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Timbercorp Cup Series Tour of Gippsland - NE
Australia, August 1-5, 2007
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage
Stage 8 - August 5: Bairnsdale, 40km
Dempster wins first ever multi-stage tour
By Rod Morris in Bairnsdale
Victorian teenager Zak Dempster is the first leader of the Timbercorp National Cycling Series after winning the Tour of Gippsland today. Dempster (19) won the five day tour by just 15 seconds from NSW rider Chris Jory with Tasmanian mountain biker Ben Mather a surprise third , 57 seconds behind Dempster.
In the overall series, which will include the three day Australian Cycling Grand Prix in Ballarat, the Tour of the Murray River and the Tour of Tasmania, Dempster is just four points clear of Queensland's Grant Irwin, who wrapped up the Gippsland Tour with a sensational last stage victory.
A healthy crowd was at Bairnsdale to witness the final day's action with Irwin winning from Robbie Cater (NSW) and Nick Sanderson (Vic).
Dempster held the overnight lead after a consistent week of racing and only had to stay upright and protect a 14-second lead to claim his first ever multi-stage tour. "My biggest win before this was a National underage track event and the Austral Wheelrace," Dempster said. "In most other tours, I've been a domestique, riding to help teammates, so this was all a bit new for me.
"To be honest, I was a little nervous this morning going into the last stage, I just wanted everything to work out the way we planned."
Dempster heads overseas on Tuesday to contest World Under 23 championship events in Italy, Ireland, Germany and Britain and won't be returning to Australia till early October.
His absence will pave the way for Irwin to take the series lead, although there will no doubt be challengers coming from the likes of Chris Jory, Patrick Shaw and Cameron Meyer.
How it unfolded
Brisbane based 22 year-old Grant Irwin confirmed his growing reputation in Australian cycling with a stunning performance in the last stage of the Tour of Gippsland, winning the 40 km street circuit in Bairnsdale. Irwin scored his sixth top 10 placing in eight stages, when he finished ahead of consistent NSW rider Robbie Cater and Victorian ace Nick Sanderson.
Irwin kept the GC leaders, Zak Dempster, Chris Jory and Ben Mather honest throughout the stage and his victory maintained his own lofty rating on the GC leader board. Irwin did not contest the 2006 Tattersall's Cup, which was the forerunner to the newly named Timbercorp National Series, but did win the Merbein to Wentworth stage in the 2005 Tour of the Murray River.
Whilst not a realistic chance to win the Tour of Gippsland, Irwin was however embroiled in a thrilling battle with Dempster for the overall series lead, which will include upcoming tour events at Ballarat, the Murray River and Tasmania.
Dempster started the stage holding a 14 second lead over Jory, with Tasmanian Mather a further 40 seconds back in third place, as the only realistic challenges for GC honours.
Dempster watched every move Jory made and had his southaustralia.com teammates covering any other attacking moves.
Jory admitted afterwards that pegging back 14 seconds on Dempster and his team was always going to be hard, but "we had a few things planned and we weren't going to go down without a fight. As it was. Zak proved to be the best rider this week and full congratulations to him and his team, they are a good outfit."
Irwin is a member of the newly formed Ord Minnett team out of Queensland and their results this week suggest they have a solid future.
"We came here to try and do well and I'm stoked to have won the last stage," Irwin said. "We're only an amateur team and it's a bit hard to compete against the more professional teams, but the results are coming and its been a good week," he continued.
Irwin had three bike lengths to spare in his stage win from Cater, who was a wheel width ahead of Sanderson.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
- An unusual bike-helmet worn by a competitor in the celebrity race prior to the final stage of the Tour of Gippsland
- Superman and partner were flying in the celebrity race - no sign of any kryptonite
- The Tour's jersey winners (L-R): Peter McDonald (Holden Tour's most aggressive), Zak Dempster (Timbercorp Tour winner), Cameron Meyer (Victoria the place to be Sprint winner) and Sid Taberlay (Tourism Victoria King of the Mountains winner)
- Zak 'Demps' Dempster (South Australia.com) will head overseas for racing not long after winning the Timbercorp Tour of Gippsland
- Riders head down the back straight and into a strong head-wind on the one kilometre circuit in Bairnsdale
- The peloton head under the Timbercorp banner with the yellow jersey neatly tucked away
- Patrick Shaw (VIS) in the top five overall on the General Classification
- Peter Herzig (L) (NSWIS/FRF) has been an attacking rider during the Tour and will be hoping for another top ten placing later in the series
- The peloton corner at the top of the home straight during the 40km final stage criterium in Bairnsdale
- Sean Finning (South Australia.com) leans into a corner in Bairnsdale
- Tour winner Zak Dempster (L)(South Australia.com) is accompanied around a corner by runner-up Chris Jory (NSWIS/FRF)
- Damien Turner (Ballarat Cycle City) out of the saddle and accelerating out of a corner on the final day of the Tour
- Tourism Victoria King of the Mountains winner Sid Taberlay (TIS/Cyclingnews.com) leans into a bend in Bairnsdale
- Grant Irwin (Ord Minnett/Triple Play) from Queensland wins the final stage of the Tour in Bairnsdale
- The yellow jersey of Zak Demster (South Australia.com) is a happy man crossing the line in Bairnsdale
- Tom Middleton (L) helps Savings & Loans teammate Simon Pearson with his race number after the job has been completed
- Final stage winner and runner-up Grant Irwin (Ord Minnett/Triple Play) and Nic Sanderson (South Australia.com) enjoy a moment on the podium while third placed Robert Cater (NSWIS/FRF) looks on
- Cameron Meyer (South Australia.com) took out the Victoria the place to be sprint points competition
- Grant Irwin (Ord Minnett/Triple Play) won the East Gippsland Shire Criterium Championship jersey
- Peter McDonald (NSWIS/FRF) was awarded the Holden Most Aggressive rider of the Tour
- The final Tour podium spray featuring (L-R): runner-up Chris Jory (NSWIS/FRF), winner Zak Dempster (South Australia.com) and third placed Ben Mather (Praties)
- Victorian Zak Dempster (South Australia.com) the 2007 Timbercorp Tour of Gippsland winner
Results
1 Grant Irwin (Qld) 55.12 2 Robbie Cater (NSW) 3 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 4 Patrick Shaw (Vic) 5 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 6 Chris Jory (NSW) 7 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 8 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 9 Nathan Wise (Vic) 10 Jarrod Harman (Tas) 11 Ben Mather (Tas) 12 Nicholas Walker (Vic) 13 Peter Smith (Vic) 14 Daniel Braunsteins (Vic) 15 Peter Milostic (NSW) 16 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 17 Steven Robb (Vic) 18 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 19 Craig Mccartney (Vic) 20 Peter Herzig (NSW) 21 Scott Kilmartin (Qld) 22 Cameron Hughes (Qld) 23 Miles Watson (Vic) 24 Tom Middleton (SA) 25 Christopher D'Amelio (Vic) 26 Damien Turner (Vic) 27 Simon Pearson (SA) 28 Brendan Jones (NSW) 29 Sean Finning (Vic) 30 Andrew Ward (Vic) 31 Mark O'brien (Vic) 32 Danny Kah (Vic) 0.08 33 Cameron Meyer (WA) 0.09 34 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 35 Will Dickeson (SA) 0.21 36 Tony Mann (Qld) 0.25 37 Bradley Clark (NSW) 0.29 38 Mark Jamieson (Tas) 0.36 39 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 0.41 40 Alexander Machin (Vic) 41 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 1.17 42 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 1.23 43 Chris Pryor (Qld) 44 Glen Peterson (Vic) 45 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 2.46 46 Luke Cridland (NSW) 47 Samuel Rix (Vic) 48 Jack Hudson (Qld) 4.09 49 Mathew Camilleri (NSW) 50 William Ford (Vic) 5.32 51 Vaughan Bowman (Vic) 52 Grant Webster (Vic) Sprints End of Lap 6 1 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 3 pts 2 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 2 3 Chris Jory (NSW) 1 End of Lap 8 1 Sean Finning (Vic) 3 pts 2 Miles Watson (Vic) 2 3 Chris Pryor (Qld) 1 End of Lap 10 1 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 3 pts 2 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 2 3 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 1 End of Lap 12 1 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 3 pts 2 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 2 3 Sean Finning (Vic) 1 End of Lap 14 1 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 3 pts 2 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 2 3 Mark O'brien (Vic) 1 End of Lap 16 1 Scott Kilmartin (Qld) 3 pts 2 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 2 3 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 1 End of Lap 18 1 Scott Kilmartin (Qld) 3 pts 2 Sean Finning (Vic) 2 3 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 1 End of Lap 20 1 Scott Kilmartin (Qld) 3 pts 2 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 2 3 Mark O'brien (Vic) 1 End of Lap 22 1 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 3 pts 2 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 2 3 Sean Finning (Vic) 1 End of Lap 24 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 3 pts 2 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 2 3 Chris Pryor (Qld) 1 End of Lap 26 1 Tom Middleton (SA) 3 pts 2 Peter Smith (Vic) 2 3 Robbie Cater (NSW) 1 End of Lap 28 1 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 3 pts 2 Miles Watson (Vic) 2 3 Tony Mann (Qld) 1 End of Lap 30 1 Miles Watson (Vic) 3 pts 2 Robbie Cater (NSW) 2 3 Peter Smith (Vic) 1 End of Lap 32 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 3 pts 2 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 2 3 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 1 End of Lap 34 1 Patrick Shaw (Vic) 3 pts 2 Cameron Meyer (WA) 2 3 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 1 End of Lap 36 1 Miles Watson (Vic) 3 pts 2 Peter Herzig (NSW) 2 3 Christopher D'Amelio (Vic) 1 Most aggressive rider 1 Miles Watson (Vic) Final general classification 1 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 15.46.03 2 Chris Jory (NSW) 0.15 3 Ben Mather (Tas) 0.57 4 Peter Herzig (NSW) 2.12 5 Patrick Shaw (Vic) 2.54 6 Grant Irwin (Qld) 3.38 7 Cameron Meyer (WA) 4.20 8 Steven Robb (Vic) 4.33 9 Cameron Hughes (Qld) 4.37 10 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 5.45 11 Chris Pryor (Qld) 9.07 12 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 9.22 13 Peter Milostic (NSW) 10.10 14 Daniel Braunsteins (Vic) 10.37 15 Mark O'brien (Vic) 12.31 16 Simon Pearson (SA) 12.48 17 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 14.05 18 William Ford (Vic) 17.48 19 Jarrod Harman (Tas) 25.44 20 Damien Turner (Vic) 28.04 21 Tom Middleton (SA) 31.34 22 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 34.31 23 Robbie Cater (NSW) 34.46 24 Danny Kah (Vic) 34.50 25 Nicholas Walker (Vic) 35.08 26 Miles Watson (Vic) 35.16 27 Craig Mccartney (Vic) 35.23 28 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 43.40 29 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 44.19 30 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 45.31 31 Sean Finning (Vic) 46.09 32 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 48.35 33 Peter Smith (Vic) 49.03 34 Nathan Wise (Vic) 52.17 35 Scott Kilmartin (Qld) 54.35 36 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 56.51 37 Alexander Machin (Vic) 57.43 38 Vaughan Bowman (Vic) 1.01.49 39 Will Dickeson (SA) 1.01.51 40 Christopher D'Amelio (Vic) 1.05.15 41 Tony Mann (Qld) 1.08.27 42 Mark Jamieson (Tas) 1.09.40 43 Luke Cridland (NSW) 1.10.15 44 Brendan Jones (NSW) 1.14.45 45 Andrew Ward (Vic) 1.17.06 46 Glen Peterson (Vic) 1.21.59 47 Bradley Clark (NSW) 1.40.55 48 Jack Hudson (Qld) 1.41.23 49 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 2.15.32 50 Samuel Rix (Vic) 2.22.50 51 Mathew Camilleri (NSW) 2.59.09 52 Grant Webster (Vic) 3.24.26 Mountains classification 1 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 48 pts 2 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 36 3 Chris Jory (NSW) 23 4 Peter Herzig (NSW) 18 5 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 15 6 Miles Watson (Vic) 12 7 Cameron Meyer (WA) 8 8 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 7 9 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 6 10 Simon Pearson (SA) 6 11 Chris Pryor (Qld) 5 12 Alexander Machin (Vic) 4 13 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 4 14 Steven Robb (Vic) 3 15 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 3 16 William Ford (Vic) 3 17 Will Dickeson (SA) 2 18 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 2 19 Brendan Jones (NSW) 1 Sprints classification 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 65 pts 2 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 55 3 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 30 4 Chris Pryor (Qld) 25 5 Brad Edmunds (Vic) 25 6 Patrick Shaw (Vic) 23 7 Sean Finning (Vic) 21 8 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 19 9 Grant Irwin (Qld) 18 10 Miles Watson (Vic) 15 11 Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) 10 12 Peter Herzig (NSW) 9 13 Robbie Cater (NSW) 9 14 Nicholas Sanderson (Vic) 9 15 Scott Kilmartin (Qld) 9 16 Brendan Schultz (Vic) 7 17 Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) 7 18 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 6 19 Nicholas Walker (Vic) 5 20 Tony Mann (Qld) 5 21 Tom Middleton (SA) 5 22 Mark Jamieson (Tas) 3 23 Chris Jory (NSW) 3 24 Craig Mccartney (Vic) 3 25 Peter Smith (Vic) 3 26 Daniel Furmston (Tas) 2 27 Mark O'brien (Vic) 2 28 Nathan Wise (Vic) 1 29 Vaughan Bowman (Vic) 1 30 Cameron Hughes (Qld) 1 31 Brendan Jones (NSW) 1 32 Christopher D'Amelio (Vic) 1 Most aggressive rider classification 1 Peter Mcdonald (NSW) 4 pts 2 Cameron Meyer (WA) 4 3 Sid Taberlay (Tas) 2 4 Miles Watson (Vic) 2 5 Darcy Rosenlund (Qld) 2 6 Sean Finning (Vic) 2
