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Jayco Bay Cycling Classic - NE
Geelong, Australia, January 2-6, 2009
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Stage 4 - January 5: Portarlington - Elite men, 60min
Sulzberger wins and misses overall lead by one point
By Malcolm Sawford in Portarlington
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Australian criterium champion Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) stormed into second place on the overall standings with his win in the Portarlington crit. Sulzberger moved to within a single point of Graeme Brown's (Urban Hotels) series lead.
"It gives me a lot of confidence racing wearing the Australian champion's jersey," an elated Sulzberger exclaimed. "When the break got away with about fifteen minutes to go, I thought we had a good chance because Braunsteins is going very strong, and I was going very strong as well."
Men's leader Graeme Brown had clearly decided that aggression was the best form of defence, and broke away early in the men's race with Sulzberger, Simon Gerrans (O2 Reflections Group), Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans) and Dean Windsor (Mazda), but the move was short lived. Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections Group) counter attacked and spend the next 18 minutes alone off the front of the bunch, which was well controlled by Brown's Urban Homes team mates.
Wilson recovered in the bunch for only a few minutes before attacking again, and was joined by Sulzberger, Rohan Dennis (Skilled) and Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD). The quartet extended their lead each lap, and eventually finished over 20 seconds clear. Sulzberger took the sprint comfortably from Dennis, Braunsteins and an exhausted Wilson.
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Jono Cantwell (Virgin Blue) and day three winner Will Walker (Degani/CBD) escaped the chasing bunch in the final laps, before Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub/Ridley) outsprinted Brown to claim seventh place. Brown later admitted he had underestimated Sulzberger.
"The tactic today was to watch Gerrans, the course here is perfect for him – he can rip the legs off me. I was also watching McEwen and Windsor. The boys were unreal today, the Urban Hotel has obviously given us plenty of rest. When the final break went up the road I though it would be OK, but I almost lost it. Sulzberger is only one point behind, so I was lucky."
Although the 800-metre hotdog circuit favours sprinters, Sulzberger hasn't written off his chances of overhauling Brown. "His team is definitely going to be on me tomorrow, but I'll try to get away for sure."
The support race saw the leader's jersey change hands, with overnight leader Jacob Sutherland off the pace and out of the placings. Shaun McCarthy finished fifth to inherit the yellow jersey, while the day's win went to Dale Parker ahead of Geoff Straub and Peter Ladd.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net
- Jacob Sutherland was unable to defend his yellow jersey today
- An early attack strung out the pace in the support race
- Sutherland attacked early on, then dropped off the pace in the closing laps
- Winner of the support race was Dale Parker, followed by Geoff Straub
- Will Walker (Degani), winner of day 3, smiles as he waits to start day 4
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) wore the leader's jersey in Portarlington
- Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub) reaches for a drink during the hot, fast race
- A Budget Forklifts rider also takes a drink
- Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections) attacked and went away on his own twice in the race today
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotels) sat in the bunch, looked after by his team-mates
- The Urban Hotel team lead the way through the first corner on the circuit
- Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections) gasps for air as he is away on his own
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotels) takes a corner
- The Urban Hotel team looks after Graeme Brown, race leader
- Jeremy Hunt (O2 Reflections) leads team-mate, Simon Gerrans
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotels) and Simon Gerrans (O2 Reflections) were close together most of the race
- Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections) spent a long time out on his own during his two breaks
- Eventual winner, Bernie Sulzburger (Virgin Blue) on the tough climb in Portarlington
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) follows team-mate Christian House's wheel
- The Bay provided a beautiful backdrop on what was a warm, sunny day in Portarlington
- Will Walker (Degani) didn't show any fatigue after his win on day 3
- Johnny Clarke (2XU) made several attempts to get to the front of the race in the closing laps
- Rohan Dennis (Skilled) rode strongly and picked up second today
- The break prepared for the sprint, with Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections) throwing off his bidon
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) and Rory Sutherland (Total Rush)
- Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub) takes a late-race drink
- Johnny Clarke (2XU) on another attempt to bridge to the front of the race
- The bunch all look at each other with a lap to go.
- Graeme Brown(Urban Hotel) has McEwen (Bike Hub) and Gerrans (O2 Reflections) on his wheel with a lap to go
- Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) declares himself the winner, with plenty of time over second-placed Rohan Dennis (Skilled)
- Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub) sprinted in just ahead of Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel)
- New race leader for the support race, Shuan McCa
- Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) salutes the crowd in Portarlington after his win
- Daniel Braunsteins (Degani) was third on day 4
- The men line up on the podium - Sulzberger, Dennis, Braunsteins, Windsor, Semmler and Brown
Images by Rick Robson/www.clearimages.com.au
- Bernard Sulzberger wanted the win badly.
- Bernard Sulzberger rides hard in the break.
- The front group went all out to keep the peloton at bay.
- Jeremy Hunt keeps in the paceline.
- Kristian House concentrated well.
- Mat Wilson out of the saddle near the sea.
- Mat Wilson was looking good but overshot the last corner.
- Matt Wilson was literally checking out the country side.
- Robbie McEwen grits his teeth.
- Stuart O'Grady had the patch kit with him.
- Sulzberger rides away from Wilson as the latter had to fight back onto the tarmac.
Images by Brenton Logan/www.durostrada.com
- The racing begins in the B grade category.
- Overnight leader Jake Sutherland takes a corner early on in the race.
- Riders attempt to avoid a fallen rider on the corner.
- Cameron Streistermanis (Duro Strada) corners with the beautiful surroundings of Portarlington in the background.
- Stuart Grimsey during his attack of the main bunch.
- Overnight leader Jake Sutherland losing contact with the main field.
- Dale Parker wins the support criterium from Geoff Straub.
- The girls of the Bay Crits get ready for the day’s activities.
- Johnnie Walker (Degani/CBD Cycles) leads the main field at the start of the Portarlington criterium.
- Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) corners early in the race.
- Leader Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) looking strong early in the race.
- Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections) gets shot twice as he tries to escape from the peloton.
- Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections) eats during his time off the front.
- Team Urban Hotel controls the peloton for its leader Graeme Brown.
- Robbie McEwen in action during the Portarlington criterium.
- Rohan Dennis (Skilled) leads the break closely followed by eventual winner Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue).
- Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD Cycles) in the leading break.
- Will Walker (Degani/CBD Cycles) chases the leading group toward the end.
Results
Elite men - 60min 1 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) 2 Rohan Dennis (Skilled) 3 Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD) 4 Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections Group) 5 Jono Cantwell (Virgin Blue) 6 Will Walker (Degani/CBD) 7 Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub/Ridley) 8 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) 9 Simon Gerrans (O2 Reflections Group) 10 Dean Windsor (Mazda) Sprints Sprint 1 1 Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections Group) 2 Dean Windsor (Mazda) 3 Kristian House (Urban Hotel) Sprint 2 1 Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections Group) 2 Dean Windsor (Mazda) 3 Darren Lapthorne (Urban Hotel) Sprint 3 1 Rohan Dennis (Skilled) 2 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) 3 Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD) General classification after stage 4 1 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) 26 pts 2 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) 25 3 Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub/Ridley) 23 4 Dean Windsor (Mazda) 21 5 Simon Gerrans (O2 Reflections Group) 22 6 Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans) 18 7 Will Walker (Degani/CBD) 17 8 Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD) 16 9 Jono Cantwell (Virgin Blue) 11 10 Rohan Dennis (Skilled) 10 11 Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections Group) 10 12 Leigh Howard (Jayco VIS) 8 13 Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections Group) 7 14 Mark Renshaw (Mazda) 7 15 Michael Stallard (Savings & Loans) 5 16 Tommy Nankervis (Total Rush) 2 17 Cody Stevenson (Budget Forklifts) 2 18 Nic Sanderson (Rock Racing) 1 19 Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans) 1 Points classification 1 Dean Windsor (Mazda) 22 pts 2 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) 7 3 Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections Group) 6 4 Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans) 6 5 Kristian House (Urban Hotel) 5 6 Will Walker (Degani/CBD) 4 7 Rohan Dennis (Skilled) 3 8 Rory Sutherland (Total Rush) 3 9 Kris Koke (Trevorrow/Chifley/Sally's Paddock) 3 10 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) 3 11 Darren Lapthorne (Urban Hotel) 3 12 Nathan Wise (Degani/CBD) 2 13 Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD) 1 14 Nic Sanderson (Rock Racing) 1 15 Jonny Clarke (2XU) 1 16 Mark O'Brien (Bike Hub/Ridley) 1 17 Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) 1 Teams classification 1 O2 Reflections Group 39 pts 2 Virgin Blue 36 3 Degani/CBD 33 4 Mazda 28 5 Urban Hotel 26 6 Savings & Loans 24 7 Bike Hub/Ridley 23 8 Skilled 10 9 Jayco VIS 8 10 Total Rush 2 11 Budget Forklifts 2 12 Rock Racing 1 Support Men - 45 minutes 1 Dale Parker 2 Geoff Straub 3 Peter Ladd 4 Jarrod Moroni 5 Shaun McCarthy 6 Stuart Grimsey 7 Samuel Spokes 8 Matthew Benson 9 Damien Turner 10 Ethan Kimmince Sprints Sprint 1 1 Shaun McCarthy 2 Marc Williams 3 John Cornish Sprint 2 1 Stuart Grimsey 2 Samuel Spokes 3 Shaun McCarthy General classification after stage 4 1 Shaun McCarthy 30 pts 2 Jacob Sutherland 24 3 Cameron Carlyle 22 4 Matthew Benson 22 5 Dale Parker 17 6 Scott Liston 16 7 Stuart Grimsey 16 8 Jarrod Moroni 16 9 Geoff Straub 11 10 Samuel Spokes 9 11 Peter Ladd 8 12 Patrick Drapac 8 13 Shaun Lewis 7 14 Marc Williams 6 15 Luke Mackenzie 5 16 Luke Ockerby 3 17 Adam Trewin 3 18 Damien Turner 2 19 Nathan Oman 2 20 Angus Tobin 2 21 Lachlan Morton 2 22 Ethan Kimmince 1
