37th Bendigo Madison - IM

Australia, March 9-11, 2007

2006 Results Results Past winners

Youth prevails once more in Bendigo

By Mal Sawford

The winners
Photo ©: fyxomatosis.com

Five time champion Brett Aitken was unsuccessful in his attempt to claim a record sixth win in the 200 lap Bendigo Madison, with the young pairing of Nic Sanderson and Miles Olman, both South Australia.com/AIS professional road riders, taking the honours on a windy night.

"I want to win a third one, now," said Sanderson, a previous winner of the race in 2005 (with Simon Clarke). He and Olman dominated the sprints, with all attempts to take a lap on the field failing in the tough conditions.

"To win is a fantastic feeling," said Olman. "I wasn't 100 per cent going into the race, but Nic had plenty of confidence that we could win."

Nine of the thirty-four sprints went the way of the winners, and they picked up points in all but four of the remaining sprints to finish with 86 points, well clear of the Drapac-Porsche pairing of Mitchell Docker and Travis Meyer on 67.

German pair Lars Teutenberg and Christian Bach finished further back in third place and 43 points. The best of the local riders was 'veteran' Tim Decker, who rode with young South Australian Jack Bobridge and racked up 33 points to finish fourth, a single point ahead of Leigh Howard and Richard England.

The pairing of Hamish Taylor and Brad Edmunds was well placed early, before fading in the closing stages to finish sixth.

Dempster too strong in lightning fast criterium

The Criterium is a recent addition to the Bendigo Madison Carnival, and kicks off three days of world class racing in one of Australia's provincial cycling havens. Held as a twilight race around Bendigo's main shopping precinct, riders tackle 55 laps with tight corners traditionally favouring strong, front running riders.

This year's edition was no different, with an initial charge off the start line splitting the bunch, and seeing eight riders go clear, and pull rapidly away from the hard chasing bunch. The eight leaders lapped the main field before the half way mark, with the race for the win effectively starting when the main bunch was called of the circuit with ten laps to race.

Local star David Pell launched a huge attack, which only Zak Dempster (South Australia.com/AIS) and Australian Under 23 Criterium champion Dean Windsor (Drapac-Porsche Cycling Team) could follow. Dempster had too much speed at the line and took the win ahead of Windsor and Pell, while Brett Aitken (Savings and Loans) led Nic Sanderson (South Australia.com/AIS) and the rest of the break home.

New South Wales rider Warren Scott took out the valuable Sprint King prize.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by fyxomatosis.com

A racer trails the derny in at high speed.
Shane Kelly chases Jobie Dajka in the keirin heat.
What most racers see of Jobie Dajka.
Adrian Hanson (centre) about to make his move.
Coming out of turn two and chasing hard.
The scoreboard of Madison teams.
Shane Kelly keeping warm between heats.
The punters corner.
A lone rider rolls around.
Jobie Dajka gets on the track the hard way.
Riders contend in the keirin final.
Jobie Dajka checks his rear view for rivals.
Leigh Howard takes his chances on a lone break in the keirin.
Fans enjoying the riding and weather at Bendigo.
Getting a push in the Golden Mile.
Hamish Taylor looking for his partner in the pack.
Drapac worse for wear, but fighting on.
Breathing down the neck of eventual winners SouthAustralia.com/AIS.
A breather on the fence at the halfway mark.
Adrian Hanson on Team Warner Bros.
Slingin' into the race.
Another sling as Drapac fires along.
Why do I have to be Mr Pink?
The action could be viewed from any point of the venue.
Adrian Hanson catches his breath after his partner leaves the track for repairs.
Drapac prove their worth.
Chasing the break.
Wheelie serious racing.
Ze Germans finish strong to round out the podium.
The winners, looking fresh and ready to do it again.

Images by Carl Brewer/www.aboc.com.au

Keith Oliver made the trip to Bendigo.
Keith Oliver showed class.
Chewing the stem.
A strong field in the B grade women's races.
Monique Hanley took home some cash.
A big shove for one of the Malasian riders.
Off you go...
Shane Kelly controls the sprint derby.
Jobie Dajka at full tilt, Shane has the sit.
Are you lot ready for a keiren?
Richard England enjoying a keirin heat.
Jobie Dajka on his way to qualifying for the keirin final.
Shane Kelly perfectly placed to qualify, lead out by endurance trackies.
'Head's up, Shane, we're all smiling'.
Shane gets a hand from a fan, after winning the keirin.
The Jayco-VIS team of Richard England and Leigh Howard, in an early sling.
Leigh Howard makes a path for the SouthAustralia.com boys.
Richard England tows SouthAustralia.com and Drapac towards a sprint.
Early on, some riders are already feeling the intensity.
Your turn.
All night the SouthAustralia.com team was in a class of its own.
Howard and England took a gamble on taking a lap, and almost got it.
Pell and Aitken tried all night, but were never in the running.
After their brave solo break was caught, Richard England starts to feel the effects of an early crash.
Is anyone left? More points for SouthAustralia.com coming up.
Drapac-Porsche chased all night and never gave up.
The local boys rode with courage and determination.
No-one was going to beat Olman and Sanderson tonight...
...not even the experience and class of Brett Aitken could stop them.
One last sling...
...deserves another

Results

Bendigo International Madison

1 Miles Olman/Nic Sanderson         86 pts
2 Mitchell Docker/Travis Meyer      67
3 Lars Teutenberg/Christian Bach    43
4 Tim Decker/Jack Bobridge          33
5 Leigh Howard/Richard England      32
6 Hamish Taylor/Brad Edmunds        26

Bendigo International Criterium

1 Zak Dempster
2 Dean Windsor
3 David Pell
4 Brett Aitken
5 Nic Sanderson

Past winners

2006 Zac Dempster/Mitchell Docker (Aus)
2005 Nic Sanderson/Simon Clarke (Aus) Victorian Institute of Sport
2004 Brett Aitken (Aus)/Eric Weispfennig (Ger)
2003 Steve Wooldridge (NSW)/Rodney McGee (NSW) NSW Institute of Sport
2002 Scott McGrory (Victoria)/Brett Aitken (South Australia)
2001 Scott McGrory (Vic)/Brett Aitken (SA)
2000 Stephen Pate/Baden Cooke (Aus)
1999 Stephen Pate/Darren Young (Aus)
1998 Stephen Pate/Baden Cooke (Aus)
1997 Stephen Pate/Brett Aitken (Aus)
1996 Chris White/Tim Decker (Aus)
1995 Matthew Gilmore/Dean Woods (Aus)
1994 Brett Aitken/Stuart O'Grady (Aus)
1993 Pat Marcucci/David Maltby
1992 Roland Gunther/Andrew Stirling
1991 Roland Gunther/Michael Grenda
1990 Wayne McCarney/Pat Marcucci
1989 Bruno Hollenweger/Peter Steiger
1988 Dieter Geibken/Tom Sawyer
1987 Stan Tourne/Max Rainsford
1986 Danny Clarke/Tony Doyle
1985 Rik Patterson/Glenn Clarke
1984 Steele Bishop/Hans Kanel
1983 Gary and Shane Sutton
1982 Danny Clarke/Shane Sutton
1981 Danny Clark/Paul Medhurst
1980 Don and David Allan
1979 Danny Clark/Don Allan
1978 Malcom Hill/John Thorsen
1977 Don Allan/Phil Sawyer
1976 Don and David Allan
1975 Danny Clark/Frank Atkins
1974 Keith Oliver/Bob Whetters
1973 Keith Oliver/Bob Whetters
1972 Keith Oliver/Bob Whetters
 
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com