Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series - NE

Perth, Australia, January 2-5, 2002

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Race 4 - January 5: Australian Criterium Championship*, Joondalup (Grand Boulevard), 7.30pm-8.30pm

*Note: Does not count for Be Active series overall

WA riders sweep the board

By Renae Woodhams

Brian Appleyard and Andrew Sime
Photo: © Tom Kroyer

Western Australian cyclists proved they are among the country’s best with the National medals going to local champions in the West Australian Newspapers Australian Criterium Championship, held in Joondalup tonight.

The local WA riders made a clean sweep of the board overpowering such champions as Olympic Gold medallist Brett Aitken, Tour de France cyclist Henk Vogels and Pursuit Champion Graeme Brown.

WAIS cyclist Peter Dawson powered home in a thrilling sprint finish ahead of Esperance rider, Andrew Sime with Gooseberry Hill cyclist Nic Brown finishing convincingly in third.

Pete Dawson
Photo: © Tom Kroyer

The race was dominated by Dawson and Sime, when they broke away from the main peloton in the first ten minutes and progressively built up a 56 second lead over the bunch. The race of the main peloton was characterised by cat and mouse tactics and constant breaks, but no real challengers prevailed.

A three-man counter attack looked ominous with Graeme Brown, Wayne van Morsel and Daniel Mackey determined to reel the leaders in. They were soon swallowed back into the main bunch, leaving Dawson and Sime to extend their lead.

Local rider Ed Hollands was next to move, followed by NSW champ Graeme Brown at the 30-minute mark. Strong head winds meant solo attacks were fruitless and many breaks were quashed as cyclists felt the sting of riding in the four night series of the Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series.

Pete Dawson
Photo: © Tom Kroyer

Henk Vogels then made a decisive move, riding solo for five laps before he conceded and rejoined the main group. At this stage the lead held by Dawson and Sime had increased to 39 seconds. Jarrod Poad was the next rider to attempt an attack and this time he dragged Brett Aitken and local rider Ryan Suckling with him. Again the break was swallowed and it looked as if the race had been decided with only the bronze medal up for grabs.

With 20 minutes remaining, Dawson looked comfortable with good rhythm but Sime was not intimidated with the prospect of going head to head with the World champion, staying on his wheel for the entire race. Nic Brown took his chance in the final two laps, making a break from the group and aiming to secure his position on the podium for third place. At this stage he knew he'd left his run too late to catch Dawson and Sime.

The new Australian Criterium Champion
Photo: © Tom Kroyer

Leading the final turn, Sime stepped up the pressure ahead of Dawson coming into the home stretch. While Sime initially set the pace for the sprint finish, Dawson showed his talent and overpowered in the last few metres to the chequered flag. In addition to his National Title, Dawson also won Gold for the National Under 23 Men's Criterium Championship.

"I was riding for the win. I was disappointed to lose the title in Northbridge two years ago and tonight I aimed to breakaway early and hang on to take gold," said Peter Dawson. "I knew I had to go hard to get a convincing break so I could off the big boys like Graeme Brown and Aitken."

Tonight's National Championship caps off an impressive four days of world class cycling with record crowds gathering to see the best Australia has to offer in the Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series.

Photos

Images by Tom Kroyer

Jason Rigg at the sign in
Daniel Mackey and Henk Vogels chat before the sign on
The impressive Daniel Mackey
Nic Brown rides for the Glen Parker team
Graeme Brown bikes gets a mechanical check
Pete Dawson at the sign on
Hilton McMurdo and Andrew Sime warm up
Graeme Brown limbers up
Steve Williams smiles for Cyclingnews
Brad Anderson from the Carnegie Caulfield club
Brad Anderson and Tony Mann
The race begins
Tony Mann takes the turn at high speed
Daniel Mackey leads the group into the turn
Matthew Tognini waits to rejoin the race after a crash
Ryan Suckling takes the corner
Daniel Mackey does excellent team work in slowing the group for Pete Dawson
Brian Appleyard and Andrew Sime take the bend
Daniel Mackey slows the chase group
Andrew Sime leads Pete Dawson into the corner
Wayne Van Moorsel works hard in the chase pack
Pete Dawson in the succesful two man break
Pete Dawson takes the corner at high speed
Hilton McMurdo attempts to get accross to the lead duo
The lead duo, Pete Dawson and Andrew Sime
Brian Appleyard leads Henk Vogels into the turn
Andrew Sime and Pete Dawson work well in their breakaway
Mark Renshaw in the chase group
Daniel Mackey turns into the corner
Graeme Brown joins Hilton McMurdo in the attempt to close down the break
Pete Dawson and Andrew Sime on the bell lap
The chase group take the bell lap
Pete Dawson takes the win
Pete Dawson and Andrew Sime take the applause of the large crowd
Pete Dawson interviewed by Gary Suckling for channel 9
Andrew Sime gets interviewed as well
Pete Dawson Australian Criterium Champion
2nd place, Andrew Sime
3rd place, Nic Brown
The place getters on the podium
Champagne anyone
Pete Dawson shows off his medals

Results

1 Peter Dawson (Peel Districts)
2 Andrew Sime (Eastern Goldfields)
3 Nic Brown (Melville Fremantle)
4 Graham Brown (St George)
5 Mark Renshaw (Bathurst)
6 Henk Vogels (Southern Districts)
7 Wayne Van Moorsel (Midland)
8 Ryan Suckling (Northern Districts)
9 Jonathan Davis (St George)
10 Daniel Mackey (Southern Districts)
11 Jason Rigg (Northern Districts)
12 Philip Riemann (Midland)
13 Andy Graham (Port Fairy)
14 Brett Aitken (Adelaide)
15 Brent Dawson (Dubbo)

Other finishers (not in placing order)  

James Bennett (Northern Districts)
Nathan Jones (Southern Districts)
Ric Steele (Northern Districts)
Edmund Hollands (Melville Fremantle)
Anthony Di Battista (Blackburn)
Brendan Rowbotham (Carnegie Caulfield)
Hilton McMurdo (Northern Districts)
Reinhard Van Speybroeck (Melville Fremantle)
Steve Harcourt (Northern Districts)
Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello Joinery)
Nathan Russell (Caravello Joinery)
Craig McCartney (Geelong West)
Jarrod Poad (Northern Districts)
Matthew Miller (Adelaide)
Russell Brooks (Midland)
David Rawlings (Southern Districts)
Leon Vogels (Southern Districts)
Michael Bowles (Midland)
Lance Portman (Melville Fremantle)
Gary Wright (Northern Districts)

DNF Brad Anderson (Carnegie Caulfield)
DNF Damien Cranage (Adelaide)
DNF Brian Appleyard (Sydney)
DNF Chris Glasby (Northern Districts)
DNF Mark Ferguson (Midland)
DNF David McPartland (Victoria)
DNF Steven Williams (Sutherland Shire)
DNF Brendan Shipp (St George)
DNF James Roberts (Northern Districts)
DNF Tony Mann (Sunshine Coast)
DNF Ian Gregory (Melville Fremantle)
DNF Matthew Tognini (Melville Fremantle)
DNF Stuart Durham (Melville Fremantle)
DNF Steven Jansen (Melville Fremantle)
DNF Stuart Gribble (Northern Districts)
DNF Martyn Depanazzi