Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Bayern Rundfahrt Photo ©: Schaaf |
Results and Reports from Australia
Promoters wishing to submit results should send them to Cyclingnews
Norwood CC Weekend Crit Series #11
Regency Park, South Australia, January 18, 2004
E grade rode very strong today with an average speed of 40km per hour for their race. The bunch stayed together with mainly new riders and continued to forge ahead trying to catch D grade. Michael Schneider won the bunch sprint with a fine lead out and was never headed. D grade had a smaller bunch than usual today and at times rode quiet slow. Peter Teickert made the most to try and force the pace at times stringing out the bunch. Their very controlled race ended up in a bunch sprint, with the ever improving Heintje Lange taking the win.
A very fast race was run in C grade with the largest field for today. The pace was hot with Nigel Willoughby taking a solo attack when the bunch rested only to be bought back some laps later. Some interstate riders from Uni of Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria also joined the mix. The race coming to a bunch sprint with Willoughby taking the win just over the top of Daniel Kelsh.
Ben Manson from Uni of Queensland and Sam Allen went on the attack as soon as B grade started. The break was short lived with a strong bunch picking the riders up a lap later. A local group then went on the attack of David Miller, Mike Wheeler, Phil Dalton and Bill Drodge but five laps later were again bought back to the bunch. Next went Michael Ward and Nick Wood who opened a small gap. Wood has made a very impressive comeback to cycling after a few years off the bike. They were soon joined by Manson and Bradley Smith. This four man break came at about 20 minutes into their 55 minute race and the four riders opened a large lead. The bunch seemed to be disorganised with no-one helping Dale Rycroft to organise a chase. The leaders ended up finishing half a lap ahead of the bunch with Smith taking the win over Wood and both earning a lift to A grade, while Manson came third and Ward fourth.
A grade was an attack race with visitors from Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and the UK adding to the excitement. The starter gave the word to go and it was on for young and old. Five riders went on the attack straight away Tony McLoughlin, Darren O’Grady, Adrian Stevens, Shane Gill and Joe Underwood. The pace did not let up and the strong bunch was able to bring these riders back. Then went Queensland rider Peter Herzig, a very fit Peter Mueller and Victorian Anthony Smith. The paced settled again after these riders were caught with riders swapping off turns. After half an hour Adrian Laidler launched an attack with Riverland rider Hamish McKirdy and again Smith, it was a short lived attack. Then went Chris Luxton, Ben Biggs and Gill again caught after only 2 laps. It looked to be a very strong bunch not prepared to let any break stay away for long.
Not long before the finish another attack was launched by Laidler, Gill, Smith, Darren O’Grady and UK rider Russell Williams. This too was to be run down by the bunch of strong riders before the finish. Two laps top go and the bunch slowed to play cat and mouse, playing right into the sprinters hands. McKirdy thought his luck had changed sprinting up the finishing straight by himself with one to go... a lap too early. After 1 lap to go down the back straight Chris George who had been controlling himself in the bunch launched his attack and caught everyone by surprise. Into the finishing straight he was still in front but started to dig post holes with those big legs of his. Out of the pack flew Anthony Smith from Victoria who had kept an eye on all the breaks and participated in a few. He easily overtook George to take and easy win while George Pushed to the line to hold on to second with Shane Gill taking third.
Thankyou to the 14 interstate riders who have competed with the Norwood Cycling Club over the past week. It was an enjoyment to have you participate in our local criteriums.
Results
A Grade 1 Anthony Smith (Victoria) 2 Chris George (Rio Coffee/Main North Nissan) 3 Shane Gill (Bianco Cycling Team) 4 Chris Luxton 5 Cameron Malouf B Grade 1 Bradley Smith 2 Nick Wood 3 Ben Manson (Uni of Queensland) 4 Michael Ward (Bernie Jones Cycles) 5 Daryl Margrate (Bianco Cycling Team) C Grade 1 Nigel Willoughby 2 Daniel Kelsh 3 Ivan Vella (Uni of Queensland) 4 Giac Cirillo 5 Jason Hagon (Bernie Jones Cycles) D Grade 1 Heintje Lange 2 Corey Roberts (S.C.U.) 3 Chelsey Key (Bicycle Express) 4 James Davies 5 Peter Teickert E Grade 1 Michael Schneider 2 Tom Baxter 3 Gino Delfino 4 Scott Ferguson 5 Bradley Crawford Junior 1 Edward Petney
