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2004 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic
Victoria, Australia, January 7-11, 2004
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Carnegie Caulfield-Billa Bridge Wines Diary
Regular Cyclingnews correspondent Mal Sawford is directing the Carnegie Caulfield-Billa Bridge Wines team at this year's Bay Classic. The team consists of Michael Ford, Simon Clarke, Cam Wise, Nathan Wise and Trent Lowe, and Mal reports on their progress in the five race series in this special diary.
Making the break in Portarlington
Round 2 - January 6, Portarlington
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Trent and Cam joined the majority of riders on the hour long ride from the Mercure Hotel to Portarlington. Simon, Michael and Nathan chose an early morning ride for a leg loosener before a warm up on the ergos while once again the girls raced in pouring rain - well done to Carnegie rider Jenny Macpherson, riding for the VIS who outsprinted Rochelle Gilmore for third after earlier crashing out of the winning break.
Portarlington is the toughest circuit of the series, with two climbs and two tight off camber corners. The strongest riders always get away, with Brad McGee, Simon Gerrans and David McKenzie all winning from breakaways in the past few years. Today's race was no different, with riders of the calibre of Rob Crowe, Graeme Brown and Sprint leader Matt Rex all off the back early on.
Trent was the best of the Carnegie Caulfield-Billa Bridge team today, surviving the continual cull from the bunch, but missing the main move which saw ten riders escape, containing Classic leader Robbie McEwan, eventual winner David McKenzie (Bicycle Superstore/HLP) and runner up for the second year in succession, Rory Sutherland (Victorian State Home Loans).
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Trent made a strong bid to bridge to the leaders in the second half of the race, swapping off turns with fellow MTBer Jai Crawford (Skilled/TIS). He was looking good for a top ten finish when Henk Vogels (Bicycle Superstore/HLP) lost contact with the break, but the lure of the $20 prize spurred the bunch into action and Trent was caught and outgunned in the dash to the line. Only twenty riders from the starting bunch of sixty-five finished on a very difficult day.
Tomorrow's stage doubles as the Australian Criterium Championships. The hot dog circuit on the Geelong waterfront should suit Cam better, while both Simon and Michael are targeting the hillier stage through the Botanical Gardens on Saturday night.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mal Sawford
- Trent Lowe (CCCC-Billa Bridge) launches his bid to join the winning break
- Series leader Robbie McEwen looking comfortable on the climb
- Trent and Jai Crawford chased in vain
- Jenny Macpherson on the attack with Women's winner Oenone Wood
