6th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3

Australia, January 20-25, 2004

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Race 3 - January 23: Snapper Point (Aldinga Beach) Criterium, 30 mins + 3 laps

AIS team triumphs: Gollan wins, Wood takes overall

By John Michael-Flynn in Aldinga

The AIS women complete their victory lap
Photo ©: Mark Gunter

Blue sky, glorious sunshine, light winds and an enthusiastic crowd: Adelaide's Aldinga Beach turned on a perfect day for bike racing as The Advertiser Women's Criterium Series rolled into town today with the Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under. The three race series, which began at Kapunda in the Barossa Valley on Wednesday before heading to Echunga in the Mount Lofty Ranges, reached an exciting climax as Australia's elite women's cyclists took the contest right down to the final sprint.

In the end, it was a case of musical chairs, with the podium places on the day and the final general classification honours shared by the same three riders, Oenone Wood (AIS), Sara Carrigan (Q.A.S.). and Olivia Gollan (AIS).

Backing up from yesterday's breakaway victory by newcomer Lorian Graham, the AIS women's road team once again made the early moves in a desperate effort to wrestle the leader's yellow jersey away from Carrigan.

It was the Queenslander's main challenger for overall honours, AIS rider Oenone Wood, who made the first big move on lap three. Wood's team-mates Natalie Bates and Graham also sharing the pace-setting duties as the so-called 'AIS mafia' stamped its authority on the race.

"I went in there, I had the yellow jersey; Oenone and I were on equal points and it was really four against one today," Carrigan told Cyclingnews. "I gave it my best."

It was very much a case of don't die wondering for the Sunshine State's time trial weapon, who launched several attacks, but without the backing of any team-mates was left all alone in a crowd.

"Sara had a great race today," Oenone Wood admitted after the race. "She was attacking and being really aggressive trying to get off the front and get away. Enjoying a laugh with Carrigan post-race, Wood added: "It was just strength in numbers and we got her in the end."

Carrigan wasn't the only challenger launching attacks, Emma James rode strongly in the early stages along with visiting Japanese National Team rider Miho Oki who continued to show improvement during the three race series.

But it was 2002 National Road Champion Olivia Gollan who appeared to be enjoying her day at the beach more than anyone. The senior AIS rider kept the moves from Carrigan in check, team-mate Natalie Bates also working to the national team's plan.

As the pace slowed, it became clear the race would most likely finish with a bunch sprint. The serious contenders began bunkering down over the final laps, with the national team clearly holding all the aces. While Sara Carrigan was forced to go it alone in the final sprint, Gollan followed the wheel of attacker Emma James in the downwind run to the line.

The final result, a one-two finish for Gollan and Wood, the second victory in successive days for the AIS Team.

"It was a bit of a shock for me to win today because we were trying to get Oenone up for the overall," race winner Gollan said. "But yere it's nice to win a race and it's so good to be amongst four girls who are riding really well together."

Carrigan crossed the finish line third, Gollan offering no apology regarding the race tactics, which were aimed squarely at the woman in yellow.

"The plan was to soften Sara up in the first half of the race," Gollan laughed as Carrigan listened in. "We were just going to throw everything at her and make her chase to make her tired so Oenone would have better legs at the finish than her."

Wood's second placing in race three was enough to deliver the A.C.T. rider overall yellow jersey honours, ahead of Carrigan and Gollan. The victory comes on the back of dual national championship titles in the time trial and road race disciplines. Australian women's cycling's rider of the moment setting herself for a busy race schedule in February.

"Now I've just gotta sort of back off, go back in training for a few weeks," Wood said. "Hopefully hit out again for the World Cup at the end of next month."

Photography

Images by Mark Gunter/Cyclingnews/www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph

• The women cruise along The Esplanade at Aldinga Beach.
• AIS on the attack.
• Natalie Bates chasing hard.
• Sara Carrigan, despite being outnumbered, leads the charge.
• As her surname suggests, Lisa Payne knows how to suffer.
• The AIS were out in force in Aldinga today.
• An ACT rider gives it some stick.
• Natalie Bates on the front, blocking for her team-mate Olivia Gollan.
• Olivia Gollan takes a comfortable win ahead of Oenone Wood and Sara Carrigan.
• The AIS women complete a victory lap, after winning two out of three races and the overall series.

Images by John-Michael Flynn

• AIS rider Natalie Bates looking happy at the start of today's stage in Aldinga.
• Sara Carrigan wears the series leader's jersey for the final time, with the final honour going to Oenone Wood.
• Olivia Gollan prepares to accept her prize as the winner of the third and final race of the Advertiser Women's Criterium Series.
• Sara Carrigan looking happy, despite having succumbed to the "AIS Mafia" as she puts it.
• All ready on the startline.
• Congratulations all round.

Results

1 Olivia Gollan (NSW)
2 Oenone Wood (ACT)
3 Sara Carrigan (Qld)
4 Hayley Rutherford (WA)
5 Kelly McCombie
6 Alex Rhodes
7 Katie Brown
8 Katrina-Lee Purcell
9 Miho Oki
10 Bridget Evans
11 Kate Nichols
12 Lorian Graham
13 Jenny Macpherson
14 Miyoko Karami
15 Leanne Manderson
16 Christine Riakos
17 Margaret Hemsley
18 Natalie Bates
19 Emma James
20 Shimada Hiroki
21 Renee Braithwaite
22 Lisa Payne
23 Carly Hibberd
24 Emma Colson
25 Jessie Maclean
26 Natalie Lauendeau
27 Genna Crean
28 Elizabeth Wishart
 
Final classification after Race 3
 
1 Oenone Wood                       110 pts
2 Sara Carrigan                     108
3 Olivia Gollan                     102
4 Hayley Rutherford                  94
5 Alex Rhodes                        90
6 Kelly McCombie                     76
7 Miho Oki                           68
8 Katie Brown                        66
9 Lorian Graham                      62
10 Kate Nichols                      62
11 Christine Riakos                  56
12 Bridget Evans                     50
13 Jenny MacPherson                  40
14 Emma James                        40
15 Rochelle Gilmore                  38
16 Kirsty Bortolini                  32
17 Natalie Bates                     30
18 Alison Wright                     28
19 Katrina Lee Purcell               26
20 Leanne Manderson                  26
21 Miyoko Karami                     22
22 Margaret Hemsley                  20
23 Emma Rickards                     10
24 Shimada Hiroko                     2
25 Linda Cappello                     2