Scody Cup Cycling Series Tour of Gippsland - NE

Australia, July 30-August 3, 2008

Photography

Stage 8 - August 3: Paynesville crit, 44km

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Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• Tasmanian Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling) was out for sprint points on the final day to get himself into the Tour leader's yellow jersey
• He began well, quickly accumulating points in the sprints (far right) to reduce the 16-second deficit on the Tour leader Timothy Roe
• South Australia.com/AIS's Benjamin King was only two seconds down on the Tour leader, Timothy Roe, heading into the final stage criterium in Paynesville
• Tour leader Timothy Roe (Savings and Loans) is more at home in the hills and had his work cut out on the final day to hold on to his lead
• Jayco/VIS's Patrick Lane was working to get his teammate Leigh Howard into a winning position on the final stage
• No need for tickets - it's free! Spectators can see all the action of the Tour of Gippsland up close for nothing
• Tour leader Timothy Roe (Savings and Loans) was up against it on the final day in the race but will be a rider to watch in the future
• Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling) heads towards victory in the 2008 Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland
• Travis Meyer was trying hard to get his South Australia.com/AIS teammate Benjamin King into a winning position on the GC
• Savings and Loans riders trifecta an intermediate sprint on the stage (L-R): Craig McCartney, Will Dickeson and Chris Luxton
• Praties Cycling have been prominent on the Tour with two stage wins and had Daniel Furmston in the Tour leader's yellow jersey
• Leigh Howard (Jayco/VIS) wins his second stage of the Tour in the Paynesville criterium on the final day of the race
• Tasmanian Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling) salutes the crowd as the Tour winner and emulates his brother Wes's success in the same race in 2006
• A disappointed Timothy Roe (Savings and Loans) crosses the line in Paynesville after surrendering the yellow jersey on the final day of the race
• The final stage podium spray (L-R): Nathan Clarke (2nd, Praties), Leigh Howard (1st, Jayco/VIS) and Russell Gill (3rd, Savings and Loans)
• You beauty! Russell Gill (Savings and Loans) releases the champers on the podium
• The stage podium (l-r): Nathan Clarke (2nd, Praties Cycling), Leigh Howard (1st, Jayco/VIS) and Russell Gill (3rd, Savings and Loans)
• Malcolm Rudolph (GD.Triple Play) won the Creditcollect Sprint Points Championship and the green jersey of the Tour
• Jayco/VIS's Leigh Howard won the Tourism Victoria King of the Mountains competition on the Tour
• Nathan Clarke (Praties Cycling) took out the East Gippsland Criterium Championship jersey on the Tour
• The final GC podium (l-r): Timothy Roe (2nd, Savings and Loans), Bernard Sulzberger (1st, Virgin Blue Cycling) and Benjamin King (3rd, South Australia.com/AIS)
• Prepare to spray: Roe, Sulzberger and King get ready to crack open the champagne.
• Cheers Burger: The 2008 Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland winner Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling) takes a well-earned drink
• Come on! Tour winner Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling) does his best Lleyton Hewitt impersonation

Stage 7 - August 2: Metung, 128.7km

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Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• The Tour leader Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling) in a windy Metung for the start of stage seven to Omeo.
• The Tour departs the picturesque Metung on their way to Omeo, some 128.7 kilometres away.
• The peloton corners beside the Tambo River early into stage seven.
• The peloton at the top of an early climb with three riders having just escaped.
• An early break with three riders getting away (L-R): Chris Pryor (GD.Triple Play), Joseph Lewis (NSW) and Kyle Marwood (Lakes Oil Cycling).
• Back in the peloton and the team of Virgin Blue Cycling were on the front protecting their tour leader Bernard Sulzberger.
• Virgin Blue Cycling Team spent a lot of the time at the front of the peloton during the early kilometres on stage seven.
• Kyle Marwood (Lakes Oil Cycling) in cruise control during the three rider breakaway on stage seven.
• Peter Herzig drives the Virgin Blue Cycling team with their tour leader, Bernard Sulzberger, in sixth wheel.
• Hey Kyle (right), do you think we can stay away all-day and win the stage?.
• Joseph Lewis from New South Wales was working hard to keep the trio ahead of the chasing peloton.
• BOO! The leading trio faces a scary moment in the 2008 Tour of Gippsland.
• Aussies love a bit of 'dead horse' (Australian rhyming slang for sauce) on their hamburgers and sausages.
• The Virgin Blue Cycling and Praties Cycling trains lead the way in search of three leading riders.
• The leading trio were caught by another three riders with the peloton closing in heading towards the category two climb near Swifts Creek.
• Then the attacks started coming between the lead group and the race was on.
• Travis Meyer (South Australia.com/AIS) took charge but the peloton was getting closer.
• Four riders made a move knowing that the difficult climb up towards Omeo could prove critical for positions on the GC.
• More adept to the sprints of the Tour; Nathan Clarke (Praties Cycling) and Malcolm Rudolph (GD.Triple Play) set up the winning move.
• They were joined by five other riders and there was no response from the peloton.
• Creditcollect Sprint Points leader Malcolm Rudolph (GD.Triple Play) drives the leaders to the bottom of the climb.
• Seven became four and it was left to (L-R): Nathan Clarke (Praties Cycling), David Kemp (Virgin Blue Cycling), Michael England (GD.Triple Play) and Chris Luxton (Savings and Loans).
• The ten kilometre climb kicked up sharply in parts and would fracture the peloton behind the leaders.
• The leaders were maintaining around a minute-and-a-half break on a chasing group on the climb.
• The Praties Cycling boys were driving the chase group up the climb.
• It's easy for you guys to smile and chat, I'm the one doing all the work: William Clarke leads his Praties Cycling teammates up the climb.
• And the strain is beginning to show .
• Okay that's it, I've had enough - its over to you guys: Praties Cyclings William Clarke's job is done.
• The Tour leader Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling) back in the peloton and in danger of losing his yellow jersey.
• It's off road for some as Praties Cycling were still pulling the chase group up the climb.
• The chase group were finding it difficult to bridge the gap to the leaders ahead in the final ten kilometres.
• The leading quartet were joined by Tim Guy from New South Wales who didn't mind doing some hard yards on the front.
• Could they stay away? (R-L): Tim Guy, Chris Luxton, Michael England and David Kemp head towards the finish with Nathan Clarke obscured.
• Nathan Clarke (Praties Cycling) takes stage seven into Omeo after starting the initial break on the flat before reaching the climb.
• Chris Jory (New South Wales) brings home the remnants of the chase group ahead of Travis Meyer (South Australia.com/AIS).
• The stage seven podium spray (L-R): David Kemp (2nd, Virgin Blue Cycling), Nathan Clarke (1st, Praties Cycling) and Michael England (3rd, GD.Triple Play).
• Tim Guy from New South Wales was awarded the Bairnsdale Dealership Most Aggressive rider of the stage.
• Malcolm Rudolph (GD.Triple Play) tries on another of his Creditcollect Sprint Points leader's green jersey.
• Leigh Howard (Jayco/VIS) will win the Tourism Victoria King of the Mountains competition with the final stage criterium to come.
• Timothy Roe (Savings and Loans) is the new leader of the 2008 Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland with one stage remaining.

Stage 6 - August 1: Bairnsdale crit, 33km

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Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• They're off on stage six, a thirty-three kilometre criterium around the streets of Bairnsdale
• Casey Munro (Drapac Porsche) leans into a bend during stage six of the Tour
• Charles Howlett (Gold 1242) leans his Orbea into a bend in Bairnsdale
• Tasmanian Abram Manion (Budget Forklifts) in action during stage stage six of the Tour in Bairnsdale
• Stefan Kirsch (Hart-Ridewiser) in the peloton during stage six; 30 laps of a 1.1 kilometre circuit
• Robert Crowe (Hart-Ridewiser) has been doing it hard on the roads of East Gippsland
• Pip Grinter (Drapac Porsche) corners on the streets of Bairnsdale
• Joel Pearson (Savings and Loans) is back on the bike after sustaining injuries in an accident which kept him out of the sport for awhile
• Will Dickeson (Savings and Loans) was an early Tour leader here in Gippsland
• The attacking nature of South Australia.com/AIS's Travis Meyer was on show again during stage six in Bairnsdale
• David Kemp (Virgin Blue Cycling) is looking further ahead in the series to a possible tour victory
• Virgin Blue are as fast on the roads as they are better known as in the air
• A Budget Forklifts rider keeps his eyes on the wheel of the rider in-front as he corners in Bairnsdale
• Tim Walker (Praties Cycling Team) is focused on keeping his teammate Daniel Furmston in the Tour leader's yellow jersey
• No school today so it's full steam ahead for the yellow jersey of Tasmanian Daniel Furmston
• Reece Stephens (Creditcollect) gets out of the saddle as the field battles a head-wind down the back straight
• Tim Guy powers down the back straight in pursuit of a break on the peloton
• William Clarke (Praties Cycling Team) strives for more speed into the wind on the back straight
• Pip Grinter (Drapac Porsche) from Victoria in action during stage six of the Tour
• Henry Morley (Drapac Porsche) from Western Australia is a long way from home on the Tour of Gippsland but giving his all
• Nathan Clarke (Praties Cycling Team) is the East Gippsland Criterium Championship leader after six stages
• Creditcollect Sprint Points leader in the green jersey, Malcolm Rudolph (GD.Triple Play) was in fine form down the back straight on stage six
• A watchful Adrian Hansen (Lakes Oil Cycling Team) in the home straight in Bairnsdale
• Savings and Loans on the front as the race enters it's final laps
• Tourism Victoria King of the Mountains leader Leigh Howard (Jayco/VIS) prepares himself for the final onslaught
• Chris Jory from New South Wales tries to steal the stage with two laps to go
• The bell lap and its an all-up field for stage six in Bairnsdale
• Leigh Howard (Jayco/VIS) takes out the stage six criterium in Bairnsdale from Kyle Marwood (right) and Bernard Sulzberger (left)
• The stage six podium (L-R): Kyle Marwood (2nd, Lakes Oil Cycling), Leigh Howard (1st, Jayco/VIS) and Bernard Sulzberger (3rd, Virgin Blue Cycling)
• Another Tasmanian in yellow: Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue Cycling) is the new leader of the 2008 Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland

Stage 5 - August 1: Bairnsdale Road Race, 72km

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Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• Chief Commissaire Neville Williams is in charge of the 2008 Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland
• Mates from down the West Tamar in Northern Tasmania; Bernard Sulzberger (left) of the Virgin Blue Cycling Team shares a joke with Budget Forklift's Abram Manion on the startline in Dargo
• Peter Smith (Creditcollect) works hard for a small group trying to chase down Peter Herzig early into stage five of the Tour
• Brock Roberts (Budget Forklifts) on the front of a quartet that found themselves chasing a lone leader after twenty kilometres
• Peter Herzig (Virgin Blue Cycling), the lone leader on a climb near Castleburn on stage five from Dargo to Lindenow
• William Clarke (Praties Cycling Team) feels the strain of the category three climb at Castleburn
• Riders reach the top of the category three climb at Castleburn and losing time to others up ahead
• Travis Meyer (South Australia.com/AIS) grimaces on the climb at Castleburn in his quest to stay in touch with lead riders
• Graeme Allbon (Gold 1242) had the gate well and truly shut on him at the top of the climb and lost time to the peloton
• The leading group in the distance make their way towards Lindenow after the ascent at Castleburn
• The show must go on: A rider descends as Peter Smith lies in agony in the background
• Peter Smith (Creditcollect) feels the pain after crashing on a descent during stage five
• Sam Moorhouse (Budget Forklifts) leads a small group containing (L-R): Stuart Payne (Creditcollect), Leigh Howard (Jayco/VIS) and Malcolm Rudolph (GD.Triple Play)
• Peter Herzig (Virgin Blue Cycling) was giving his all out in front of the race - but happy to do so
• Peter Herzig (Virgin Blue Cycling) had his lead out to over one-and-a-half minutes at one stage
• Travis Meyer (South Australia.com/AIS) out of the saddle and trying to chase down Peter Herzig
• It was to no avail as the peloton quickly responded to a GC fancy
• Dylan Newell (right) of the Praties Cycling Team bridged the gap to Herzig and then attacked him instantly
• Herzig responded to Newell's attack… but for how long?
• Dylan Newell (Praties Cycling Team) puts the pressure on Virgin Blue Cycling's Peter Herzig approaching twenty kilometres to the finish
• Tour leader Daniel Furmston was safely back in the peloton with his teammate Dylan Newell a chance for the stage win
• Dylan Newell (Praties Cycling Team) rides into Lindenow and onto the podium a stage winner of the 2008 Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland
• Victorian Dylan Newell riding for the Tasmania Praties Cycling Team wins stage five into Lindenow

Stage 4 - July 31: Orbost FourN Twenty road race, 113.7km

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Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• Craig McCartney (Savings and Loans) was in a four man break before puncturing on a descent early into stage four
• Leigh Howard (Jayco/VIS) was gathering King of the Mountain points whilst in the lead group and became the virtual Tour leader on the road
• Michael England (GO Investments) from Queensland was in the lead group of three
• Victorian Kyle Marwood (Lakes Oil Cycling Team) in the leading trio during the early part of stage four from Orbost to Lakes Entrance
• SBS TV will show a documentary on the Tour on August 31 and will follow the remainder of the Scody Cup Cycling Series
• Riders struggle across a bridge in search of the leading trio
• Riders had to show caution on a bridge where carpet was laid for their crossing, some chose to test their handling skills instead
• Travis Meyer (South Australia.com/AIS) gets over the bridge safely ,his brother Cameron will be in action at the Beijing Olympics in a fortnight
• Looking for the right line across a dodgy bridge at 52 kilometres into the 113.7 kilometre stage
• Closing the gap: The leading trio will soon be caught near the half-way mark of the stage
• The peloton were closing the gap and the yellow jersey was well back in the field
• Will Dickeson (Savings and Loans) failed to make another breakaway group that formed after the original trio were caught
• Pip Grinter (Drapac Porsche) made a lead group of around twenty riders that formed some thirty kilometres from the finish
• Jonathon Lovelock (Jayco/VIS) gets a taste for the Tour of Gippsland whilst in the leading group
• The lead group make their way towards the finish in Lakes Entrance some twenty kilometres away
• Riders begin to play the cat and mouse game approaching the finish
• Pratie's Dylan Newell looks back to see if anyone from the group is trying to bridge the gap he opened up heading to the finish
• Timothy Roe (Savings and Loans) takes out stage four into Lakes Entrance

Images by

• Hard work but it was worth it: Pratie's Daniel Furmston crosses the line an exhausted man but into the yellow jersey of the Tour leader
• A hard day at the office: Savings and Loans riders recover after the difficult stage from Orbost to Lakes Entrance
• Cameron Hughes (left) shows Timothy Roe (centre) and Daniel Furmston how to release the cork on the champers for the podium spray
• Well I'll have a go: Stage winner Timothy Roe (Savings and Loans) prepares for his champers spray
• Your not supposed to close your eyes though Timothy: The podium (L-R) Cameron Hughes (2nd, GO Investments), Timothy Roe (1st, Savings and Loans), and Daniel Furmston (1st, Praties)
• Michael England (GO Investments) was awarded the Bairnsdale Dealership Most Aggressive rider's jersey on stage four
• Leigh Howard (Jayco/VIS) is the new leader of the Tourism Victoria King of the Mountains competition
• Tasmanian Daniel Furmston (Praties) awaits his call up to accept the Lakes Oil Tour leader's yellow jersey
• Daniel Furmston (Praties) feels comfortable in the yellow jersey as the new leader of the Tour of Gippsland
• You can have a pie at the footy and now you can have a pie at the cycling thanks to Patties in Lakes Entrance

Stage 3 - July 31: Orbost Patties Foods crit, 42km

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Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• Travis Meyer (South Australia.com/AIS) leads the peloton in search of lone leader David Kemp
• Three of the competition jersey leaders back in the peloton from left in yellow Will Dickeson; in blue Bernard Sulzberger and in orange Chris Pryor
• Tour leader Will Dickeson (Savings and Loans) corners on the street circuit in Orbost on stage three
• The peloton head up the main street in Orbost during the 42 kilometre stage three criterium
• Fine conditions for stage three in Orbost where the Tour had to complete 30 laps of a 1.4 kilometre circuit
• The Tour of Gippsland is the first race of four in the 2008 Scody Cup Cycling Series
• Will Dickeson (Savings and Loans) leans his Avanti into a corner and holding onto the Tour lead during stage three
• The peloton stretch out on an undulating road in Orbost
• David Kemp (Virgin Blue Cycling) broke clear of the rest and held a forty-five second lead with five laps to go
• Kyle Marwood (Lakes Oil Cycling Team) back in the peloton and trying to bridge a gap to the leader David Kemp
• David Kemp (Virgin Blue Cycling) powers his Cervelo around Orbost with the 'local' watering-hole, the Commonwealth Hotel in the background
• Reece Stephens (centre) of the Credit Collect team in the chasing peloton on the concluding laps
• Craig McCartney (Savings and Loans) was working hard to drive the peloton towards the leader David Kemp
• David Kemp (Virgin Blue Cycling) holding onto a slender lead with a lap to go
• David Kemp (Virgin Blue Cycling) salutes the crowd to take stage three of the Tour in Orbost
• Leigh Howard (Jayco/VIS) brings the peloton home ahead of Pratie's Nathan Clarke
• Cheers boys: (L-R) Leigh Howard (2nd, Jayco/VIS), David Kemp (1st, Virgin Blue Cycling) and Nathan Clarke (3rd, Praties) with the podium spray
• Will Dickeson (Savings and Loans) remained in the Tour lead after the third stage

Stage 2 - July 30: Mallacoota Dahlsens road race, 93.4km

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Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• A breakaway formed on the climb out of Mallacoota on stage two
• The chasing peloton in search of a leading group during the 93.4 kilometre stage two
• The Tour leader, Malcolm Rudolph (GO Investments) was tucked away back in the peloton
• Benjamin King (South Australia.com/AIS) takes the lead group around the roads of Mallacoota
• Benjamin King (South Australia.com/AIS) takes out an intermediate sprint ahead of Savings and Loans Will Dickeson
• David Kemp (Virgin Blue Cycling) leans into a bend during the eight laps of an eleven kilometre circuit on stage two
• Cameron Hughes (GO Investments) was working hard back in the peloton but had a teammate in the lead group
• Chris Pryor (GO Investments) gets the gap on the up-hill sprint to the finish
• Stage winner Chris Pryor explains to his GO Investments teammate Malcolm Rudolph how he got the break to win the stage
• Queenslander Chris Pryor (GO Investments) wasn't feeling the cold in Victoria after he won stage two of the Tour of Gippsland
• The podium spray (L-R): Charles Howlett (2nd, Gold 1242), Chris Pryor (1st, GO Investments) and Daniel Furmston (3rd, Praties)
• Time for a swig: Charles Howlett (left) of Gold 1242 samples the champers on the podium after stage two
• Stage winner Chris Pryor (GO Investments) felt like a he-man on the podium in his Bairnsdale Dealership Most Aggressive rider's jersey
• From yellow to green: Malcolm Rudolph (GO Investments) tries on his Credit Collect Sprint Points leader's jersey
• Tasmanian Daniel Furmston (Praties Cycling) is the Tourism Victoria King of the Mountains leader after the second stage
• Congratulations son, you’re the new Tour leader: Will Dickeson (Savings and Loans) from South Australia is the new Tour leader after the second stage

Stage 1 - July 30: Mallacoota Dahlsens crit, 42km

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Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• James Ibrahim (Credit Collect) out of the saddle on stage one of the Tour of Gippsland in Mallacoota
• Joel Fahy (Drapac Porsche) from Victoria corners on the 1.4 kilometre circuit in Mallacoota
• The peloton on the waterfront circuit in Mallacoota
• Pip Grinter (Drapac Porsche) in the chasing peloton during the 42 kilometre opening criterium
• Spectators take in the shade as the peloton speed by
• A break forms and the eventual winner Bernard Sulzberger (12) of the Virgin Blue Cycling team looks to bridge the gap
• The peloton descend down the back-straight during stage one in Mallacoota
• C.Gull has a birds-eye view of stage one of the Tour of Gippsland
• One of the early Tour fancies, Travis Meyer (South Australia.com/AIS), in action during stage one
• The leading group were cruising towards the finish
• Riders from the Praties Cycling team were on the front of the peloton with their teammate Nathan Clarke in the lead group
• Bernard Sulzberger (left) of the Virgin Blue Cycling team edges out Pratie's Nathan Clarke (centre) and James Langedyk (Jayco/VIS) to win stage one
• The podium spray (L-R): Nathan Clarke (2nd,Praties), Bernard Sulzberger (1st, Virgin Blue) and James Langedyk (3rd, Jayco/VIS)
• Will Dickeson (Savings and Loans) tries on his Bairnsdale Dealer Group Most Aggressive Rider's jersey from stage one
• Malcolm Rudolph (GO Investments) does his best Karate Kid impersonation on the podium with his Credit Collect Sprint Points jersey
• Queenslander Malcolm Rudolph (GO Investments) is number one on the Tour and in yellow after the first stage in Mallacoota