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Results and Reports from Australia
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Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Glenvale Crescent, Melbourne, February 12, 2006
By Mal Sawford
The second of the three race Tri-Alliance Women's Series was a welcome addition
to the regular programme at Glenvale Crescent this morning, allowing the A Grade
men an extra twenty minutes in bed or another repeat 'up the mountain' for those
with bigger goals in mind later in the season.
While the Elite Women's race attracted only a dozen starters, with the peloton
including Priska Doppmann, CCCC member Emma Rickards, Christiane Soeder and
Sara Duster of the powerful Univega squad, Daniella Pintarelli and Bernadette
Schober of Uniqua Graz and Helen Kelly (VIS), a member of the Australia's 2005
World Championship team, the quality of the field more than made up for it.
The girls are in Melbourne preparing for the opening round of the Women's World
Cup, with Doppmann in particular a regular visitor over the past few years during
her early season training.
Ten minutes into the race, Doppmann and Soeder went on the attack, joined by
Canadian Jenny Trew (Kenda Tires). The trio were still clear at the first intermediate
sprint and crossed in that order, after opting not to fight for the cash, with
the bunch still in striking distance. Trew couldn't match the pace set by the
Univega team mates and was reeled in by a chase group lead by Gina Grain (Canadian
National Team) and Kelly before the second sprint.
Doppmann took the final intermediate prize ahead of her team mate, while local
Nicole Whitburn (Quick Cycle Coaching) held off a late charge from Univega ticket
collector Rickards to lead the bunch over the line in third place. In the final
laps, Doppmann and Soeder lifted their pace and pulled away from the chase,
and crossed the line side by side, with the win officially given to Soeder.
Rickards had little trouble mopping up third place after an armchair ride in
defence of her team mates, with Whitburn claiming fourth inches ahead of Grain.
The Sport women took to the circuit at the same time as the Elites, and after
a brief neutral period to adapt to the novel demands of Women Only racing, were
quickly up to speed, lapping the 1.2km circuit in very similar times to the
professional Women.
Among the pace setters were Gemma Goyne, Michelle Murrell and Clare Vlahopolous,
with the evenly matched field pretty much together for most of the distance.
Melissa Kah took a leaf out of husband Danny's playbook with a strong attack
at the bell, but the attentive field reeled her in along the back straight.
Michelle Murrell hit the lead early in the dash to the line, and held off all
challengers for the win with an impressive sprint. Kerrie Howard (Fitzroy Cycles)
matched her second place finish at the Karak Classic, just ahead of Christine
Kelly (Terry Hammond Cycles) and Meaghan Godfrey.
The A Grade field may not have had the international depth of the Women's event,
with Katie Mactier (Fitzroy Cycles), partner Greg Henderson (Health Net pb Maxxis)
and Mark Kelly (Isle of Mann) opting for quiet rides midfield, but as usual
the race was run at breakneck pace throughout as the local strongmen did their
best to shatter the field.
Heath Keenan, David Sturt (Giant/Pro-Motion) and Scott Jensen (Nepean Cycles)
all tried early, while the SHM pair of Brendan Rowbotham and Taigh Banson took
it in turns to ensure a presence in every move. The call of 'three to go' saw
the final break mopped up, as the field set up for a bunch kick, which allowed
CCCC's Criterium King Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy) to notch up another win before
he flies to the US in ten days. Aaron Salisbury (HLP) was next home ahead of
Tuesday night winner Warren Knevitt (O'Mara), with Jamie Kelly (Terry Hammond)
splitting the younger Walker brothers, Nick and John, to round out the place
getters.
Tri-Alliance super coach Bob Kelly tried to steal the B Grade race with a solo
attack at the half way mark, shortly after a promising move by Paul Groves (Croydon
Cycleworks) and Cam Rotter was neutralised. No better luck for Kelly, however,
with the race settled with the traditional field sprint.
Matt Curnow (Le Tour Cycles) took the win, earning promotion to A Grade (which
he took advantage off immediately after the Women's races), ahead of Groves,
Paul Braunsteins (Richmond Cyclery) and Adam Wood (BikeNOW).
George Greenall won the C Grade race from a break away ahead of Michael Vogt
and Clint McDonell to match the earlier win by partner Michelle Murrell, although
both his and McDonell's prize envelopes were substantially lighter after the
Commissaire's penalised the pair for their inappropriate choice of language
as they raced to the finish! Neil Sturt led a small chase group home for the
final prize.
The D Grade race split in two under the impetus of first time rider Adrian Sinnalt
- who will be quickly on his way to C Grade after an impressive debut. Once
things had settled back to normal, the survivors fought out a sprint finish,
with John Jones recording a handy win from Perry Johnstone and Paul Kiosoglous.
Nankervis' win takes him back to the top of the table in the Inexa Summer Series,
where over $7000 of prizes, including a complete Inexa Carbon C-2/Ultegra 10
and an X-1/105 10 bikes, are up for grabs. Nankervis has 44 points, but only
has two more opportunities for points before starting his Pro career in the
US. Michael Vogt (41) and Adam Wood (40) are ready to pounce, while Kerrie Howard
(30) leads another of the jet setters, Emma Rickards (26) as the leading women.
Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums continue with Tuesday Twilight racing at Sandown
Racecourse. (Melways map 80J6). Racing at Sandown runs until the end of March,
with the Sandown Road gate opening at 6pm for a 6.30pm race start for all grades.
Sunday mornings are at Glenvale Crescent (Melways map 80B2) with new start times
for 2006: B, D and E Grades start at 9am, while A and C Grade ride at 10am.
All holders of current 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 within the E Grade race at Glenvale Crescent.
For further details, go to www.carnegiecycling.com.au.
Results
A Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps 1 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Aaron Salisbury (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Warren Knevitt (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Nick Walker (Brunswick) 5 Jamie Kelly (Carnegie Caulfield) 6 John Walker (Brunswick) Elite Women - 40 mins + 3 laps 1 Christiane Soeder (Austria) 2 Priska Doppmann (Switzerland) 3 Emma Rickards (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Nicole Whitburn (Warragul) 5 Gina Grain (Canada) Sport Women - 40 mins + 3 laps 1 Michelle Murrell (Mornington) 2 Kerrie Howard (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Christine Kelly (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Meaghan Godfrey (Carnegie Caulfield) 5 Rebecca Hanning (Coburg) B Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps 1 Matt Curnow (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Paul Groves (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Paul Braunsteins (Hawthorn) 4 Adam Wood (Blackburn) 5 Nick Palecek (Carnegie Caulfield) C Grade - 50 minutes + 3 laps 1 George Greenall (Mornington) 2 Michael Vogt (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Clint McDonell (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Neale Sturt (Carnegie Caulfield) D Grade - 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 John Jones (Carnegie Caulfield) 2 Perry Johnstone (Chelsea & Peninsula) 3 Paul Kiosoglous (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Nick Groves (Carnegie Caulfield) E Grade - 45 minutes + 3 laps 1 Ken Allen (Blackburn) 2 Haydn Paynter (Carnegie Caulfield) 3 Brian Revell (Carnegie Caulfield) 4 Leah Paterson (Carnegie Caulfield)
