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NSW Elite & U23 Men Road Race Championships
Mt Panorama Grand Prix, Bathurst, NSW, October 24, 2004
Klayten Smith crowned NSW Road Champion
By Mark Windsor
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Clarence Street Cyclery Trek rider Klayten Smith has won the 2004 NSW Elite Mens State Championship on the weekend on the famous Mt Panorama race circuit in Bathurst. Smith was part of a 3-man group that sprinted for the medals, taking the gold medal from Grafton to Inverell winner Peter McDonald (Randwick Botany), and German based North Sydney cyclist Robert Hodgson.
The famous Motor Racing course provided a real challenge, with riders spread all around the very demanding circuit at the finish. As in the past, the mountain will quickly identify any weakness, and will always crown a worthy winner. There is no shortcut around Mt Panorama, and the circuit will also make those pay that don't respected the task the course provides.
The field did start solidly and as expected a number of contenders were in trouble in the first 5kms of the 130km event. The Trek team riders where widely tipped as the group that would take control of the Championships, so it came as no surprise to see Glenn Stojanow break away in the middle stages with state criterium champ Jose Rodriguez (Eastern Suburbs).
However, when Peter McDonald started pushing the pace up the S-bends in search of the leaders with Trek riders Mills and Smith in tow, it become clear that the final stages would be a real streetfight and race of attrition. This would suit the in-form riders, including tough guy Richard Vollebregt (Southern Highlands) and the seasoned European riders such as VMC Konstanz Europcar Robert Hodgson and Cyclingnews.com rider Robbie Williams.
Up the mountain for the last time, Peter McDonald looked the strongest but Hodgson and Smith held on to the climber. Vollebregt was chasing hard with a gap to St George's David Treacy and Williams, who rode a great race to take 5th and the Under 23 crown.
At the finish, Klayten Smith showed his class, taking control of the sprint to record a clear win ahead of McDonald and Robert Hodgson, who was happy to take the state's number 3 ranking. Veteran Richard Vollebregt impressed with his 4th placing with Cyclingnews.com young gun Robbie Williams (Nowra) taking 5th overall and the NSW under 23 championship, the former NSWIS rriathlete firmly establishing himself as a cyclist to watch in the future.
David Treacy was strong all day in 6th, while the early effort told on good performers Glenn Stojanow and Jose Rodriguez fading to 7th and 8th. Young cyclists Joshua Marden, Luis Trueba and Hamish Elliot rode well, Marden taking the silver medal in the Under 23s, while local Bathurst mountain bike rider making the dream start to his road racing career taking the bronze in the NSW U23 Road Championship. Manly Warringah's Brad McCreadie rounded out the top 12.
What they said
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Klayten Smith (1st): "Thanks to Bathurst Council, and congratulations to NSW Federation for taking the risk on such a high profile circuit. For those that seen the race, it was clear that our Clarence St Cyclery Trek Team was great today."
Peter McDonald (2nd): "I liked the race, the surface on the racecourse is beautiful, disappointing that there was a clash with the Sun Tour."
Robert Hodgson (3rd): "Terrific to race on the circuit; Dad was in car racing, so I came here as a kid to the hill climbs. I knew what to expect and used the same gear set up as in Germany."
Robbie Williams (1st U23): "The course was a real challenge, it was a race of attrition and just who could survive in the end. The history of the race and tradition of this place makes it a great race. I am looking forward to a couple of weeks off. Its been a great year with Cyclingnews.com overseas."
Hamish Elliot (3rd U23): "I only got my Cannondale road bike a bit over a month ago, It's an awesome thing for a Bathurst person to race on Mount Panorama."
Photography
Images by Mark Windsor
- Peter McDonald (Randwick Botany) leads the winning break.
- David Treacy (St George - Bates Bikes) and Robbie Williams (Nowra - Cyclingnews.com) finished fifth and sixth respectively.
- Treacy and Williams reach the top of the climb.
- Glenn Stojannow (Clarence St Cyclery - Trek) on the famous Peter Brock Skyline.
- Klayten Smith beats Peter McDonald to take the NSW Road Championship.
- Hamish Elliot (Bathurst - Cannondale) comes in for third place.
- David Treacy (St George - Bates Bikes) crosses the line for sixth place.
- The podium - (L to R) Peter McDonald (Randwick Botany - Cheeky Monkey, 2nd), Klayten Smith (Clarence St Cyclery - Trek, 1st) and Robert Hodgson (North Sydney - VMC Konstanz, 3rd).
- The U23 podium - (L to R) Joshua Marden (Randwick Botany, 2nd), Robbie Williams (Cyclingnews.com, 1st) and Hamish Elliot (Bathurst - Cannondale, 3rd).
Results
1 Klayten Smith (Clarence St Cyclery - Trek) 2 Peter McDonald (Randwick Botany - Cheeky Monkey) 3 Robert Hodgson (North Sydney - VMC Konstanz) 4 Richard Vollebregt (Southern Highlands) 5 Robbie Williams (Nowra - Cyclingnews.com) 6 David Treacy (St George - Bates Bikes) 7 Glenn Stojanow (Clarence St Cyclery - Trek) 8 Jose Rodriguez (Eastern Suburbs) 9 Joshua Marden (Randwick Botany) 10 Luis Trueba (Lidcombe Auburn) 11 Hamish Elliot (Bathurst - Cannondale) 12 Brad McCreadie (Manly Warringah)
