Australian Open Road Championships - CN

Mt Torrens, Australia, January 11-January 14, 2006

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Race 2 - January 11: U23 Men's Time Trial, 40 km

Higgerson takes an upset win

By Les Clarke in Mt Torrens, with additional reporting by Kathie Stove

Shaun Higgerson (NSW)
Photo ©: Mark Gunter

In the Under 23 men's race, favourtite Mark Jamieson had to settle for silver after NSW rider Shaun Higgerson beat the young Tasmanian by 26 seconds. Higgerson was delighted with his win, saying it was "the biggest of my career". The former MG-XPower rider says he feels good going into the Tour Down Under, where he'll ride for the AIS/South Australia joint venture. He's excited about the prospects of the young squad, where he'll surely be an important rider over the six days of racing.

Jamieson, who many observers tipped as the overwhelming favourite in the category, said that the course was, "ridiculously tough - the times tell the story. We were four minutes slower this year than we were last year, and I think I'm in better form this year than I was last year, so the course is a lot tougher." But he was quick to point out that Higgerson deserved the win, regardless of the conditions, saying, a"it [the course] certainly brought out the better bike rider today."

Miles Olman, having performed very well at the recent Queensland track championships, was extremely pleased to be amongst elite company on the podium, saying, "It's a great feeling to finish just behind the likes of Jamo and Higgerson; those boys are just animals, and hopefully I'll get up there [the top step] one day!"

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

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

Miles Olman (QLD) powers towards the finish line
Shaun Higgerson (NSW) was too strong today and took out the U23 title
Mark Jamieson (TAS) would have been disappointed with his second placing
Shaun Higgerson (NSW) on the winner's podium
The U23 podium (l-r): Mark Jamieson, Shaun Higgerson and Miles Olman

Results

1 Shaun Higgerson (NSW) Randwick Botany CC/FRF         56.20.86 (42.59 km/h)
2 Mark Jamieson (Tas)                                   0.26.59
3 Miles Olman (Qld)                                     0.30.08
4 Zakkari Dempster (Vic)                                3.05.54
5 Joshua Wilson (Tas)                                   3.19.27
6 Mitchell Docker (Vic)                                 3.49.41
7 Sean Finning (Vic)                                    4.22.07
8 Marc Williams (ACT)                                   5.26.19
9 Jason Hegert (Vic)                                    5.56.40
10 Hayden Brooks (Qld)                                  6.15.48
11 Michael Johnstone (SA)                               6.33.79
12 Peter Spencer (NSW)                                  6.54.56
13 Peter Ladd (Vic)                                     6.58.14
14 Daniel Strahan (Qld)                                11.28.73
DNS Tyler Butterfield (Bermuda)                                
DNS Jai Crawford (Tas) 
DNS Bradley Norton (Vic)