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1st Forestry Tasmania Scottsdale Grand Prix - NE
Tasmania, Australia, August 26, 2004
Teen Tanner wins in Tassie
By Rod Morris
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A well judged chase-down saw New South Wales teenager David Tanner claim line honours in the inaugural $2000 Forestry Tasmania Scottsdale Cycling Grand Prix today. Tanner (19) was part of a four man chasing group that executed a perfectly timed fightback to reel in two tearaway leaders in William Walker (Victoria) and Karl Menzies (Tasmania). In a hectic sprint to the finish line, Tanner held on to beat Canberra's James Meadley and Menzies claiming third spot.
"I honestly didn't think the chase group had given itself enough time or laps to catch Walker and Menzies, but gee I'm glad we did and I'm very happy to have won," Tanner said.
Walker and Menzies set the tone of the race very early. With 11 intermediate sprints on offer, Walker won eight and finished second in another. Menzies finished second seven-times to Walker and enjoyed one flash across the line ahead of the young Victorian. At one stage, Walker and Menzies had opened up a gap of almost 30 seconds on the peloton, which - at times - didn't appear all that interested or capable of catching the duo. But as the finish line loomed closer, the bunch got a bit more anxious.
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Tanner, Meadley, Victorian Richard England and top New Zealand rider Scott Guyton joined forces to reel in Walker and Menzies. Many seasoned cycling watchers doubted whether the chase quartet could do it, but with stopwatches working overtime and race commentators Lindsay Hill and John Holland relaying split times to the leaders and the chasers, the race took on a different complexion.
Panic didn't creep into the mindset of Walker or Menzies, but they did take a few more nervous looks over the shoulder. As each lap passed, the gap between the two groups narrowed, 20 seconds, 15 seconds, 10 seconds...and all of a sudden there was a lead group of six.
The race was held on a 1.2 km circuit around Scottsdale's central business district and the last 2000m at least was a little bit like watching a cat and a dog square off for a showdown in the backyard. Menzies - as the sole Tasmanian in the lead group - was the obvious crowd favourite and although beaten by Tanner and Meadley in the final sprint, was a long way from disgraced.
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"I'm just back from overseas where I raced pretty well and enjoyed the experience, so its nice to continue some good form coming into the Australian summer," Menzies said.
Tanner claimed his first victory since the opening stage of the Tour de Pays de Avoie in France earlier this year and is also looking forward to a bold showing over the coming months in Australia. "I will race in the Tour of Sunraysia next month and the Herald Sun Tour in October, but next year intend to base myself full time in France," Tanner said.
Tanner is coached by former Australian international Rod McGee, whose brother Brad was a member of the Australian team which won the 4000 m pursuit gold medal at the Athens Olympics.
Photography
Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
- Scottsdale , home of the Forestry Tasmania Scottsdale Grand Prix
- On the start line for the inaugural Forestry Tasmania Scottsdale Grand Prix
- The field swings out of the home straight on their first lap
- David Tanner of New South Wales leads the field around a bend
- Attacking on the backstreets of Scottsdale
- David McKenzie (Bicycle Superstore) leans into a corner during the Scottsdale Grand Prix criterium
- Cycling on the streets of Scottsdale in North Eastern Tasmania
- Chris Bradford of Wismilak International leads a chase group into the home straight
- Scottsdale is home to 1984 Olympic cycling gold medalist Michael Grenda (L) seen here with CycleSport President Joe Ciavola and Michael's son Ben
- Victorians Gaethan Cutri and Tim Decker working together during the 36km criterium
- Scott Guyton from New Zealand looking to find some form leading into the 2004 Herald Sun Tour
- Front row seats for some of the locals
- Tea for two?
- William Walker of Victoria and Karl Menzies from Tasmania made a strong break from the field midway through the 36km
- Grandstand seating was available for the Grand Prix!
- David Tanner from New South Wales salutes the crowd to win the inaugural Forestry Tasmania Scottsdale Grand Prix
- Winning is thirsty work, eh David!
- David Tanner from New South Wales a great talent in Australian cycling
- The podium after the Forestry Tasmania Scottsdale Grand Prix (L to R): James Meadley (ACT, 2nd) David Tanner (New South Wales, 1st) and Karl Menzies (Tasmania, 3rd)
Results
1 David Tanner (New South Wales) 49.31 2 James Meadley (ACT) 3 Karl Menzies (Tasmania) 4 Richard England (Victoria) 5 Scott Guyton (New Zealand) 6 William Walker (Victoria) 7 Jonathon Clarke (Victoria) 0.32 8 Josh Wilson (Tasmania) 9 Stephen Rossendell (Tasmania) 1.08 10 Wes Sulzberger (Tasmania) Sprint Championship 1 William Walker (Victoria) 26 pts 2 Karl Menzies (Tasmania) 17 3 James Meadley (ACT) 8 4 David Kemp (Queensland) 3 5 David Tanner (New South Wales) 3 6 David Pell (Victoria) 2 7 George Vallins (Victoria) 2 8 Gaethan Cutri (Victoria) 1 9 Chris Tymms (Victoria) 1 10 Stephen Rossendell (Tasmania) 1 11 Damian Forster (Victoria) 1
