Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series - NE

Perth, Australia, January 2-5, 2002

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Race 2 - January 3: Victoria Park (Albany Highway), 7.30pm-8.30pm

Renshaw steps up to the mark

By Renae Woodhams

Mark Renshaw
Photo: © Tom Kroyer

NSW Champion Mark Renshaw tonight went two better in the second race of the Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series while the field of local and international talent stepped up the pace for what was to be a thrilling finish to the Victoria Park Classic.

In the final lap Renshaw led the sprint to power home ahead of Graeme Brown and Olympic Champion Brett Aitken. The sprint finish followed a commanding race by three riders who set the pace early and managed to hold the peloton for the majority of the race.

The three-man break came in the form of 2001 Perth Criterium Champion Hilton Clarke, with local riders Daniel Mackey and Ryan Suckling powering ahead of the field, maintaining a 12 second lead which lasted for more than 20 minutes ahead of Nic Brown, Graeme Brown and Henk Vogels, who led the chasing bunch.

The lead in the chasers changed with every lap but a consolidated effort by Graeme Brown and Hilton McMurdo saw solo breaks try to catch the three leaders. This stretched the field out over the circuit, but the race was characterised by determined attacks with riders mindful of the close points situation ahead of tomorrow night's final in the 2003 Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series.

Mid-race break
Photo: © Tom Kroyer

In the final stages of the race, Mackey, Suckling and Clarke all fought hard to maintain their position but with the pace increasing and riders all vying for the points, they were swallowed back into the bunch in the final turns of the circuit.

With three laps to go, last night's winner Steve Williams led the chase to the breakaway three, but the lead again changed with Jason Rigg, Andrew Sime and Phil Reimann picking up the pace to chase the champ.

As the final laps unfolded, small attacks occurred, first by local rider Nic Brown who was followed by Daniel Mackey. However Henk Vogels led the bunch and progressively closed the attacks, inciting the final sprint where Renshaw gained the upper hand on the corner and Graeme Brown and Brett Aitken were unable to overpower him.

Graeme Brown
Photo: © Tom Kroyer

"It was a hard race with a lot of riders consistently attacking," Mark Renshaw said. "The pace was much faster and I was lucky to break through when I did."

The Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series continues tomorrow in Subiaco from 7.30pm with Graeme Brown riding in the Sprint King green jersey and Mark Renshaw wearing the Overall Champion yellow jersey.

The Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series is a "Best on Earth in Perth" event. For more information on riders, races and courses please visit www.perthcriterium.com.au.

Photography

Images by Tom Kroyer

Wayne Van Moorsel prepares for the race
Graeme Brown warms up
Ryan Suckling doing his pre-race stretches
Anyone got a spare?
Henk Vogels Green Jersey holder
Hilton Clarke 2001 Be Active Criterium winner
Riders wait for the start
Steve Williams series leader
Daniel Mackey and Pete Dawson lead the WAIS Team
Phil Riemann ready to go
Pete Dawson and Brett Aiitken being interviewed to the start
Pete Dawson and Graeme Brown in an early breakaway
Hilton Clarke, Daniel Mackey and Ryan Suckling in their mid race breakaway
Graeme Brown attempts to bridge the gap to the lead group
Henk Vogels leads the chasing pack
Mark Renshaw and Pete Dawson in the chase group
Daniel Mackey still leads the breakaway more than halfway through the race
The breakaway group is caught by the chase pack
Mark Renshaw happy with his win
The winning machine Mark Renshaw's Lapierre
The winner is interviewed by Gary Suckling
The place getters relax before the presentation
Podium (L to R): 1st Mark Renshaw, 2nd Graeme Brown, 3rd Brett Aitken
Points leader Graeme Brown
Series leader Mark Renshaw
The champagne bit

Results

1 Mark Renshaw (NSW) FRF Couriers
2 Graeme Brown (NSW) Bike Force Australia
3 Brett Aitken (SA) Be Active - Cycle Instead
4 Peter Dawson (WA) WAIS
5 Jason Rigg (WA) Kirke Securities
6 Nic Brown (WA) Apex Rentals
7 Nathan Russell (NSW) Caravello Joinery
8 Jarran Poad (NZ) Visionary & National Estate Builders
9 Daniel Mackey (WA) WAIS
10 Andrew Sime (WA) Perth Criterium Series
11 Henk Vogels (WA) WA Sports Centre Trust
12 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Perth Criterium Series
13 Steve Williams (NSW) Caravello Joinery
14 Wayne van Moorsel (WA) Kirke Securities
15 Hilton McMurdo (WA) 96FM

Sprints

Sprint No.1
 
1 Graeme Brown (NSW) Bike Force Australia
2 Peter Dawson (WA) WAIS
3 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Perth Criterium Series
 
Sprint No.2
 
1 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Perth Criterium Series
2 Daniel Mackey (WA) WAIS
3 Ryan Suckling (WA) Kirke Securities
 
Sprint No.3
 
1 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Perth Criterium Series
2 Daniel Mackey (WA) WAIS
3 Ryan Suckling (WA) Kirke Securities
 
Sprint No.4
 
1 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Perth Criterium Series
2 Ryan Suckling (WA) Kirke Securities
3 Daniel Mackey (WA) WAIS
 
Final Sprint
 
1 Mark Renshaw (NSW) FRF Couriers
2 Graeme Brown (NSW) Bike Force Australia
3 Brett Aitken (SA) Be Active - Cycle Instead
 
Progressive Individual Standings
 
"Be Active - Cycle Instead" Criterium Series classification
 
1 Mark Renshaw (NSW) FRF Couriers                        28 pts
2 Brett Aitken (SA) Be Active - Cycle Instead            27
3 Jason Rigg (WA) Kirke Securities                       22
4 Nic Brown (WA) Apex Rentals                            20
5 Daniel Mackey (WA) WAIS                                19
6 Steve Williams (NSW) Caravello Joinery                 18
7 Henk Vogels (WA) WA Sports Centre Trust                14
8 Jarran Poad (NZ) Visionary & National Estate Buil      14
9 Graeme Brown (NSW) Bike Force Australia                14
10 Peter Dawson (WA) WAIS                                12
11 Nathan Russell (NSW) Caravello Joinery                 9
12 Peter Dawson (WA) WAIS                                 8
13 Tony Mann (Qld) Visionary & National Estate Buil       7
14 Andrew Sime (WA) Perth Criterium Series                6
15 Damien Cranage (SA) Apex Rentals                       5
16 Phil Riemann (WA) Kirke Securities                     4
17 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Perth Criterium Series             4
18 Ryan Suckling (WA) Kirke Securities                    3
19 Wayne van Moorsel (WA) Kirke Securities                3
20 Jonathon Davis (NSW) FRF Couriers                      2
 
Fondriest & Live Clothing Sprint King classification
 
1 Graeme Brown (NSW) Bike Force Australia                12 pts
2 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Perth Criterium Series             10
3 Henk Vogels (WA) WA Sports Centre Trust                 9
4 Daniel Mackey (WA) WAIS                                 6
5 Steve Williams (NSW) Caravello Joinery                  5
6 Mark Renshaw (NSW) FRF Couriers                         4
7 Ryan Suckling (WA) Kirke Securities                     4
8 Nic Brown (WA) Apex Rentals                             3
9 Brett Aitken (SA) Be Active - Cycle Instead             3
10 Peter Dawson (WA) WAIS                                 2
11 Jonathon Davis (NSW) FRF Couriers                      1
12 Nathan Jones (WA) Visionary & National Estate Bu       1
 
Teams classification
 
1 WAIS                                                   39 pts
2 Kirke Securities                                       32
3 FRF Couriers                                           30
4 Caravello Joinery                                      27
5 Be Active - Cycle Instead                              27
6 Apex Rentals                                           25
7 Visionary & National Estate Builders                   21
8 WA Sports Centre Trust                                 14
9 Bike Force Australia                                   14
10 Perth Criterium Series                                10
11 96FM                                                   1