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Timbercorp Cup Series Tour of Gippsland - NE
Australia, August 1-5, 2007
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 5 - August 3: Metung - Omeo, 128kms
Fifth successive teenage stage winner
From Rod Morris In Omeo
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Star Victorian Zak Dempster is primed and less than 200 km away from registering his best ever multi-stage tour result. Dempster extended his narrow lead in the Timbercorp Tour of Gippsland by winning today's fifth stage, a 128.7 km climb from Metung to Omeo and will carry an 8-second lead into tomorrow's dual stage races at Paynesville.
Dempster (19) became the fifth teenager in a row to win a stage of this week's Gippsland tour, which is the first leg of the Timbercorp National Cycling Series, which will include the Australian Cycling Grand Prix in Ballarat, the Tour of the Murray River later this month and the Tour of Tasmania in October.
Dempster started the day 6-seconds clear of Chris Jory (NSW) and 37-seconds ahead of improving Tasmanian Ben Mather. In a bunch finish at Omeo, that lead was extended to 8 and 47 respectively with his stage win. The win also elevated him into the lead of the Timbercorp series, 3-points clear of sizzling West Australian, Cameron Meyer, who has been one of the real stars this week.
Meyer was second in the opening stage at Mallacoota on Wednesday and wore the coveted leader's jersey and then won the Orbost criterium on Thursday morning. In today's stage, Meyer was part of an elite seven man break which set the early pace and then when they were reeled in, he held on to give Dempster a perfect lead out for the final sprint.
Even Dempster was moved to feel humble. "Cameron did so much work out there today, I feel a bit bad about him not actually winning the stage," he said.
Originally from Castlemaine, just out of Bendigo, Dempster is the reigning Australian Grand Prix road time trial champion, but his best result in a multi-stage tour before this week was 10th in last year's Tour of the Murray River. "I am now in such a strong position that I expect to win this tour," he said, but without any hint of arrogance or over-confidence. "Everyone wearing the southaustralia.com jerseys this week are riding well and know exactly what we have to do."
"I am confident of hanging onto the lead until Sunday now."
How it unfolded
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As soon as the whistle blew at Metung to signal the start of the fifth stage, riders put the hammer down. Tasmanian Sid Taberlay, along with fellow Apple Islander Daniel Furmston, Scott Kilmartin (Qld) and Joe McDonnell (NSW) took off early and snatched some of the valuable intermediate time bonuses before Taberlay and Kilmartin dropped back to the peloton.
In the next 40 km, a new group of seven had formed, although apart from Meyer there were no genuine threats to Dempster and Chris Jory on General Classification. Joining Meyer in the escape group were Brad Edmunds (Vic), McDonnell, Furmston (Tas), Darcy Rosenlund (Qld), Alexander Machin (Vic) and Miles Watson (Vic).
That septet motored along quite nicely gaining time on the main bunch and sharing points and bonuses around. But with Omeo nearing and a Category 2 hill climb still to be raced, the group started to splinter and the heavyweights on the GC leaderboard started to make their presence felt.
Two young tourists traveling a 4WD in the other direction almost brought the tour to confusion when they rolled their vehicle just 15 km from the finish line. Some heavy work by police and volunteers saw the vehicle dragged from the race circuit before the peloton arrived.
To Cameron Meyer's credit, he was able to recover when the bunch reeled in the escapees and he settled down to either win the stage himself or ensure that his teammate, Dempster did. Dempster was under threat from Jory, while the Tasmanian, Ben Mather was also chasing his first ever road race victory.
With the tempo lifting considerably in the closing 10 km, the field was scattered, although a bunch sprint of 18 riders at Omeo still produced an exciting finish.
The stage quinella was the same as the GC leaderboard – Dempster and Jory – while third home was Victorian youngster Steven Robb, who was celebrating his 21st birthday. "I'm stoked, to get up here on the podium and on my birthday is great, it makes all the training worthwhile," Robb said.
The tour continues over the weekend with a Saturday morning criterium at Paynseville, followed by a 108.9 km road race from Paynesville to Dargo and then will climax on Sunday with a 40 km criterium in Bairnsdale.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
- Tom Southam (Drapac Porsche) wears a black armband for the loss of a friend and former Barloworld teammate Ryan Cox
- Tour leader Zak Dempster (South Australia.com) isn't loafing around on the Timbercorp Tour of Gippsland
- The peloton beneath the trees alongside the Tambo River
- Alexander Machin from Victoria out of the saddle during stage five
- Miles Watson (Specialized) from Victoria in relax mode during stage five
- Daniel Furmston (Praties) from Tasmania finished in 35th place on stage five, 9"31' behind the winner
- Cameron Meyer (South Australia.com) is leading the 'Victoria the place to be' sprint points competition on the Tour
- Nicholas Walker (VIS) grimaces in an attempt to bridge the gap to a leading group on stage five
- Andrew Ward from Victoria out of the saddle and trying to bridge the gap to the leaders
- Nic Sanderson (South Australia.com) looks around for some assistance in bringing the breakaway back to the field
- The breakaway group have no time to rest at a King of the Mountains point on stage five
- Robert Cater (NSWIS/FRF) found himself between the leading group and the peloton at the top of a climb
- Patience is a virtue and thanks to this truckie for waiting for the Tour of Gippsland to go by
- The peloton string out some three minutes behind the breakaway
- The main field begin to close the gap to the leaders near Ensay on stage five
- Tony Mann from Queensland finished the stage in 27th place 6"33' behind the winner
- Will this be the last time we see Peter Milostic ride the Tour of Gippsland?
- Riders and their shadows in pursuit of the leaders
- The fifth stage of the Tour was a 128.7km journey from Metung to Omeo
- The leaders on a small rise near Ensay Winery
- The peloton wind their way towards the leaders approaching the final twenty kilometres
- NSWIS/FRF teammates get a little thirsty in the peloton
- Tour leader Zak Dempster (South Australia.com) goes off-road during stage five
- The peloton are all together and begin the grinding climb up 'The Gap' to the finish in Omeo
- Peter Herzig (NSWIS/FRF) goes on the attack at the foot of the climb up 'The Gap'
- Peter Herzig (NSWIS/FRF) looks up-ahead to see the leg-sapping climb up 'The Gap' is nearing it's end - thankfully
- Zak Dempster (South Australia.com) takes out stage five into Omeo and retains his Tour leader's yellow jersey
- The stage five podium spray (L-R): Chris Jory (2nd,NSWIS/FRF), Zak Dempster (1st,South Australia.com) and Steven Robb (3rd, Giant Cycles)
Results
1 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 3.35.13 2 Chris Jory (NSW) 3 Steven Robb (Vic) 4 Cameron Meyer (WA) 5 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 6 Patrick Shaw (Vic) 7 Tom Middleton (SA) 8 Ben Mather (Tas) 9 Christopher D'Amelio (Vic) 10 Peter Herzig (NSW) 11 Chris Pryor (Qld) 12 Matt King (NT) 13 Jarrod Harman (Tas) 14 William Ford (Vic) 15 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 16 Peter Milostic (NSW) 17 Cameron Hughes (Qld) 18 Damien Turner (Vic) 19 Mark O'brien (Vic) 0.43 20 Grant Irwin (Qld) 2.33 21 Daniel Braunsteins (Vic) 22 Andrew Ward (Vic) 23 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 24 Simon Pearson (SA) 25 Danny Kah (Vic) 5.20 26 Miles Watson (Vic) 27 Tony Mann (Qld) 6.33 28 Glen Peterson (Vic) 29 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 30 Vaughan Bowman (Vic) 7.50 31 Bradley Clark (NSW) 32 Mark Jamieson (Tas) 9.31 33 Nicholas Walker (Vic) 34 Brendan Jones (NSW) 35 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 36 Scott Kilmartin (Qld) 37 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 38 Nathan Wise (Vic) 39 Peter Smith (Vic) 40 Robbie Cater (NSW) 41 Craig Mccartney (Vic) 42 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 12.48 43 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 44 Will Dickeson (SA) 45 Sean Finning (Vic) 17.19 46 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 47 Alexander Machin (Vic) 48 Luke Cridland (NSW) 49 Jack Hudson (Qld) 23.38 50 James Henry (Vic) 26.38 51 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 39.47 52 Samuel Rix (Vic) 56.27 53 Grant Webster (Vic) 54 Mathew Camilleri (NSW) 55 Gary Mueller (Vic) 56 Gilbert Gutowski (Qld) 1.04.02 DNS Tom Southam (GBr) DNS Cameron Carlyle (Vic) Sprints Mocka 22 Metung Y 1 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 3 pts 2 Cameron Meyer (WA) 2 3 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 1 Mock 44 Tambo Up 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 3 pts 2 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 2 3 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 1 Mocka 55 Bruthen 1 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 3 pts 2 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 2 3 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 1 Mocka 112 Ensay C 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 3 pts 2 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 2 3 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 1 Mocka 115 Ensay N 1 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 3 pts 2 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 2 3 Cameron Meyer (WA) 1 Mocka 127 Swifts C 1 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 3 pts 2 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 2 3 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 1 Mountains Cat 4 Mocka 7 Pass 1 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 3 pts 2 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 2 3 Brendan Jones (NSW) 1 Cat 4 Mocka 38 Pas 1 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 3 pts 2 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 2 3 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 1 Cat 3 Mocka 66 Mo 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 5 pts 2 Alexander Machin (Vic) 3 3 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 2 Cat 4 Mocka 102 R 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 3 pts 2 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 2 3 Alexander Machin (Vic) 1 Cat 2 Mocka 136 P 1 Peter Herzig (NSW) 7 pts 2 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 5 3 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 3 Most Aggressive 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) General Classification - Stage 5 1 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 10.57.02 2 Chris Jory (NSW) 0.08 3 Ben Mather (Tas) 0.47 4 Peter Herzig (NSW) 2.05 5 Patrick Shaw (Vic) 2.56 6 Grant Irwin (Qld) 3.45 7 Chris Pryor (Qld) 3.47 8 Cameron Meyer (WA) 4.16 9 Steven Robb (Vic) 4.23 10 Cameron Hughes (Qld) 4.27 11 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 7.12 12 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 9.14 13 Peter Milostic (NSW) 10.00 14 Daniel Braunsteins (Vic) 10.27 15 William Ford (Vic) 10.31 16 Mark O'brien (Vic) 10.48 17 Simon Pearson (SA) 12.09 18 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 15.23 19 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 17.54 20 Matt King (NT) 18.24 21 Jarrod Harman (Tas) 25.34 22 Damien Turner (Vic) 27.25 23 Christopher D'Amelio (Vic) 24 Tom Middleton (SA) 31.23 25 Danny Kah (Vic) 32.45 26 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 34.07 27 Miles Watson (Vic) 34.41 28 Robbie Cater (NSW) 34.53 29 Nicholas Walker (Vic) 35.02 30 Craig Mccartney (Vic) 35.13 31 Brendan Jones (NSW) 36.55 32 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 38.05 33 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 38.48 34 Andrew Ward (Vic) 39.15 35 Sean Finning (Vic) 41.24 36 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 43.01 37 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 43.09 38 Vaughan Bowman (Vic) 43.35 39 Tony Mann (Qld) 43.54 40 Mark Jamieson (Tas) 45.16 41 Peter Smith (Vic) 47.21 42 Scott Kilmartin (Qld) 49.18 43 Nathan Wise (Vic) 50.58 44 Alexander Machin (Vic) 55.05 45 Will Dickeson (SA) 55.52 46 Glen Peterson (Vic) 56.45 47 Jack Hudson (Qld) 59.23 48 Bradley Clark (NSW) 1.02.17 49 Luke Cridland (NSW) 1.05.32 50 James Henry (Vic) 1.10.53 51 Samuel Rix (Vic) 1.42.01 52 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 1.51.44 53 Gilbert Gutowski (Qld) 2.01.01 54 Gary Mueller (Vic) 2.09.06 55 Mathew Camilleri (NSW) 2.17.09 56 Grant Webster (Vic) 2.45.43 Sprint classification 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 50 pts 2 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 38 3 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 17 4 Patrick Shaw (Vic) 16 5 Grant Irwin (Qld) 15 6 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 11 7 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 10 8 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 9 9 Matt King (NT) 9 10 Chris Pryor (Qld) 8 11 Peter Herzig (NSW) 7 12 Sean Finning (Vic) 7 13 Robbie Cater (NSW) 6 14 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 4 15 Craig Mccartney (Vic) 3 16 Nicholas Walker (Vic) 3 17 Tony Mann (Qld) 2 18 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 2 19 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 1 20 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 1 21 Chris Jory (NSW) 1 22 Cameron Hughes (Qld) 1 Mountains classification 1 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 48 pts 2 Matt King (NT) 28 3 Chris Jory (NSW) 23 4 Peter Herzig (NSW) 17 5 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 9 6 Cameron Meyer (WA) 8 7 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 7 8 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 6 9 Simon Pearson (SA) 6 10 Chris Pryor (Qld) 5 11 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 4 12 Alexander Machin (Vic) 4 13 William Ford (Vic) 3 14 Steven Robb (Vic) 3 15 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 3 16 Will Dickeson (SA) 2 17 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 2 18 Brendan Jones (NSW) 1 Criterium classification 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 19 pts 2 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 17 3 Grant Irwin (Qld) 13 4 Robbie Cater (NSW) 12 5 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 10 6 Patrick Shaw (Vic) 8 7 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 7 8 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 6 9 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 5 10 Nicholas Walker (Vic) 4 11 Sean Finning (Vic) 3 12 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 2 13 Daniel Braunsteins (Vic) 2 14 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 2 Most Aggressive 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 4 pts 2 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 2 3 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 2 4 Matt King (NT) 2 5 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 2
