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Eastern Suburbs CC
Heffron Park, Sydney, January 11, 2005
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Wooldridge wins in commanding style from fellow Olympian Renshaw
Teams Pursuit World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist, Steve Wooldridge (Comnet Senges) won Round 2 of the Trek Bikes Summer Criterium Series at Heffron Park in commanding style from his Olympic team mate, Mark Renshaw (FdJ). On a clear, but very windy summer evening the two European pro's decimated the 80 strong field which resulted in a finishing bunch of only 7 riders. Those who made the cut were Wooldridge and Renshaw, Liam Kelly (Randwick Botany), Stewart Campbell (Easts), Peter McDonald (Colnago-Caravello), Luis Treuba (Lidcombe) and the sole survivor from B Grade, Scott Callum (Easts).
A larger than usual B grade field of 34 riders got racing underway in the 15 lap, 30km handicap and decided to light up the race almost from the gun. After five laps, a small group of eight riders had sneaked off the front, but even at this early point of the race it was obvious the A grade train were on a roll and the break wouldn't last the distance. At the halfway point there were almost as many riders watching the race as there were competing with the King of Heffron, Anthony Spurgeon one of the more notable early casualties.
C grade were caught with 5 laps to go and could offer no resistance as the headwind efforts from Wooldridge simply rode everyone off the wheel. Even the much anticipated sprint primes at 7, 5 and 3 laps became a lottery as the break continued to wind up for the finale. Tuesday night racing at Heffron Park wouldn't be the same without some drama and when Liam Kelly who was riding strongly in the break claimed a lap out for a mechanical (a dropped chain...) with 3 laps to go, the scene was set for another heated post race debate Portuguese style. Just to some extra flames to the Oporto BBQ, Kelly still contested the sprint to finish behind the two pro's. What was beyond dispute was the impressive style in which Wooldridge claimed the victory and the manner in which the front group simply tore through the entire field. Campbell, McDonald and Treuba completed the top five places after Kelly who was originally awarded 3rd place was relegated over the disputed lap out.
The bad luck award of the night went to Scotty Callum who was the sole B grade rider to match it with the pro's for the entire 15 laps only to puncture before the last corner. Forced to take a shortcut across the grass he then forfeited the 1st B grade prize which then went to the next B grade rider on the circuit, John Kenny - aaah the luck of the Irish. The battle for C grade points was one of attrition as Tom Reid and Todd Dunn battled the last 5 laps on their own to get the competition points. After 2 rounds of the 12 week Trek Bikes Series, it's still wide open with 10 different riders now on the points board. What's pleasing is that the cream of Australia's cycling talent still find the time to race with the locals. Bring on Round 3! A reminder to all riders that Tuesday night racing starts promptly at 6pm and that you must be entered and SIGNED ON by 5.50pm. A 2005 Cycling Australia licence or receipt is mandatory and if you haven't done so, you can download the 2005 application from Cycling Australia's website.
Photography
Images by John Sunde
- The Heffron Park finishing straight - it all looks so easy.
- Steve Wooldridge (right) adjusts his sunnies while Steve Fitzpatrick and Warren Scott pull faces.
- The A grade field strung out down the home straight on the opening lap
- Nick Rathbone leads the B grade bunch down the straight
- Francesco Conceicao digging deep as the pressure goes on C grade
Results
A Grade 1 Steve Wooldridge (Comnet Segnes) 2 Mark Renshaw (FdJ) 3 Stewart Campbell (Easts) 4 Peter McDonald (Colnago-Caravello) 5 Luis Treuba (Lidcombe) B Grade 1 John Kenny (Easts) C Grade 1 Tom Reid (Easts) Trek Bikes Pointscore 1 Steve Wooldridge 7 pts 1 Matthew White 7 3 Mark Renshaw 4 3 Anthony Spurgeon 4 5 Stewart Campbell 3 5 John Kenny 3 7 Liam Kelly 2 7 Peter McDonald 2 8 Jeff Jones 1 8 Louis Treuba 1 A/B Grade Sprint King 1 Steve Wooldridge 13 pts 2 Anthony Iannacito 11 2 Liam Kelly 10 4 John Kenny 6 4 Mark Renshaw 6 6 Matthew White 5 7 Brent Jenkins 4 8 Anthony Spurgeon 3 8 Scott Callum 8 Troy Glennan 11 Peter McDonald C Grade Pointscore 1 Todd Dunn 6 pts 2 Joel Xuereb 5 2 Tom Reid 5 4 Roger Shackleton 2
