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Queensland State Criterium Titles
Nundah, Queensland, May 2, 2005
By Cycle MOK
Labour Day would see the first of many races on the new Albert Bishop Race track at Nundah, 10km north of Brisbane's CBD. It was the Queensland State Criterium Titles which would take in 60 minutes of racing plus three laps to see the finale for the Elite Men.
An overcast day, with rain intermittently making its mark on the fast, hotmix circuit would see several teams taking the start line. Team Healthworks, Mondial Insurance, Flight Centre, Bruce Lynton BMW and University of Queensland with several other club members were also in attendance to compete for the title around the 1.8km course.
The starting whistle of Earl Sanders sounded the first of attacks from Hayden Brooks (Toowoomba CC). Taking a small group that failed to stay away for more than a lap, many attacks and counter attacks would finally see those racing for the podiums top step detach from the front of the group. Matthew Newlands and Grant Gaston (Team Healthworks), Bradley Nightingale and Brendan Hill (Mondial Insurance) Peter Herzig and Mark Frendo (University of QLD) and Bradley Payne (Lite Bar) would form the winning breakaway at the 25 minute mark. At this point the field had been depleted to about 40% of the starters.
The breakaway group worked very hard to stay away as Flight Centre team and BMW Bruce Lytton Teams had missed the break, BMW working for sprinter Steven Storer and Nathan Waddell working for an in form Mark Ledgerwood of the Flight Centre team. The chase by Flight Centre and BMW further depleted the field to the seven-man break up the road; further chasing meant that a group of five were left behind the breakaway with two Healthworks riders in each group.
The goings on of the breakaway toward the end of the race meant for some very sore and tired legs. Peter Herzig (UNI), who placed top five in the Open Road Titles in the ITT laid down the smack and rode off the front of the break, leaving Healthworks and Mondial to do all the chasing - Payne and Frendo took the sit. Herzig showed plenty of strength but as the head/cross wind ate into to his ever-tiring legs, he would eventually be brought back. Healthworks rider Matty Newlands and Brendan Hill (MONDIAL ) countered with Frendo (UNI) in pursuit. After being brought back, Herzig would continue to turn the screws with Grant Gaston ( Healthworks ) biting the bars to bring it all back together.
Healthworks had some very strong and powerful attacks equally matched by the UNI and Mondial riders, with Brad Payne simply a passenger in affairs. As expected, the lead seven would take to an all out sprint down the hotmix. The flat and super fast straight at this point had become a tailwind sprint; although the wind would blow slightly form the left to right hand side. Mark Frendo (UNI) won the sprint with Brad Nightingale (Mondial) coming in second and Bradley Payne (Lite Bar) third. Filling out the result was Brendan Hill (Mondial), Matthew Newlands (Healthworks) Peter Herzig (UNI) and Grant Gaston (Healthworks).
Leading what was left of the race was Adrian Booth in eighth, followed by Kurt Dutton in ninth (both Healthworks) and Hayden Brooks (Toowoomba) filling out the top ten.
Praise needs to be given to both Cycling Queensland for a sterling event, and all the volunteers for making it a great success. Also present was the ASDA, ensuring a fair sport and many partners of cyclists' and enthusiasts alike. General consensus was that the event was a huge success as was the new circuit.
Results
1 Mark Frendo (University) 2 Bradley Nightingale (Mondial) 3 Bradley Payne (Lite Bar) 4 Brendan Hill (Mondial) 5 Matthew Newlands (Healthworks) 6 Peter Herzig (University) 7 Grant Gaston (Healthworks) 8 Adrian Booth (Healthworks) 9 Kurt Dutton (Healthworks) 10 Hayden Brooks (Toowoomba CC)
