Joseph Sunde Memorial Criteriums - NE

Heffron Park, Maroubra, Australia, January 27, 2008

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Race 3 - January 27: Elite Men, 1 hour + 3 laps

Wilson celebrates Australia Day weekend with a win

Today it's Willo's turn
Photo ©: Brad Hooker

One of Australian cycling's genuine unsung heroes Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes) got to enjoy a celebration of his own today when he won the 15th edition of Sydney's popular Australia Day holiday criterium, the Joseph Sunde Memorial which is dedicated to the memory of four year-old Joseph Sunde who lost his brave fight against leukaemia in 1993.

The event has been conducted since 1994 by the Eastern Suburbs cycling club and has been generously supported by local riders and pro riders alike over the years who have always donated generously to the fundraising appeal for the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia. Wilo is one of the pro riders who has regularly participated in the event, but despite many strong rides has never won the title after selflessly setting up Jittery Joes team mate Jeff Hopkins for the win in 2006 and going oh-so-close last year when he finished second to Shaun Higgerson.

How it unfolded

A buffeting wind down the home straight together very hot conditions greeted the 35 strong field which lined up for this year's elite race, and despite the absence of mountain bike riders Perron Delcour and co, and last year's winner Shaun Higgerson who is at the Tour of Wellington, the field still boasted a stellar cast of new talent and experience.

The breakaway
Photo ©: Brad Hooker

First to soften up the field was Easts rider Dave Early who launched an impressive move in the opening lap, but the field were having none of it and Early was back in the fold two laps later when the attacks started come thick and fast. Heffron Park is challenging at the best of times, but with a ferocious head wind and the entire field strung out it was inevitable the cracks were going to appear before too long.

The next bold move came just after the 20 minute mark when 2004 winner Troy Glennan, who was backing up from a top 20 finish in the previous day's MTB XC titles, launched an impressive attack which had the chasing bunch splitting into twos and threes behind him. It was evident even at this stage of the race that Trent Wilson was going to be the man to watch as he almost effortlessly covered every dangerous looking moves.

Once the splinter groups came together, a six man break of Glennan, Wilson, Tim Willing (Easts), Dave Evans (North Sydney) and FRF/NSWIS duo of Dale Scarfe and Brendan Brooks gained a telling 30 second advantage. Despite repeated efforts from Brad Mills, Richard Lang and Liam Kelly to close the gap by the halfway mark, the six man break had gained a winning margin.

Tim Willing (Eastern Suburbs)
Photo ©: Brad Hooker

As the break continued to work together to maintain their advantage, the strain of the headwind and increasingly hot conditions begin to tell as the riders began to weigh up their options. Was the presence of two FRF/NSWIS riders going to be enough or was the renown sprinting prowess of Tim Willing going to get him home? Wilson decided he was going to have a better chance of a win on his own than against six, so launched his race winning move with two laps to go. The ever vigilant Willing was the only rider who could respond and at the bell, both riders had a narrow, but comfortable gap on their four chasing breakaway companions.

Hitting the straight and the headwind it was Wilson who once again dictated the winning move which only comes with 900km in your legs and a top-15 at the Australian road nationals a fortnight ago. Willing was by no means disgraced, but it was Wilo's day as he savoured every moment and he crossed the line a deserved winner in the 15th Joseph Sunde Memorial.

Thank you

Once again the Sydney cycling community have donated extremely generously for the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia with a further $5000 raised to contribute to CCIA's magnificent fight against children's cancer. A big thank you to the Eastern Suburbs club's efforts in organising the event and for introducing a special kids funs ride which saw several members of the club's children's academy compete in their own event prior to the elite race. To Paul Craft for his energetic race commentary which keep everyone entertaining throughout the day.

Thanks of course also go to the events sponsors and those who generously donated prizes for the raffle - the first prize of the Trek 1.7 road bike was won by Tim Bateman. Thanks to Ron Peek who was commissaire for the 15th consecutive year and last, but by no means the least, the riders' unselfish participation which has made the Joseph Sunde Memorial one of the highlights of Sydney's summer race calendar.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Brad Hooker/www.cyclingimagesonline.com

Jeff 'Lightnin' Hopkins with the flowing locks, maybe the hair slowed him down today, or just overheated his head in the heat. The former winner today was a DNF
Dave Walton (Parramatta) leading the group down the main straight with Luis Trueba in tow
Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes) was laying the smackdown today, with his constant attacks and getting himself ready to head back Stateside
The breakaway coming through the trees
Gijs Vonk (Marconi) found the going tough, as he tackles the Joseph Sunde Memorial for the 1st time
Tim Willing (Eastern Suburbs) attacks the bunch to chase down the break
The Melbourne to Warrnambool winner Tim Decker leading the King of Heffron, Anthony Spurgeon
Troy Glennan pushing his breakaway companions
Trent Wilson looked very comfortable in the break, all those miles are paying off
Luis Trueba (Macarthur) leading the chase bunch, but they were never going to see the front again today
Richard Lang (NSWIS) suffering at the back, possibly showing some tiredness from yesterday's Sydney Cup at the Dunc Gray
Brendan Brooks showing the strain, as Willo pushes it through the corners
Liam Kelly was a hard worker back in the chase bunch
WATER... Was the order for the day, here Jeff Hopkins squeezing every last drop out of his bidon
Willo now has his race face on, he just kept pushing the break today
Liam Kelly pulling a hard effort as Robbie Cater waits for his turn at the front
Peter Fitzpatrick (St George) calls it quits for the day
Dave Evans (North Sydney) coming around Willo to do a turn
But next lap Trent Wilson and Tim Willing had other idea's as they leave the bunch behind
Today it's Willo's turn for a well deserved win
Tim Willing holds on for 2nd place
Dale Scarfe (FRF/NSWIS) brings the rest of the breakaway home
Willo explaining the winning move
The elite podium: Brendan Brooks, Troy Glennan, Dave Evans Trent Wilson, Dale Scarfe and Tim Willing with the Sunde family
Trent Wilson with the Sundes (from left) Edward, Portia, Christine and John
Trent gets a big kiss from his partner, he dedicated his win today to her father, who suffered a serious accident last week

Results

1 Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes)
2 Tim Willing (Easts)
3 Dale Scarfe (FRF/NSWIS)
4 Dave Evans (North Sydney)
5 Troy Glennan (Sutherland)
6 Brendan Brooks (FRF/NSWIS)