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Results and Reports from Australia
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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent, Melbourne, October 2, 2005
By Mal Sawford
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Melbourne's best weather in months greeted riders for the opening race in the 2005/06 Summer Season, and as usual, the Crit specialists awoke from their winter hibernations for their Sunday morning speed fest. Over 130 riders raced, a great turn out considering many of the top riders were competing for the prestige (and big bucks!) up for grabs at the Victorian Open Road Championships in Mansfield.
Track specialist Adrian Sansonetti (BT Bike Technologies Australia) drew first
blood, after correctly gambling that an attacking race would come down to a
bunch sprint. The big escape of the day came from David Sturt (Pro-Motion/Giant)
who opened a massive advantage with a well timed counter-attack just after the
half way mark.
Sturt was quickly out of sight, before a strong solo effort from Michael Gallagher
(Hillman) reduced the gap back to 15 seconds. The pace of the chase dropped
again, allowing Danny Kah to bridge to the leader, and the gap began to open.
Both the O'Mara squad and Team UNO had strong representation, but it was only
in the closing stages that the orange colours of UNO massed at the front and
ensured Sturt and Kay's efforts would be in vain, with the capture completed
inside the final two laps.
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Sansonetti benefited from a strong move into the back straight from Warren
Knevitt (O'Mara), which put him on terms with UNO's lead out train, before jumping
strongly down the right hand gutter to take the win ahead of Alex Smyth (UNO),
Knevitt and Leigh De Luca.
The huge B Grade field also saw their race come down to a bunch kick, despite
a number of efforts from Ken Ford (Gran Prix) to break things up. Nick Gates
(TAC Share the Road) kept the pace high in the closing laps, which allowed training
partner Steve Leishman (BikeNOW) to sprint home first.
Rounding out the minor placings were Wayne Evans, Will Tehan, Tom Walker and
Matt Curnow (The Freedom Machine). Apryl Eppinger (VIS) showed the benefits
of regular Thursday night winter track racing by taking out the Women's section.
David Downing was the early aggressor in C Grade, attacking early with Davern
White. White couldn't hold the pace long, as Downing poured on the pressure,
racing over 30 seconds clear. Thirty minutes later, the time trail specialist
finally showed signs of slowing and a counter attack led by Marcus Schnell and
Michael Thomas sparked a surge from the bunch that saw the field regroup with
less than ten minutes to race.
Brett Buckland was a clear winner in the dash to the line, ahead of Clint Van
Beveren, Richard Cormick and Hayden Green. Just of the back of the bunch, Livia
Gluchowska (Hampton Cycles) outsprinted Melissa Kah for the women's prize.
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D Grade rounded out the complete set of bunch kicks, with the win taken by
Alistair Stuart, from Peter Smith and first time racer Paul Kiosoglous. Nicole
Holt (Le Tour Cycles) led the women home, ahead of Sarah Finlay and Fiona Adler.
Next week's marshals will be Zack Alexakos, Simon Vandestadt, Gareth Martin,
Adrian Grech, Geoff Wilson and Grant Boydell. Sign up early for your chance
to help out and earn a free race!
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue Sunday mornings are at Glenvale Crescent
(Melways map 80B2). C, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and B Grade ride
at 10am. Tuesday Twilight racing at Sandown will commence on November 8.
All holders of 2005 or 2006 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. 2006 licenses are now available at all CCCC events.
For first time competitors and the younger juniors, Tokyo Olympian Mick Hollingsworth
conducts novice racing clinics at Glenvale Crescent. For further details, go
to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mal Sawford
- David Sturt and Danny Kah on the attack in A Grade
- Kah looks around to see the bunch hot on his heels
- Nick Gates driving the B Grade train
- David Downing almost escaped C Grade for good
- The C Grade chasers clearly weren’t holding anything back
- D Grade action
Results
A Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps 1 Adrian Sansonetti (Northcote) 2 Alex Smyth (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Warren Knevitt (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Leigh De Luca (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Lee Howard (Geelong) 6 Jeremy McLay (Chelsea & Peninsula) B Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps 1 Steve Leishmans (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Wayne Evans (Blackburn) 3 Will Tehan (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Tom Walker (St Kilda) 5 Matt Curnow (Carnegie Caulfield) Women Apryl Eppinger (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade - 55 minutes + 3 laps 1 Brett Buckland (Blackburn) 2 Clint Van Beveren (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Richard Cormick (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Haydn Green (Carnegie Caulfield) Women 1 Livia Gluchowska (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Melissa Kah (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade - 50 minutes + 3 laps 1 Alistair Stuart (MTBA) 2 Peter Smith (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Paul Kiosoglous (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Andrew Rose (C) Women 1 Nicole Holt (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Sarah Finlay (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Fiona Adler (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade - 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 Calvin Watson (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Matthew Leonard (Mornington) 3 Peter Vlahos (Blackburn) 4 James Kladouris (Carnegie Caulfield)
