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The Advertiser Women's Criterium Series - NE
Australia, January 17-21, 2006
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 2 - January 19: Echunga, 11:30am, 30 min + 1 lap
Textbook move powers Bates the elder to victory
MacPherson close to another series win
By Anthony Tan in Echunga
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Taking a leaf out of her book from last year's series, Natalie Bates soloed off the front of a world-class women's field in Echunga and made the rest of field look like they were standing still. As her competitors wilted in searing conditions that topped out at 37 degrees today, the 25 year-old blonde from Sydney's west simply grew stronger, each lap powering out of the saddle on a difficult uphill back straight, and by the time she crossed the line with arms aloft, Bates had nearly caught the back of the field.
On the bell lap and on the same back straight, series leader and defending champion Jenny MacPherson took advantage of a slight lull to get a jump on the main field. Exiting the final corner for the bunch gallop, her placement was enough to give the Victorian Institute of Sport rider an ideal position in the final 150 metres, which the sprint queen took full advantage of, outsprinting New South Wales rider Kate Nichols for second.
"We were riding out here I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh!'," said Bates, commenting on the fact that her legs were feeling "a bit shabby" on the training run out to Echunga this morning. "When we got out here, I'd forgotten how much that back straight drags out and up a little bit, and in that respect, I think it's the best place to be, out the front."
"I did [the race] a couple of years ago and because it does drag out the back and I'm climbing alright at the moment, I thought that is a good chance for me to get away," Bates went on to explain. "I'm never going to win a sprint - especially on a downhill - and I actually struggle more if people are really attacking and I've got to jump with that. So if I can get that gap and just try to hold on, that's my best bet."
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Naturally, with a commanding lead and the series well within her grasp, MacPherson was delighted. "Oh, definitely!" she smiled. "I haven't even worked out the maths yet, but I knew who the top three or four girls to look out for and Natalie wasn't one of them, so I was able to let her go and just protect my position, so I'm rapt."
When asked if she was happy to see the older Bates sister ride away from the field and in doing so, secure her series lead, the question drew an atypical response: "No, not at all! There's awesome prizemoney up, so I was definitely looking for another win, but second's still pretty good," she said.
"I think the girls were starting to get a bit hot and tired. My throat... " MacPherson began saying before her thirst for water got the better of her, "was going a bit dry, so I think in a way, to let one go away kept the main bunch at ease. But there were still lots of attacks after she went away."
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There seemed little doubt the heat got the better of everyone except Nat Bates, who appears to thrive in these frypan-hot conditions. With the weather reports predicting little change two days from now when the final series criterium goes on show at Aldinga Beach, there's a good chance we may see the same face; despite finishing outside the money last Tuesday evening, there's still a good chance Bates can step on the overall series podium with a good ride.
"Well, unfortunately after Tuesday night, I finished 18th and well out of the points; the points are so close - there's only a two point gap. But you never know... I'm going to go out on Saturday and hope to repeat what happened last year and I might finish up there," she said.
Bates added that before the road nationals, she'd done no racing, so there was little to gauge her race form until last week, where she won a bronze medal in the time trial and went on to ride a very solid road race, which saw her sister Kate take the crown. "So I was pleased with last week; this week's been great, training, soaking up the atmosphere... I hear it's raining in Sydney, so it's great to be here in the sunshine and a win is always good for the confidence."
How it unfolded
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As the mercury continued skywards and temperatures hit fever-pitch, around forty of Australia's best female cyclists rolled to the start line for the Advertiser's second series criterium in Echunga, a few minutes after the men's field sped through on their way to nearby Hahndorf. Before the 11.30am start, though, national road champion Kate Bates rolled a little further, swung an about-turn and began to address her peers:
"A few girls have been claiming places that weren't theirs at Tuesday night's crit," began a stern voice. "Everyone knows there's a lot of money up for grabs and it's not fair if this continues to happen, so please, don't claim a place unless you finish in the top ten."
A necessary few words, but sadly, unsportsmanlike. Heard among the field were a number of 'thanks, Kate' before the riders got underway for a race lasting not much longer than 30 minutes. The heat was oppressive, yet despite this, a high pace was set right from the start, as national crit champion and South Australian local Alex Rhodes and Canberra's Jessie Maclean were the first to make a move shortly into the second lap.
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The Echunga course was a short, fairly tight circuit of not much more than a kilometre. This, combined with heat and the difficult uphill back straight, saw the race unfolding into one of attrition, as lap by lap, riders fell by the wayside and breaks were brought back.
15 minutes down and it was all together, but Olivia Gollan continued her aggressive ways from Tuesday night's race, her offensive move immediately reducing the field by five. Shortly after, a brief regrouping occurred but it didn't last long - the next attack saw the race-winning move when Natalie Bates flew the coup. The bunch split, the front group of eight hesitated, and she was gone.
As the minutes ticked down from 10 minutes to go, 'Natty', as her younger sister affectionately calls her, was growing all the more confident. Extending her lead lap after lap, Bates was treating the breakaway like a time trial - her speciality event. Queensland rider Sallyanne Cowman tried unsuccessfully to bridge, reeled in with five minutes remaining.
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By the bell, Bates was riding so well she had the first group in sight, who merged with the second group at the end of the main straight. A minute's advantage allowed Natalie to enjoy the spoils with a two-armed salute, before Victorian speedster Jenny MacPherson flew out of the final corner in first wheel to hold off Kate Nichols and Olivia Gollan for second. By consequence, the overall series is now "Elementary, My Dear Watson!" for her.
"When it came to the last lap, I heard the commentator say that they're all back together again - that's when Alex Rhodes attacked up the back straight and strung it out again," explained MacPherson. "I think it was Bridget Evans was on her wheel and she sort of backed off a bit, and I just saw the opportunity to attack there and luckily I held the gap all the way to the finish line."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rachel Burke/www.maximumattack.biz
- Riders and spectators alike were well looked after by the hills hospitality of Echunga.
- Race 1 winner Jenny MacPherson looking relaxed during a pre-race warm up with Kate Nichols.
- Rolling up to the start line in Race 2 of the Advertiser Women's Criterium Championships.
- Natalie Bates contemplating what's ahead.
- Kate Bates addresses the rest of the field about claiming places.
- A focussed Alexis Rhodes during Kate's discussion.
- Natalie Bates listens to sister Kate on the start line.
- A strong field of riders took to the start line of Race 2 of the Advertiser Women's Criterium Series in picturesque Echunga.
- Taking the lead off the line, Alexis Rhodes.
- Alexis Rhodes leads the bunch into the first turn.
- The bunch stays locked together.
- Jenny Trew and Alexis Rhodes lead the bunch up the hill.
- Alexis Rhodes showing fierce determination that has contributed to her successful comeback.
- Terri Rhodes, sister of Alexis, mixing it with the bunch.
- Wearing the leader's yellow jersey, Jenny MacPherson showed good form during Race 2.
- Natalie Bates swings through the corner.
- Local Alexis Rhodes was a crowd favourite during today's race.
- Kate Nichols rode consistently throughout the race.
- Alexis Rhodes powers through the corner.
- Kate Bates takes a turn at the front of the bunch.
- Breaking away mid-race, Natalie Bates soon enjoyed a good gap over the rest of the field.
- A must during today's hot conditions, Bridget Evans re-hydrates.
- Working together to try to close the gap to race leader Natalie Bates.
- Under extreme conditions, victory goes to Natalie Bates
- The crowd watches on as the chasing bunch round the last corner towards the finish.
- Checking out the opposition, Jenny MacPherson sprints towards the line with Alexis Rhodes, Kate Nichols, Olivia Gollan and Bridget Evans.
- Jenny MacPherson holds off the rest of the chasing bunch to snatch second place in today's race.
- Catching her breath after taking out today's race win, Natalie Bates is interviewed.
- Hugs all round, Olivia Gollan congratulates winner Natalie Bates.
- Natalie Bates recounts race tactics that led to her win today.
- Natalie Bates is congratulated by series leader Jenny MacPherson, who now has an unassailable lead.
- Jenny MacPherson during a post-race interview, after taking out second place in today's second race.
Results
1 Natalie Bates (NSW) 40 pts 2 Jenny MacPherson (Vic) Carnegie Caufield 38 3 Kate Nichols (NSW) 36 4 Alexis Rhodes (SA) Norwood 34 5 Olivia Gollan (NSW) 32 6 Bridget Evans (Qld) Fast-Practice Bicycle.com 30 7 Sallyanne Cowman (Qld) 28 8 Emma Mackie (Qld) Uni of Queensland 26 9 Tiffany Cromwell (SA) Norwood 24 10 Vicki Eustace (ACT) Canberra 22 11 Lousie Kerr (Qld) Uni of Queensland 20 12 Kate Mercer (Qld) Uni of Queensland 18 13 Nicole Magner (Qld) Uni of Queensland 16 14 Leeanne Manderson (WA) Northern Districts 14 15 Carlee Taylor (SA) Norwood 12 16 Nicole Whitburn (SA) 10 17 Phillippa Read (Vic) St Kilda 8 18 Hannah Banks (Qld) Uni of Queensland 6 19 Kate Bates (NSW) 4 20 Jessica Maclean (ACT) 2 Overall standings after race 2 1 Jenny MacPherson (Vic) Carnegie Caufield 78 pts 2 Bridget Evans (Qld) Fast-Practice Bicycle.com 66 3 Sallyanne Cowman (Qld) 62 4 Kate Nichols (NSW) 58 5 Emma Mackie (Qld) Uni of Queensland 52 6 Olivia Gollan (NSW) 50 7 Natalie Bates (NSW) 46 8 Kate Bates (NSW) 42 9 Kate Mercer (Qld) Uni of Queensland 42 10 Vicki Eustace (ACT) Canberra 38 11 Alexis Rhodes (SA) Norwood 34 12 Hannah Banks (Qld) Uni of Queensland 34 13 Tiffany Cromwell (SA) Norwood 32 14 Jessica Maclean (ACT) 32 15 Amanda Spratt (NSW) 32 16 Leeanne Manderson (WA) Northern Districts 24 17 Lousie Kerr (Qld) Uni of Queensland 20 18 Belinda Diprose (NSW) Lidcombe Auburn 20 19 Nicole Magner (Qld) Uni of Queensland 16 20 Carlee Taylor (SA) Norwood 14 21 Nicole Whitburn (SA) 14 22 Emma Gaul (Vic) Footscray 14 23 Sheba Farrin (SA) Hub Racing 12 24 Phillippa Read (Vic) St Kilda 8
Support races
A grade men 1 Simon Pearson (SA) Norwood 2 Chris Luxton (SA) Norwood 3 Jarrod Poad (Qld) Ffast 4 Russell Gill (SA) Norwood 5 Michael Fitzgerald (WA) Northern Districts 6 Alan Gill (SA) Norwood 7 Jack Bobridge (SA) Norwood 8 Chris dos Santos (SA) Norwood 9 Shane Gill (Qld) Gold Coast Gold Star 10 Brett Aitken (SA) Adelaide B grade men 1 Kevin Harnett (SA) Sturt Holdfast Marion 2 Tim Roe (SA) Norwood 3 Thom Edwards (SA) Norwood 4 Ben Young (SA) Whyalla 5 Andrew De Sousa (NSW) Clarence Street Cycles 6 Dayton Walker (SA) Norwood 7 Tim Blackburn (SA) Norwood 8 Filippo Immesi (SA) Noarlunga South Coast 9 Lee Stevens (SA) Riverland 10 Mark Skeates (NSW) Coffs Harbour
