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Giro di Brisbane Criterium - NE
Brisbane, Qld, Australia, November 13, 2005
Nice little earner for an afternoon's work
Mann wins Giro di Brisbane Criterium; Poad on podium again
By John-Michael Flynn in Brisbane, Australia
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Straight off an international flight after competing in the Tour of Southland in New Zealand, and with only two hours' sleep upon arrival home, former Australian club road champion Tony Mann showed he's still a forced to be reckoned with after claiming a hard-earned victory in today's rich Giro di Brisbane criterium in Queensland.
The bulk of the lucrative eleven thousand dollar cash prize purse is sure to be shared between Mann and his close friend, ex-pat New Zealander Jaaron Poad, who combined perfectly today in a two-man breakaway. The pair effectively smashed a well credentialed field stacked with some of Australia's best cyclists, among then David Betts, Jason Phillips, Ben Day, Ashley Hutchinson and Cameron Hughes.
As expected Mann received top shelf support from his good mate Poad, who was also just returned from the Tour of Southland where he completed one of his career best performances, with second place on G.C.
"This is the sort of stuff Jaaron and I live for," an exhausted Mann said after claiming victory. "If you don't have a go against these guys, you've got no chance. We just got off a plane from Invercargill, had two hours sleep and came here. I'm totally smashed."
How it unfolded
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Sponsored by Brisbane's Abruzzo Club as part of a celebration of Italian Culture (Queensland has a thriving ex-patriot Italian population), the race was staged on a demanding and technical 1.5 kilometre street circuit, which wound its way through the city's southside.
With cycling on the rise in Australia's Sunshine State of Queensland, the combination of a lucrative prize purse and a sizeable crowd which lined much of the course, ensured the seventy eight strong field gave it everything from the gun.
Rules, however, stipulated any riders who dropped two minutes off the pace of the leaders were immediately out of the race. It signalled an early exit for the four elite women who started the event, including national club road champion Emma Mackie and A.I.S. squad member Hannah Banks, who were out of the event after just ten minutes.
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The first major move of the race came from Cameron Hughes (Subway), while Tony Mann waited patiently for his opportunity. Twenty minutes in, the popular bike mechanic from Spin City Cycles on the Sunshine Coast made his move, as Jaaron Poad bridged across five minutes later to solidify the breakaway effort.
The signs were ominous for the riders in the main bunch, with arguably the two most in-form cyclists in Queensland off the front, and despite their lack of sleep following the flight from New Zealand, very much in control. The gap sat between 20 and 30 seconds for the remainder of the race, leaving Poad and Mann to sprint it out for first place. Mann eventually came out on top, with Poad second.
Brisbane's Craig Mackie wrapped up the minor placings, finishing a few seconds in front of the main bunch.
Poad considering pro return
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Speaking with Cyclingnews shortly before the start of today's race, a rejuvenated Jaaron Poad hinted at a return to professional cycling at a point in the not-too-distant future, following his recent burst of form in Australia and New Zealand.
"I'm looking at maybe going to the States, but we'll see what happens," Poad revealed.
In the space of eight days the ex-pat 'flying kiwi' has racked up a victory at the Noosa Criterium, second place on G.C in the Tour of Southland and another second place today in Brisbane. For now though, Poad and Mann have their sights fixed on next month's Grand Prix Criteriums in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by John Flynn/Cyclingnews.com
- Tony Mann (Spin city cycles) fresh off the plane from Nez Zealand.
- Jaaron Poad (Yellow Jersey Bike Shop) wakes up with a sports drink.
- Jason Phillips (Team Frankfurt) grits his teeth.
- The race start.
- Jason Phillips (Team Frankfurt) leads after two laps.
- National age group criterium champion Shaun Morris riding at the front.
- Tony Mann (Spin City Cycles) settles on the pace.
- The main bunch including Adrian Booth, Chris Pryor and Nick Formosa.
- A Gold Coast rider gets dropped.
- Cameron Hughes (Subway) makes the early move.
- Craig Mackie keeps a close eye on the race developing.
- Tony Mann (Spin City Cycles) cranks up the pace.
- Tony Mann (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond) and Jaaron Poad (Yellow Jersey Bike Shop) make their move.
- Australian club road champion Peter Herzig responds.
- Poad and Mann working together.
- The chase pack.
- Riders at the back feeling the pinch.
- Tony Mann (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond) and Jaaron Poad (Yellow Jersey Bike Shop) Poad at the bottom turn.
- Kurt Dutton swoops into a corner.
- Tony Mann (Spin City Cycles) continues to drive.
- Craig Mackie on the move.
- Tony Mann (Spin City Cycles) claims victory.
- The pain shows as Craig Mackie finishes third.
- Tony Mann (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond) with his number one supporter.
Images by Ben Manson
- Ashley Hutchinson back from the track in Moscow
- Mark Frendo gives it some at the top of the rise
- Tony Mann putting some time into the bunch in a solo move
- Cameron Hughes gave chase but didn't make it across
- Neither did Jason Phillips
- Mann powers along just as Jarron Poad latches on
- Poad does his share of the work to put distance the chasing bunch
- The lead pair bending light
Results
1 Tony Mann (Spin City Cycles) 2 Jaaron Poad (Yellow Jersey Bike Shop) 3 Craig Mackie (Brisbane)
