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35th Bendigo Madison - IM
Australia, March 11-13, 2005
Day 1 - March 11: Bendigo criterium, 40 laps
19 year-old Brit trumps star-studded field
By Mal Sawford in Bendigo
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For the second year, a twilight criterium was held as a prelude to the two-day track carnival which culminates with the famous Bendigo Madison. The 40-lap race around an 800 metre town centre circuit attracted a quality field of local and international stars, and was taken out in fine style by young British roadman Mark Cavendish, with the race covered in an incredible 37'40"!
Wearing the number 1 bib was Sydney Olympic Madison Champion Scott McGrory, well and truly on the comeback trail after a fall in Europe six weeks ago; while the number 2 bib was reserved for Jame Carney. The popular US track star was unable to take the start line after scoring an interview earlier in the day for the Head Coach position at the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, but arrived in Bendigo in time to cheer on Madison partner Darren Young.
Inaugural winner Lars Teutenberg was back to defend his title, along with a strong posse of German riders, including Christian Lademann, Erik Weispfenning and Franz Stocher. New Australian domestic team HLP/Ridewiser was also keen to impress, with regular guest David McKenzie joining Barcelona Olympian Robert Crowe to lead the team.
After six weeks of warm weather training in Australia, Cavendish and his British team mates were in good form, Earlier this month at the Sydney round of the Track World Cup, he picked up a silver medal in the Team's Pursuit and a bronze (with Tom White) in the Madison, and were looking to head home on a high note.
A good crowd lined the streets, or watched from balconies in one of the many pubs that lined the circuit! Organizers were a little disappointed that an AFL Football pre-season match between powerhouses Essendon and Geelong had been scheduled in town on the same night, keeping spectator numbers down somewhat.
How it unfolded
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The rectangular circuit consisted of two long straights separated by two shorter ones. The 90 degree corners allowed riders to carry plenty of speed despite a few bumps and potholes, and there was plenty of competition for a starting position on the front row of the grid! Local rider Evan Corry (Decked Out Coaching) led the strung out field through the first lap, before the first attack of the day came from Chris Sutton (FDJeux.com) and Trent Stevenson (De Grandi Cycle & Sport) two laps later.
The pair weren't able to hold off the chase long enough to challenge for the first of three intermediate sprints, as Simon Clarke (Victorian Institute of Sport) set off in pursuit. Clarke's efforts prompted a response by Nathan Clarke and British riders Christian House and Ed Clancy, and the bunch reformed allowing Nathan Clarke to take the sprint ahead of Nic Sanderson (VIS).
McKenzie stretched his legs soon after the sprint, joined by another of the ever attentive Brits in Tom White. Miles Olman (Queensland Academy of Sport) moved to the front to close the break down, but once things were back together with 25 laps remaining, Simon Clarke jumped away alone. Sanderson and Sutton put the brakes on at the head of the field, allowing Clarke to open the biggest gap of the evening, but he too was chased down by the riders in red, white and blue.
Sanderson reversed the result of the first sprint at 20 laps to go, narrowly beating Nathan Clarke to the line, leaving the pair tied on five points. First House, and then Chris Bradford (Wismilak), made unsuccessful attempts to escape alone heading towards the final intermediate sprint, but McGrory led the chase, and forced a split in the bunch with a dozen riders, including Rob Crowe (HLP/Ridewiser), Pat Shaw (VIS), Cavendish and Tim Decker (Decked Out Coaching), opening a twenty metre advantage.
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Lademann (Sparkasse) closed the move down, but not before Crowe had jumped away to take the final sprint prize, while Sanderson's second place wrapped up the Sprint Championship.
Teutenberg had won the 2004 race with a solo move in the final laps, and made his bid for back to back wins with an attack at nine to go. Lademann played the perfect policeman at the head of the field, but the hard chasing field were not to been denied, ending the German's hopes two laps later.
Decker briefly raised local hopes, leading the field under the finish line at seven to go, before the Brits took control. Richard England (VIS) charged up the inside to put Sanderson and Simon Clarke into position, while the HLP squad went round the outside to set up Mackenzie. At the bell Mitchell Docker (Drapac/Porsche Development Team) led, with McGrory in third wheel, followed by Clarke, Sanderson and Tommy Nankervis (Fitzroy Cycles), but all five British riders were still in the top dozen.
The HLP train had derailed in the final few laps, but the canny Mackenzie freelanced his way into position, and made his move down the back straight, and was first around the final corner. Cavendish, a 19 year-old from the Isle of Mann, was quick to follow, and saved an impressive final burst for the finishing straight, crossing the line a full length clear of team mate Tom White, who snuck past the tiring Macca in the final metres.
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Cavendish was clearly delighted with his win, and roared as he crossed the line with both arms aloft. He told Cyclingnews: "it's one of the biggest wins of my career, considering the field anyway. I couldn't have wished to win against them, but once again my team did outstanding the last part of the race to make sure it came down to a sprint finish for me. I've got them to thank for everything, but just to finish off by coming around McKenzie! That was something you don't think you're going to be able to do a few years ago."
McKenzie was gallant in defeat, saying "I knew I was suffering though, but I thought 'at least put yourself in the best position' and I did that and was beaten by two better riders on the night. I jumped well, jumped down the back straight and I had the kick, but I just needed the line to be fifty metres back that way! They did a good lead out, so compliments to them; they worked hard so they deserved the win. They're obviously going well, so they'll be a couple of guys to watch in the Madison no doubt.
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McGrory finished just off the podium in fourth place, and was happy with the hit out. "It was basically six weeks since I crashed in the Bremen Six, so it was really not just a leg opener; but a lung opener and an artery opener, everything! So the boys definitely get faster and faster back here, there's no easy racing anymore, and I was kind of dreaming a little bit, thinking I could maybe go in there and roll around, but of course once you start racing the competitive spirit gets into it and I just started going too hard! The guys are definitely riding well; you've got to be in good shape to perform against these guys, so I'm pretty happy with where I've come from. The British guys really worked well together the last part of the race and of course deserved to win."
McGrory was a little concerned with recovering ahead of Sunday night's 80 kilometre Madison, where he will ride with former World Champion Weispfenning. "I'm really going to have to take it easy tomorrow (Saturday) night now, because I think I went a bit too deep then, and I'm obviously not fit enough to be able to back up every day. I'll have to sacrifice tomorrow, but who knows, I've got a lot of experience when it comes to Madison racing, so I'll be calling on every bit of it, and hopefully it'll be all right.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mal Sawford/Cyclingnews
- Rob Crowe helps David McKenzie pin on his racing number.
- A who's who of international cycling on the start line.
- The bunch corners at 50 clicks an hour.
- Trent Stevenson and Chris Sutton were the first to attack.
- Simon Clarke attacked repeatedly but had no luck.
- Single file into Mundy Street.
- The British lead at three to go.
- 19 year-old Mark Cavendish scores the big win.
Results
40 Laps 1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Great Britain 2 Tom White (GBr) Great Britain 3 David McKenzie (Aus) HLP/Ridewiser 4 Scott McGrory (Aus) Victoria 5 Nic Sanderson (Aus) Victorian Institute of Sport 6 Simon Clarke (Aus) Victorian Institute of Sport 10 Lap Sprint 1 Nathan Clarke (Aus) Tasmania 3 pts 2 Nic Sanderson (Aus) Victorian Institute of Sport 2 3 Chris Sutton (Aus) Française Des Jeux 1 20 Lap Sprint 1 Nic Sanderson (Aus) Victorian Institute of Sport 3 pts 2 Nathan Clarke (Aus) Tasmania 2 3 Casey Munro (Aus) Victorian Institute of Sport 1 30 Lap Sprint 1 Robert Crowe (Aus) HLP/Ridewiser 3 pts 2 Nic Sanderson (Aus) Victorian Institute of Sport 2 3 Stephen Fitzpatrick (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport 1 Sprint Champion 1 Nic Sanderson (Aus) Victorian Institute of Sport 7 pts 2 Nathan Clarke (Aus) Tasmania 5 3 Robert Crowe (Aus) HLP/Ridewiser) 3
