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Carnegie Caulfield CC $1000 50 Kilometer Points Score Classic
Packer Park Velodrome, February 12, 2004
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Pell the untouchable
By Mal Sawford
One of the tougher events on the Victorian Summer Track fixture is the annual twilight 50 Kilometer Points Score held on the fast Carnegie Track. A near record field of 32 contested the event, held over 135 laps and featuring 19 intermediate sprints.
The young stars were expected to dominate; riding under the Victorian Institute of Sport banner were Junior World's Pursuit medallist Michael Ford, Simon Clarke and Gerard Murphy, while the new Drapac Property/Porsche squad had Brad Norton and Mitchell Docker on the line. Last weekend's Austral winner Zak Dempster (Hardings Cycles) was also up for the challenge along side Pat Shaw (Giant).
Representing the 'old guard' were Bendigo riders Tim Decker (Decked Out) and David Pell (HPM), and 2003 runner up Richard England (Le Tour Cycles). After Hamish Taylor took out the first sprint it was England who launched the first attack. His move was short lived, but with the big bunch still recovering from the first chase, Pell rolled off the front. Realizing he was clear, Pell, a noted time triallist, picked up the pace and quickly opened a lead of half a lap.
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Until the 60 laps to go sprint, the sprints were held every ten laps. Pell looked comfortable as he took out the next two sprints, before easing off and rejoining the field with 100 laps still to travel. Docker counter attacked, taking Dylan Boone and Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy Cycles), Mario Giramondo (Giramondo Sportswear) and Peter Trigar (ACR) clear with Pell able to follow. Decker was caught out of position, but chased across to the lead group with England as the gap started to open.
The group combined well, and despite a chase were over half a lap clear before the pace became too high for Boone. Nankervis and Giramondo were also in trouble but fought back as the break approached the tail of the field. The sprint at 70 to go had extra significance, worth $50 and double points. Pell had already opened a commanding lead, but was quick to pounce, claiming the cash, and in the process catching the main field, but causing Nankervis and Giramondo to lose contact.
With 20 points awarded for lapping the field, Pell, Docker, Decker England and Trigar had assured themselves of the major places. Pell seemed untouchable: as rider after rider tried to get away in the final 60 laps, he was always quick to chase, and still had the strength to sprint. In all, Pell won nine of the nineteen sprints, and was only out of the placings four times!
Decker and Docker staged a close fight for second place, neck and neck on points throughout the race. Docker led by two points before the final sprint, worth double points and another $50, so whichever of the two crossed the line first would take the second spot on the podium. Hamish Taylor jumped away down the back straight, but Pell and Docker were quick to follow, passing Taylor in the final straight. Decker had no answer, and finished out of the points in third overall.
It was the first time Pell had ridden the Carnegie track, which he likened to his home track in Bendigo 'very quick; down the straights and coming over the top of people it's a fast track'. Pell has only been back on the track bike for a couple of weeks, after originally targeting the road this year with plans to join a German team. His goal now is a spot on the Olympic Shadow team, and he plans to attack the Pursuit qualifying time at the Victorian Titles at the end of the month.
Photography
Images by Mal Sawford
- The big field waits for starters orders
- All together in the early stages
- Richard England was the first too attack
- Tim Decker takes out the second sprint
- David Pell sets the pace
- Austral winner Zac Dempster in action
- Justin Davis was strong in the closing stages
- David Pell relaxes after his big win
Results
1 David Pell (Bendigo) 87 pts 2 Mitchell Docker (Brunswick) 48 3 Tim Decker (Bendigo) 40 4 Richard England (Blackburn) 34 5 Peter Trigar (Brunswick) 30 6 Justin Davis (Carnegie Caulfield) 11 7 Pat Shaw (Ballarat) 11 8 Peter Ladd (Bendigo) 10 9 Simon Clarke (Carnegie Caulfield) 10 10 Hamish Taylor (Northcote) 9
