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Be Active Cycle Instead Criterium Series - NE
Perth, Australia, January 2-5, 2004
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Race 2 - January 3: Bien Cafe Cup Of Wheels, Perth
Manion's move proves a winner
By Tracey Tilsed
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A decision to try a breakaway at the business end of the Bien Café Cup of Wheels in Perth's CBD proved to be a wise one for Tasmania's Caleb Manion. The twenty-two year old West Tamar cyclist made a race winning break with four laps to go and never looked threatened as he headed across the finish line to claim victory in race one in the Perth International Cycling Series. The Tasmanian Institute of Sport cyclist crossed the finish line ahead of Western Australian riders Hilton McMurdo and Edie Hollands.
The first leg of the series saw riders compete in warm and humid conditions, which as the race progressed and the pace increased, took its toll on many of the riders. 44 riders started the race and 20 failed to finish, including current world champion, Peter Dawson.
Henk Vogels Jnr continued his unlucky run when he crashed on the back straight of the course. While travelling at full speed, the handlebars on his bike snapped, sending Vogels crashing down onto the road. Reports indicated that Vogels, who is in his comeback race since suffering from a serious injury in a fall last year, had only suffered cuts and bruises.
For most of the race, the field was strung out and as the pace quickened, the field broke into small groups over the course. A number of breakaways were attempted, however none were successful as the rest of the field took all breaks seriously and continued to chase down any move. That was until Manion made his decisive move with only a handful of laps to go.
The PIVoD team member broke away, opening up a 100m gap and with three laps to go, Manion held a 12 second lead over his nearest rivals. Manion held his lead as the chase group, led by WA's Hilton McMurdo, continued to close the gap. However, Manion held his composure to cross the line metres ahead of the fast finishing McMurdo and Hollands.
Manion was full of praise for the Perth course. "Although the course was tough, it was also very quick. It was good to have something different to ride on from the normal criterium course", Manion said. "The King Street section of the course was a bit slippery with the cobblestone surface but there were no major incidents and everyone looked after each other."
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Manion was surprised by how easy his break came towards the end of the race. "I made the break and was surprised that no other riders came across. I actually wanted other riders to come with me but in the end it worked to my advantage," Manion said. The Tassie cyclist normally rides in Italy for about 7 months of the year and was thrilled to get a win back on home soil.
In the Sprints, New Zealander Jaaron Poad won the first sprint of the night, with WA's Kieran Cameron took out the second sprint. Chris Sutton from NSW won the last sprint of the night.
Manion will wear the Yellow Jersey in the second race of the series, the Cheers Bar and Grill Classics in Victoria Park, while Chris Sutton will don the Sprint King green jersey.
Photography
Images by Steve Lack/www.idealcycles.com
- Upmarket King Street but the riders had no time to stop and browse on the tight 800m circuit.
- Riders take to the pavement after the tight right hander into King Street
- A bad start for Henk Vogels breaking his handlebars. Henk Snr. takes the offending bike away
- Aaron Kemps
- Jason Rigg leads new Australian Criterium Champion Nic Brown
- Caleb Manion (Tasmania) rides solo to victory
- The hard chase behind: David Betts, Andrew Sime, Hilton McMurdo
- Winner Caleb Manion waits for the podium
- The podium (L to R): Edmund Hollands (3rd), Hilton McMurdo (2nd), Caleb Manion (1st), Chris Sutton (Sprint King)
- Hilton McMurdo with partner Jane Second place at 42 years of age.
- 3rd placed Edmund Hollands showing off his new Giant Asia team issue bike
Results
1 Caleb Manion (Tas) PIVoD 15 pts 2 Hilton McMurdo (WA) Statesman 14 3 Edmund Hollands (WA) 96FM 13 4 David Betts (Qld) Vogels 12 5 Chris Sutton (NSW) Asset 11 6 Andrew Sime (WA) Be Active 10 7 Joel Pearson (VIC) Be Active 9 8 Ryan Suckling (WA) War 8 9 Jason Rigg (WA) War 7 10 Aaron Kemps (Qld) Be Active 6 11 Nic Brown (WA) Apex 5 12 Adam Hansen (VIC) Apex 4 13 Hector Morales (Uru) 96FM 3 14 Tyson Lawrence (WA) Bike Force 2 15 Kieran Cameron (WA) 96FM 1 16 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Balmoral 0 17 Mike van der Putten (Ned) Vogels 0 18 Leon Vogels (WA) Apex 0 19 Phil Riemann (WA) War 0 20 Liam Kelly (NSW) Asset 0 21 Stephen Harcourt (NZ) Statesman 0 22 Rhys Sherborne (WA) War 0 23 Keith Evans (WA) Balmoral 0 24 Nathan Jones (WA) Asset 0 Sprints Sprint 1 1 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Balmoral 3 pts 2 Chris Sutton (NSW) Asset 2 3 Luke Roberts (SA) Balmoral 1 Sprint 2 1 Kieran Cameron (WA) 96FM 3 pts 2 Ryan Suckling (WA) War 2 3 Stephen Harcourt (NZl) Statesman 1 Sprint 3 1 Chris Sutton (NSW) Asset 3 pts 2 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Balmoral 2 3 David Betts (Qld) Vogels 1 Green Jersey Jaaron Poad (NZl) Balmoral 5 pts Chris Sutton (NSW) Asset 5 Kieran Cameron (WA) 96FM 3 Ryan Suckling (WA) War 2 Luke Roberts (SA) Balmoral 1 Stephen Harcourt (NZl) Statesman 1 David Betts (Qld) Vogels 1 Team Standings Be Active Cycle Instead 25 pts 96FM 17 Team War 15 PIVoD Technologies 15 Statesman Homes 14 Vogels Plumbing Svcs 12 Asset Special Projects 11 Apex Car Rentals 9 Bike Force Australia 2 Balmoral Cycles 0
