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Jayco Bay Classic - NE
Australia, January 5-9, 2005
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.
A tough start to the week
Round 1 - January 5: Williamstown
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CCCC's team of young stars warmed up while the Women's race was run in horrendous conditions - the rain was so heavy at one stage that their start was delayed! After facing similar wet conditions on the opening day of the 2004 Bay Classic, another crash fest was on the cards, but the casualty rate proved minimal, giving the guys the confidence to attack the circuit.
Click here to read the full diary.
Making the break in Portarlington
Round 2 - January 5, 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.
Click here to read the full diary.
Victory!
Round 3 - January 7: Geelong Waterfront
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Simon Clarke took out the Australian Under 23 Criterium Championship last night! On the fast hotdog circuit on the beach in Geelong he rode a fantastic race, always in the top ten riders and had no trouble with the tight corners that the saw the Support race turn into a smash up derby.
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The pre-race plan comes unstuck
Round 4 - January 8: Geelong Botanical Gardens
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After telling the guys to expect Series leader Robbie McEwen (Drapac-Porsche) would probably be happy to let a break go up the road so he could save his legs for the final race at Docklands, didn't I look silly when the early break went, with Robbie very much present!
Joined by Stage 3 winner and new Australian Criterium Champion David McPartland (Jayco VIS) and Rory Sutherland (Victorian State Home Loans) the trio pulled away from the bunch, lapping virtually the entire field.
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It's the Clarke & Clarke show
Round 5 - January 9: Docklands
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Simon Clarke capped off a great week for the team with a fantastic second place finish, behind CCCC member Hilton Clarke, who rode the Bay Classic for McKnight's Retravision/Fisher & Paykel.
The guys joined the big bunch riding from the Mercure Hotel in Geelong back to Melbourne this morning, and the extended 70 kilometre warm up obviously suited them! All five were up the pointy end in the opening laps, with Junior Pursuit World Record Holder Michael Ford reeling off a couple of big turns. As the attacks started, Simon was prominent, with Trent also in his element. From the sidelines it was obvious that Robbie McEwen, despite his unassailable lead in the series, was looking for a good result, with all the Davitamon-Lotto boys - who were riding for three different local sponsors - chasing everything.
Click here to read the full diary.
