Perren Delacour contest one of the sprint primes
- With a few laps to go, Joshua Fleming and Peter Hatton separated themselves from their breakaway group, leaving Perren Delacour and two others behind.
- Eventual winner Joshua Fleming leads Peter Hatton.
- Perren Delacour winds it up for the sprint for third place.
- Perren Delacour beats Jose Rodriguez to take third place, with David Whyman rounding out the top five in A Grade.
- Cyclingnews' Les Clarke enjoying a fine day out in the Division 3 race.
- C Grade action.
- Eyes on the big picture.
- There was no room to hide on the tough hotdog course
- The C Grade field strung out.
- The C Graders weren't short of nice gear.
- Olympic Park - the setting for today's criterium racing and the 2005 Bicycling Australia show.
- Yeeeah - doing Cyclingnews proud!
- The modern industrial surrounds provided a unique backdrop.
- The top hairpin turn made for close-quarters racing.
- Cyclingnews' Les Clarke rounds 'Novotel Corner'.
- The C Grade sprint winds up
- Winner Jono Cridland kicks clear on his way to winning C Grade
- Jono Cridland wins in front of some strong riders at Homebush
Results
Division 1 1 Joshua Fleming 2 Peter Hatton 3 Perren Delacour 4 Jose Rodriguez 5 David Whyman 6 Brad Mills 7 Phil Stokes 8 Darren Benson Sprint primes Peter Hatton Joshua Fleming Division 2 1 Richard Lang 2 Matthew Pettit 3 Trent Butler 4 Dale Scarfe 5 Garry Millburn Sprint primes Trent Butler Garry Millburn Division 3 1 Jonathon Cridland 2 Kevin Black 3 Michael Moit 4 Antonio Iannacito 5 Patrick O'Shea Sprint prime Michael Moit Division 4 1 Calvin Smith 2 Gavin Ellis 3 Sam Carroll 4 Roger Hastie 5 Roger Shackleton Sprint prime Calvin Smith Division 5 1 Leo Neil-Dwyer 2 Craig Cremen 3 Jason Tsang 4 John Perry 5 Michael Magennis Sprint prime Michael Magennis 15 & 17 Boys 1 Benjamin Elliott 2 Lewis Little 3 Matthew Andersen 4 Thomas Pritchard 5 Liam Melville First across line lap 4 Benjamin Elliott First across line lap 8 Benjamin Elliott Fastest Time Tayla Aitchison 15 & 17 Girls 1 Josie Moit 2 Emma Sprouster 3 Taylah Watson 4 Kirsty Mills 5 Melinda Potente First across line lap 2 Josie Moit First across line lap 4 Josie Moit Fastest Time Melinda Potente 9's, 11's & 13's 1 Nathan Bradshaw 2 Natasha Land 3 Peter Cridland 4 Kodie Howard 5 Cassandra Land First across line lap 2 Natasha Land First across line lap 4 Natasha Land
