Perth criterium series - NE

Perth, January 25-28, 2008

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Stage 2 - January 26: Day 2

Thrills and Spills

Displays of brilliant tactics, incredible strength and heartbreaking falls were all part of the Perth Criteriums second race.

Support men

The support men were first to entertain the crowd, with three cyclists taking control of the race at around the 25 minute mark. Raf Baugh, Michael Frieburg and Sean O'Neill created a formidable trio, teaming up to ride away from the group which proved decisive.

Increasing their lead each lap as their teammates worked cleverly to hold the group up, the podium places were all but confirmed. Each taking their turn at the front, the three riders didn't give anything away with all of them rolling through and none showing any signs of relinquishing their spot.

True colours were revealed in the final lap with Baugh surging immediately to try and throw his challengers off guard before the final sprint. Frieburg and O'Neill matched the intensity however and Baugh was spent for the sprint. O'Neill unexpectedly jumped early out of the final corner leaving Frieburg to fight back into contention. The battle lasted right to the finish line with O'Neill's solo strength and fitness from his pet sport triathlon sending him over the line half a wheel in front of the chasing Frieburg.

"It was the best win I have ever had, knowing how good these guys are at what they do," said O'Neill. "Triathletes have to work very hard for respect with roadies and today I was stoked to prove I can take it to them."

Women

The women's race was next up with Emma Pooley in the pink jersey and a marked woman. Taking a while to sort themselves out, the pack strung out and regrouped numerous times before Pooley, Sharon Suckling and Sarah Kent took control.

Pooley and Kent took turns to extend their lead while Suckling followed closely, taking advantage of sitting behind with the strong winds. The race would pan out similarly to the support men's race, with Pooley, Kent and Suckling using the final sprint to determine the winner. After continuously trying to break the other members of the breakaway, Pooley eventually had to lead out the trio in the sprint. Suckling's final kick was enough to put her over the line well clear of the Pooley. Sarah Kent was impressive in third.

Meanwhile, the third group of riders would see their day come to a halt with a terrible crash with only five minutes to race. Five riders tumbled to the asphalt in the blink of an eye including last night's third placegetter Kelly Harry, cycling stalwart Nathalie Laurendeau, Victorian champion Shannon McCurley and young WA champions Jessica Allen and Michaela Anderson. While the crash looked nasty and the riders took a while to get up from their crumpled forms, all girls are up and feeling sore and sorry for themselves, but no major injuries sustained.

Elite men

The men's race was a superb battle of the fittest with many challengers fighting to breakaway. From the time referee began the race, the teams were pushing to take control of the race with riders going off the front.

Ben King from Cyclemania and Doug Repacholi from Bikeforce were able to pull away from the surging group and stayed away the entire race while the rest of the field fought between themselves.

Cameron Meyer and Ryan Suckling attacked together and started to encroach on the leader's gap over a few laps until the strength of the group reeled them back in. Travis Meyer and Brad Hall were the next to leave the fold, working well together before they were also swallowed back into the main bunch.

Following up from his strong ride last night, Adam Semple followed Eddie Holland's lead and together they set a blistering pace to gap the group only five minutes before the final two laps. They rode strongly to hold off the group but by that stage, King and Repacholi's lead would not be threatened.

King had enough in his legs to drop Repacholi in the final lap and finished about 50 metres ahead of his rival. Repacholi had earnt his second place, before Eddie Hollands used his experience to leave young Semple behind in the final stages to secure third place with Semple in fourth.

Joel Pearson wasn't ready to relinquish the yellow jersey, outclassing the bunch in the sprint finish to claim fifth position with Brad Hall holding off Travis Meyer by a tyre width for sixth.

The GC overall all three races couldn't get much closer with Sean O'Neill and Jordan Van Der Togt on equal points in the Mens Support, Emma Pooley and Sharon Suckling on equal points in the Open Womens and Joel Pearson narrowly holding off Adam Semple to retain yellow in the open men's race.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Troy Coulthard/trievents.com.au/perthcrits

Ryan Suckling (Yes Optis) eyes the road ahead pre race.
Yellow Jersey Joel Perso (Atomic Brooks) work hard at the front of the pack for most of the race.
Cameron Meyer (Cyclemainia) takes the corner in front of Perth's skyline.
Ben King (Cyclemainia) rides away from Doug Repacholi (Bikeforce) to take the win.
Emma Pooley takes (Team Specialized) leads the field early.
Sharon Suckling(Avanti Optus) was too strong are rode away from (Emma Pooley (Team Specialized) for the win.
Support Men roll out.
State Triathalete Sean O'Neill (SRG Corporate) talks to the comitator after victory in the support race.

Images by Brett Russell

Tyson Lawrence (BikeForce) and Michael Fitzgerald (W.A.R) tackle the first hairpin of the race.
A Riders Choice rider about to hit the bitumen in the men's race.
Sam Davis (Yes Optus) was another rider who came down on the tight corner.
Cameron Meyer (Cyclemania / South Australia.Com) shows that he doesn't just 'attack' in a bike race! He also helped Sam Hill get his chain back on, ready to join the bunch on the next lap.
Eddy Hollands (Glen Parker Cycles) in action during the Australia Day criterium.
Ben King (CycleMania / South Australia.Com) attacked his breakaway companion Doug Repacholi (BikeForce) in the closing laps.
Doug Repacholi (BikeForce) did his best to catch Ben King, but could not quite close the gap on a hot and windy day.
Cameron Meyer (CycleMania / South Australia.Com) checks for his rivals in the final laps of the race.
Ben King (CycleMania / South Australia.Com) gets the win in race two of the 2008 Perth Criterium Series
Series leader Joel Pearson (Atomic Brooks) wins the bunch sprint, to retain the leaders jersey.
The women's race gets underway with Emma Pooley (Specialized) already at the front.
Emma Pooley (Specialized) leads Sarah Kent (Budget Forklifts) as the Australian flags blow in the background.
Riders power into the wind down Riverside Drive.
A mid race crash took a out a number of riders.
The medical team rushed to the aid of the injured riders.
A carbon fibre bike will nearly always come off second best against a metal barricade. (Other than this bike, there were no serious injuries reported from the crash)

Results

Men support

1 Sean O'Neill
2 Michael Frieburg
3 Raf Baugh

Women 

1 Sharon Suckling
2 Emma Pooley
3 Sarah Kent

Men

1 Ben King
2 Doug Repacholi
3 Eddie Hollands
4 Adam Semple
5 Joel Pearson
6 Brad Hall
7 Travis Meyer