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Jayco Bay Cycling Classic - NE
Geelong, Australia, January 2-6, 2009
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Stage 10 - January 6: Geelong - Ritchie Boulevard - Elite men, 60 minutes
Brown defends lead in final stage
By Malcolm Sawford in Geelong
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Graeme Brown (Urban Hotels) withstood all challenges from his nearest rivals in the final race of the 2009 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic. A fourth place on the night was all he needed to take his first series win in seven attempts. The stage was won by Sydney Olympic Madison gold medalist Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans), who triumphed from a small breakaway. Robbie McEwen moved up to second spot overall, while Bernie Sulzberger, trailing Brown by only one point before the final crit, dropped to third place. Sulzberger finished the race in 10th place.
Brown valued the competition. "It's an important win. There's no bad bike riders: no one has ever fluked a Bay Classic win. You've got old champions like Gary Sutton, who's been my coach for years, or Robbie McEwen, a six-time winner. I've never been able to win before and this means a lot." Despite not taking a win this week, the consistent McEwen finished the series in second place, just two points behind Brown.
Aitken liked the course. "It's such a nice race to win. It's such a prestigious one, the last one. I like this circuit, it really suits me with a good long sprint. I'm going to be 38 this month, I'm doing about three hours a week training: it's great to beat a couple of pros out there."
The men's race opened at a frightening pace, with the Mazda squad setting a high tempo for Dean Windsor, but it wasn't fast enough to prevent attacks by the O2 Reflections Group pair of Matt Wilson and Jeremy Hunt.
Shortly after the first sprint, won by Johnnie Walker (Degani/CBD), Wilson combined with the youngster to hold the bunch off for four laps, before Mark Renshaw (Mazda) brought the bunch back to the leaders. This sparked an immediate counter attack from Trent Wilson (Skilled), who had recently announced him imminent retirement from elite cycling.
Wilson forged a handy lead alone before being joined first by Leigh Howard (Jayco VIS), then by mountain bike champion Lachie Norris (BBB) and finally by Hunt. Howard left his temporary allies behind, but an attempt to reach the break by Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub/Ridley), Brown and Simon Gerrans (O2 Reflections Group) forced a reaction from the bunch and the bunch regrouped soon after the half-way sprint.
Cooke launches decisive move
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Baden Cooke continued O2 Reflections Group's aggressive day with a strong counter attack. "It was my turn to attack. It was a lot earlier than I would have liked to go, about ten minutes to go would have been perfect, but I had to try and make it stick." Cooke hugged the barriers, and even went into an aerodynamic tuck approaching the hot dog corners, and built a lead of 13 seconds, before Aitken and defending series champion Mark Renshaw (Mazda) powered across the gap.
The trio stayed clear of all challengers, before Aitken launched an attack with two laps remaining. Cooke closed the gap, but Renshaw clipped a wheel in the corner and fell, and with the pits closed could not restart the race. "We're all fast sprinters, and it would have been exciting the three of us going for the line, but I am happy to see him go out!" Aitken admitted.
Aitken led Cooke for most of the final lap, but it was Cooke who led out first, and the fresher Aitken had little trouble storming past to take the win.
Brown was profuse in his admiration and thanks for his Urban Homes teammates. "That was as good as you get from any pro team. Four guys, they don't have to ride for me, it's just a composite team, if that was Rabobank I would have still been happy. Today was sensational."
Cooke was philosophical about his near miss. "When I saw Aitken and Renshaw coming across, they're not two guys you want to be sprinting against when you've been out there for 20 minutes, so I foxed around a bit and did my best, but Brett was quick off the wheel."
Reigning Australian champion Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) went into the race one point behind Brown, and took it up to his more heavily fancied rival in the closing laps. Brown knew who he had to keep an eye out for. "Towards the end he [Sulzberger] was riding like he had absolutely nothing to lose. He did a few attacks into those corners and I was thinking oh, err, and I wasn't sure, but I got the measure of him! But I knew that he and Dean Windsor would be attacking full gas and that's exactly what they did."
Windsor finished with the sprinter's jersey for the second year in succession, and vowed to return. "What a great week it was. Such a great field and I'm really excited to get the green. I'll come back next year and see if I can trade the green for an overall podium, maybe even a yellow!"
The support race was well won by Stuart Grimsey, who attacked the bunch before the first sprint, and took the win almost 30 seconds clear in a powerful display. The win gave him second overall for the series behind Shaun McCarthy, who took third in the stage and revealed on the podium that he has recently signed to race with the Panasonic UCI Continental team. Day three winner Cameron Carlyle rounded out the top three overall.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net
- Graeme Brown and Phil Liggett arrive at the Ritchie Boulevard circuit.
- Irishman Adrian Hedderman is riding his first Bay Series in the support race.
- Shaun McCarthy defended his yellow jersey on the final day.
- Matthew Benson realises he has the series leader, McCarthy on his shoulder.
- Stuart Grimsey leads the race.
- Grimsey attacked at the first sprint point and stayed away.
- Shaun McCarthy was the eventual overall winner.
- Shaun McCarthy was the eventual overall winner.
- Stuart Grimsey won the support race in the evening sun.
- Shaun McCarthy finished safely in the bunch to take overall honours in the support race.
- A beautiful backdrop and a wonderful day of sunshine provided a great final day for the Bay Series 2009.
- The men lined up in stunning evening light. Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) took on Bernie Salzberger (Virgin Blue) and Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub).
- David Mackenzie interviewed soon-to-be-reitred Trent Wilson (Skilled) before the start. Wilson finishes his racing career after Australian Nationals this week.
- Trent Wilson (Skilled) led the race for a while.
- Cody Stevenson rides for the newly launched team Budget Forklift Trucks.
- Spectators enjoyed the racing from the vantage point of the grass bank lining Ritchie Boulevard.
- Christian House (Urban Hotel) worked to keep Graeme Brown out of trouble this week.
- Aaron Kemps (Rock Racing) rides on his own.
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) was only a single point ahead of Bernie Salzberger at the beginning of the day.
- Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub) the bunch through the bottom corner.
- Brett Aitken (Savings and Loans) in the bunch.
- Trent Wilson (Skilled) went away on his own for a few laps.
- Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub) leads Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue).
- Dusk falls over the Ritchie Boulevard circuit causing long shadows from the riders.
- Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections) was a solo breakaway rider who looked like he might stay away.
- Will Walker (Degani) had a strong series including a race win.
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) on the bottom corner.
- Mark Renshaw (Mazda) and Brett Aitken (Savings and Loans) watch each other in the closing laps.
- Dean Windsor (Mazda) wore the sprints jersey throughout the series.
- Brett Aitken (Savings and Loans) fell with less than ten laps to go and headed straight to the pits.
- Aitken (Savings and Loans) was quickly back into the race.
- Brett Aitken (Savings and Loans) won the final race on his own.
- Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub) rolled in for third ahead of a celebrating overall winner, Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel).
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) salutes the crowd as he rides a victory lap of the circuit.
- Shaun McCarthy was support race winner.
- Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) won the 2009 Bay Classics.
Images by Brenton Logan/www.durostrada.com
- Race leader Shaun McCarthy flexes his muscles in the support men race.
- SASI rider Dale Parker crashes into the fence but got up and continued the race.
- ...but you know it still hurts once you're back in the saddle.
- An official speaks with Paul Richards (Degani) who crashed on the turn.
- Eventual winner Stuart Grimsey was away for the last 20 minutes of the race.
- Matt Goss (Skilled) corners in the final race of the series.
- Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections) on the attack early in the race.
- Matt King (Degani/CBD Cycles) looking strong on the tight circuit.
- Crashes were commonplace on this tight circuit, as this Budget Forklifts rider found out.
- Bernard Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) went on to finish third in the overall standings.
- Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections) and Johnnie Walker (Degani/CBD Cycles) on the attack.
- Graeme Brown, Joel Pearson and Robbie McEwen in action during the race.
- Matt Wilson hits the deck… an unusual technique to negotiate the corner.
- Simon Gerrans (O2 Reflections) powers out fo the troublesome corner.
- Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections) on the attack late in the race.
- Stage winner Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans) in the latter part of the race.
- A big crowd was on hand to witness the leading trio stay away from the main bunch.
- Brett Aitken was the victim of a fall late in the race but was able to resume with the leading group.
- Another crash on the bad corner with a Savings & Loans and Bike Hub rider.
- Mark Renshaw (Mazda) crashed within the last five laps and is unable to resume with the leaders.
- Brett Aitken wins from Baden Cooke in the final race of the series.
Results
Elite men 1 Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans) 2 Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections Group) 3 Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub/Ridley) 4 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) 5 Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans) 6 Jeremy Hunt (O2 Reflections Group) 7 Jono Cantwell (Virgin Blue) 8 James Langedyk (Jayco VIS) 9 Dean Windsor (Mazda) 10 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) Sprints Sprint 1 1 Johnnie Walker (Degani/CBD) 2 Kristian House (Urban Hotel) 3 Will Walker (Degani/CBD) Sprint 2 1 Trent Wilson (Skilled) 2 Leigh Howard (Jayco VIS) 3 Lachie Mnorris (BBB) Sprint 3 1 Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans) 2 Mark Renshaw (Mazda) 3 Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections Group) Final general classification 1 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) 33 pts 2 Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub/Ridley) 31 3 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) 26 4 Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans) 24 5 Dean Windsor (Mazda) 23 6 Simon Gerrans (O2 Reflections Group) 22 7 Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections Group) 20 8 Will Walker (Degani/CBD) 17 9 Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD) 16 10 Jono Cantwell (Virgin Blue) 15 11 Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans) 13 12 Rohan Dennis (Skilled) 10 13 Leigh Howard (Jayco VIS) 8 14 Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections Group) 7 15 Mark Renshaw (Mazda) 7 16 Jeremy Hunt (O2 Reflections Group) 5 17 Michael Stallard (Savings & Loans) 5 18 James Langedyk (Jayco VIS) 3 19 Tommy Nankervis (Total Rush) 2 20 Cody Stevenson (Budget Forklifts) 2 21 Nic Sanderson (Rock Racing) 1 Points classification 1 Dean Windsor (Mazda) 22 pts 2 Kristian House (Urban Hotel) 7 3 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue) 7 4 Matt Wilson (O2 Reflections Group) 6 5 Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans) 6 6 Will Walker (Degani/CBD) 5 7 Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans) 3 8 Trent Wilson (Skilled) 3 9 Johnnie Walker (Degani/CBD) 3 10 Rohan Dennis (Skilled) 3 11 Rory Sutherland (Total Rush) 3 12 Kris Koke (Trevorrow/Chifley/Sally's Paddock) 3 13 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel) 3 14 Darren Lapthorne (Urban Hotel) 3 15 Mark Renshaw (Mazda) 2 16 Leigh Howard (Jayco VIS) 2 17 Nathan Wise (Degani/CBD) 2 18 Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections Group) 1 19 Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD) 1 20 Nic Sanderson (Rock Racing) 1 21 Jonny Clarke (2XU) 1 22 Mark O'Brien (Bike Hub/Ridley) 1 23 Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) 1 24 Lachie Mnorris (BBB) 1 Teams classification 1 O2 Reflections Group 54 pts 2 Savings & Loans 42 3 Virgin Blue 41 4 Degani/CBD 33 5 Bike Hub/Ridley 31 6 Mazda 30 7 Urban Hotel 26 8 Jayco VIS 11 9 Skilled 10 10 Total Rush 2 11 Budget Forklifts 2 12 Rock Racing 1 Support Men - 45 minutes 1 Stuart Grimsey 2 Jarrod Moroni 3 Shaun McCarthy 4 Dale Parker 5 Samuel Spokes 6 Cameron Carlyle 7 Matthew Benson 8 Chris Winn 9 Damien Turner 10 Ethan Kimmince Sprints Sprint 1 1 Stuart Grimsey 2 Shaun McCarthy 3 Samuel Spokes Sprint 2 1 Stuart Grimsey 2 Geoff Straub 3 Scott Liston Final general classification 1 Shaun McCarthy 38 pts 2 Stuart Grimsey 28 3 Cameron Carlyle 27 4 Matthew Benson 26 5 Jarrod Moroni 26 6 Dale Parker 24 7 Jacob Sutherland 24 8 Scott Liston 16 9 Samuel Spokes 15 10 Geoff Straub 11 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 4 19 Ethan Kimmince 4 20 Chris Winn 3 21 Angus Tobin 2 22 Lachlan Morton 2
