Cronulla International Grand Prix - NE

Sydney, NSW, Australia, December 16, 2007

2006 results Results Elite Women

White takes one for the road

By Greg Johnson in Cronulla, New South Wales

Matt White (Discovery Channel) takes to the lead
Photo ©: David Prentis Photography

Matt White (Discovery Channel) has enjoyed a fairytale end to his professional cycling career, after claiming victory in his final race on the streets he rode as a youngster in the second Cronulla International Grand Prix. The 33 year-old's emotion-charged yell of celebration could be heard above the thousands of screaming spectators as he crossed the line with both hands raised, metres ahead of second placed Graeme Brown (Rabobank), who won last year's event.

"The most important thing today is all my friends are here, it's a special day for me," said White. "They've all come to say goodbye to me, we're a real tight knit group the Aussie blokes, we race together all year, we live in different states of Australia but they're all here…I'm really appreciative."

White, who will join America's Team Slipstream as a director in 2008, pulled out an insurmountable lead after capitalising on a late charge with Discovery Channel team-mate Allan Davis. With less than two laps remaining the Discovery Channel riders had a comfortable margin as White pulled away to take victory.

"It was pretty crucial having someone in the break you know because then I didn't have to do too much," said White. "I really needed Al in the break because there is so many good sprinters here."

In addition to the congratulations White received by his big-named rivals was that of Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans. The ProTour champion was in Sydney to watch the race and offered White some simple words after his win "Beautiful…beautiful," said Evans while embracing his mate.

How it unfolded

The race kicked off with a laugh, after Tour de France stage winner Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto) overtook the entire peloton on the wrong side of the course having arrived late at the start line. Once the peloton had shuffled its way through the first paperclip turn the jokes were over as it accelerated immediately to a high pace.

Despite a number of breakaway attempts in the opening laps, it wasn't until the first prime on lap 11 that a group was able to pull out a notable margin. Darcy Rosenlund (Ord Minnett Racing) led the group of four riders across the line to claim the $500 AUD prime.

The small bunch pulled out some 20 seconds over the Rabobank-controlled peloton and maintained the margin through to the second prime on lap 17. There, Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes) forced a less than impressed Rosenlund to the opposite side of the circuit as he sprinted to claim the prize money.

With the race past half way and the peloton slowly starting to reel in the leaders, Française des Jeux's Brad McGee moved from the rear to the front of the peloton before showing his explosive speed off to the crowd as he bridged across to the leaders, still 10 seconds down the road. As the race entered lap 20 the peloton, with the help of a well positioned McGee, re-captured the leaders at the first corner.

Sutherland Shire resident Chris Sutton (Cofidis), who will move to Team Slipstream in 2008, again controlled the strung-out peloton before Victorian Institute of Sport rider Glenn O'Shea took to the front to claim the final prime on the following lap.

As rain started to fall with seven laps remaining, Paris-Roubaix winner Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) shattered the peloton as he broke away. The South Australian was passed a lap latter by a flying Baden Cooke (Unibet.com) before another sprinter in McEwen took to the front.

A group containing Australia's biggest names formed off the front of the peloton as O'Grady and Brown worked together further down the road to further split the race apart.

With three laps remaining Davis took control of the race with Dean in toe, as White began moving forward from the middle group. White took to the lead, having spent the majority of the event riding in the peloton, as his team-mate and Dean were worn down by the high-pace they had set.

White stayed in front for the final lap and despite the efforts of defending champion Brown, the Rabobank rider was unable to regain the ground his fellow local resident had pulled out.

One by one Dean, Davis, Cooke and O'Grady crossed the line, while further back the peloton was led home by Sutton.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Gerard Knapp

Well done, Whitey. Matt White (Discovery Channel) is congratulated by Chris Sutton (Cofidis). Both riders, who hail from the area where the Cronulla International Grand Prix criterium was held, will join Team Slipstream in 2008 - White as a director, Sutton as a rider.
One for you, Matt Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) was one of the first to stop and congratulate his former team-mate, Matt White
Talking heads Cadel Evans (foreground) was on hand to help out with the commentating, while Matt White handles the post-race press interviews (background).

Images by David Prentis Photography

Matt White (Discovery Channel) takes to the lead with one lap remaining of his professional career.

Images by Brad Hooker/www.cyclingimagesonline.com

Matt White thinking about how his last race will unfold
Simon Gerrans (AG2r)
Brad McGee & Mark Renshaw
Stuart O'Grady making his first start in Sydney since the Olympics
Richard England (VIS) made the trek from south of the border
As did Matt Wilson (Unibet)
Nick Gates (Lotto) had his race face on
Robbie McEwen (Lotto) making a side entrance , catching the riders by surprise
1 lap down 29 to go as the riders are strung out
Baden Cooke, Ben Kersten Simon Gerrans & Cameron Hughes
Chris 'CJ' Sutton pushing the pace early
O'Grady cruising through the corner 1 u-turn
Allan Davis protected Matt White the whole race
Robbie McEwen cruising in the pack
Matt Wilson in the middle followed by McEwan in the uturn
Brown in the bunch through the u-turn
Thomas Palmer (Drapac Porsche) in good company with McGee
Scott Davis (T-Mobile) with Nick Gates, through the U-turn
Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes) pushed the pace all race & landed himself the sprint king award
Rabobank didn't mess around they had three riders on hand
The front of this bunch is more suited to the roads of Europe, can anyone spot a non-professional rider here
Scott Davis (T-Mobile) kicking out of the u-turn
As the rain started to fall Matt White moved to the front
As did O'Grady & Matt Wilson
Cody Stevenson (Jittery Joes) stretching his legs after a long season in the US
In the closing laps the field were stretched to the limit
O'Grady & Brown were the reason for the stretching, attacking again
With one to go it was Allan Davis doing the hard work for Matt White as McEwan chases hard
You can see the determination on Matt White's face as he attacks in the last lap
What a way to end your career with a home town victory, Congrats Whitey
The look says it all FINALLY its over
Into the media scrum
Cadel Evans being interviewed for Channel 9 live coverage
You couldn't ask for a more deserving winner than Matt White
The man behind this great event Phill Bates.
There was still a big crowd on hand even though the rain was coming down

Results

Elite Men, 30 laps
 
1 Matthew White (Aus) Discovery Channel
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank               
3 Julian Dean (NZl) Credit Agricole
4 Allan Davis (Aus) Discovery Channel
5 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com
6 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
 
Masters 2-4 

1 Stewart Campbell (Easts)
2 Darren Cash (Sutherland)
 
Master 5+ 

1 Steve Darracott (Hunter Districts)
2 John Sunde (St George)
3 Keith Oliver (Parramatta)