Olympic Boulevard Criterium - NE

Sydney, Australia, October 21, 2006

Results

Tight battles in the Olympic Boulevard criteriums

by Nathan Germaine

Big Troy Glennan leads the break.
Photo ©: Nathan Germaine

With the spectre of Sydney’s Olympic stadium looming over the finish line Nash Kent (Mace - Up and Go) blasted away from a pedigree field to cap a highly successful season by winning Division 1 at the second annual Peloton Sports Olympic Boulevard Criterium. Kent finished half a wheel in front of youngster Tyler McLachlan and Olympic and World Champion Steve Wooldridge (SouthAustralia.com) taking third.

On an overcast day some of New South Wales’ biggest riders were out in force on a very fast course in the heart of the Sydney Olympic venue. Despite finding himself amid a field filled with World and Olympic Champions Kent’s victory ran with the form guide and as the race progressed it became clear that it would finish in a manner that would suit the New South Welshman’s explosive sprint.

It proved to be a successful day for Kent’s team with Brendan Jones taking out an innovative points race style system that awarded a point for the rider leading the field across the line at the end of each lap. An exhausted Jones explained after the race that he hadn’t started the race with the intention of racing for the competition but "When I saw Troy (Glennan) going for it, I thought I’d race with him for it." Jones and Glennan’s battle had the effect of controlling the peloton and ensured that no breakaway would establish on the rectangular 1.2 km course and almost the entirety of the race was run with the field strung out single file.

With three laps to go the teams took control although it was Steve Wooldridge that eventually opened up the sprint before Nash Kent peeled of his wheel with 150 meters to go and despite a determined effort from Tyler Mclachlan, Kent had the strength to hold on and take what he described immediately afterwards as his "biggest win of the year".

In Division 2 Rochelle Gilmore (Safi Past Zara Manhattan) proved too good for most of the boys taking 3rd in a big bunch kick, whilst a flying Chris Reynolds managed to hold out Anthony Bennett for the win.

Promoters Peloton Sports have declared their intention to make this one of the highest paying criteriums in the country and aim to put up $15,000 prize money for next year's race which will be held in conjunction with the Bicycling Australia Trade Show.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Nathan Germaine

Corner two was fast.
Big Troy Glennan leads the break.
Daren Cash leads the peloton in the Division 1 race.
Div 1 Podium McLachlan, Kent and Woolridge.
Div 2 podium Bennett, Reynolds and Gilmore.
Finishing sprint in the Division 2 race.
The breakaway in the Div 3 race.
The chase is on for the Div 3 racers.
Division 3 podium showing more decorum than the others.
Division 4 podium playing with their drinks.
The Division 5 podium having fun
Mark Rowling
Peloton chasing hard

Results

Div 1 (50 Min + 3 Laps)

1 Nash Kent (Mace/Up & Go)                       
2 Tyler Mclachlan (Nswis)                        
3 Steven Wooldridge (Southaustralia-Ais.Com)
     
Div 2

1 Chris Reynolds (Frf/Exelpro)                   
2 Anthony Bennett (Lidcombe Auburn)              
3 Rochelle Gilmore (Safi Past Zara Manhattan)  
  
Div 3

1 Barry Kenyon (Northern Sydney)                 
2 Alex Malone (Manyly Warringah)                 
3 Andrew Mclean (Parramatta) 
                    
Div 4

1 John Murray (Central Coast)                    
2 Grant Fahey (Lidcombe Auburn)                  
3 Paul Burke (Macarthur Collegians) 
             
Div 5

1 Walter Machado (Penrith Panthers)              
2 Stuart Miles (Randwick Botany)                 
3 Paul Meehan (Waratah Veterans)