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Results and Reports from Australia
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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent, Melbourne, April 17, 2005
By Mal Sawford
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The penultimate race for the season saw Tommy Nankervis record yet another win, to take his amazing haul for the year to twelve - one third of all races on offer! Another beautiful day greeted riders, with blue skies and the temperature in the mid-20s.
Surprisingly, there was no first lap attack to kick off the A Grade race, but within minutes the attacks were on for young and old. Nankervis and Fitzroy Cycles team mate Brendan Rowbotham were active early, but were obviously too big a threat to be allowed any leeway, while Rowbotham also briefly joined the second big move sparked by Deaflympic Champion Reece Van Beek and O'Mara team mates Mark Howard and Scott Brown.
Rowbotham spotted the chase behind and eased off, while his former companions
continued on for a few laps before succumbing to the pursuit. At the half way
mark, Danny Kah and Adrian Salter (Slater Cycles) jumped away, and spent the
next couple of laps a few seconds ahead of the active bunch. A group containing
Nankervis, Van Beek, Dylan Boone (SBR), Tyrin Simpson (The Freedom Machine),
Chris Tymms (Sportssms.com) and Nathan Wise bridged, and as the gap started
to grow dramatically, Rowbotham made his move across, giving Warren Knevitt
(O'Mara) an armchair ride to the front group.
While the break charged away at speeds approaching 60kmh, the bunch seemed to
lose all interest, with no sign of a chase until the break was over half a lap
clear. Unsurprisingly, the belated chase was futile, and nine survivors of the
break lapped the field with five minutes to race.
Wise made his move just before the final three laps, but was chased down. Van Beek split the bunch on the second last lap, with only Nankervis and Boone able to follow, but had no answer to Nankervis' speed. Boone held the winner's wheel all the way to the line, but couldn't find the extra speed to challenge for the win.
After early attacks in B Grade came to nothing, a bunch sprint was on the cards
for the huge B Grade bunch. The pace came right off in the closing laps, and
Nick Culvenor capitalised and took the opportunity to jump clear at three to
go.
Although never more than ten seconds clear, no-one in the bunch was prepared
to commit themselves to closing the gap, and with a strong ride Culvenor hung
on by a few lengths for a crowd pleasing win. St Kilda fast man Michael Sneyd
led the bunch home, ahead of Dennis Toce and Footscray uber vet Glen Hutchinson
(Salter).
Nick Palecek was the early aggressor in C Grade, and spent the first twenty
minutes yo-yoing off the front of the bunch. After his eventual capture, Matt
Curnow (The Freedom Machine) launched, joined by Jason Vespa (Mascot Cycles)
while Marcus Schnell was not far behind.
After ten minutes, the trio was joined by Hayden Green (HLP) and Damien Jones, and quickly put the bunch out of contention. Green lost contact on the penultimate lap, after Curnow attacked. The youngster pulled on 'the mask', and set sail for the finish, holding on for a good win which saw him promoted to B Grade for the final race of the season. Vespa snuck past Schnell for second, while the battle for the leading Women's prize in the bunch saw Michelle Murrell too fast for Gemma Goyne (BikeNOW) and Andrea Bishop.
It was a welcome return to racing for Goyne, who crashed spectacularly in the
Geelong World Cup round after a sudden encounter with a median strip.
The D Grade bunch was somewhat of a race of attrition, with only a dozen riders
surviving to contest the sprint. Jason den Hollander was a clear winner, relegating
the rapidly improving Nick Chilton to another minor place, ahead of Jordan Griffiths
and Daryl Beovic. Fleur Dean was the only woman to stay with the main field,
while Lindsay Brown (O'Mara) was second woman home in the first chase group.
The $7000 Inexa - Team Alex Summer Series also wraps up next week. Nankervis
and Bishop have the overall prizes won, while Wayne Andrew holds a five point
lead over Aaron Salisbury (HLP/Ridewiser) in the battle for second.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums conclude on Sunday April 24 at Glenvale Crescent
(Melways map 80B2). C, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and B Grade ride
at 10am. The Club's winter road fixture will also be available
All holders of 2005 Cycling Australia licenses are welcome (don't forget to bring your license or receipt!) and non-members can have a go by taking out a day license for $20. For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth conducts a novice racing clinic. For further details, including full standings in the Inexa Series, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps, 42 Starters 1 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Dylan Boone (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Reece Van Beek (Geelong) 4 Chris Tymms (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Warren Knevitt (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield) B Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps, 48 Starters 1 Nick Culvenor (Brunswick) 2 Michael Sneyd (St Kilda) 3 Dennis Toce (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Glen Hutchinson (Footscray) 5 Charles Howlett (Latrobe City) Women Gemma Goyne (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade - 55 minutes + 3 laps, 37 Starters 1 Matt Curnow (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Jason Vespa (Blackburn) 3 Marcus Schnell (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Damien Jones (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Michelle Murrell (Mornington) 2 Gemma Goyne (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Andrea Bishop (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade - 50 minutes + 3 laps, 22 Starters 1 Jason den Hollander (Hawthorn) 2 Nick Chilton (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Jordan Griffiths (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Daryl Beovic (St Kilda) Women 1 Fleur Dean (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Lindsay Brown (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade - 45 minutes + 3 laps, 5 Starters 1 Oliver Le Grice (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Sam Woodman (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Matt Leonard (Mornington)
