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35th Bendigo Madison - IM
Australia, March 11-13, 2005
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Day 2 - March 12: Bendigo Wheelrace, 2000m
Feature wheelrace tops first day of track action
By Mal Sawford in Bendigo
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Although the Sunday program boasts the headline 200 lap Madison and the final of the prestigious Golden Mile Wheelrace, the Saturday session of the Bendigo International Madison Carnival featured plenty of world class racing.
As he had indicated after his fourth place finish in Friday night's Criterium, Scott McGrory sat out the day's racing to fully recover ahead of the all important Madison. Even without the Olympic Gold Medallist, the elite field boasted five 'Scratch Men'; Shane Kelly, US star Jame Carney, and the Tasmanian trio of Darren Young, Nathan Clarke and Stephen Rosendell - far and away the best field assembled in Victoria this season.
Gold and Opal 2000m Wheelrace
The field was split into seven heats, with the top three from each heat and the fourth placed finishers from the three fastest heats qualifying for the final. The first heat saw the back markers reel in the entire field on the first lap, before sprinting clear on the final lap to take the top four places. Tony Jones took the win from Justin Leske and Andrew Cox, but the relatively slow pace cost Rohan McCaig a spot in the final.
Experience saw veterans Laurie Noonan and Laurie Naughton cruise through in the second, and slowest heat, while the next two heats went to Matt Crampton and Ed Clancy. Both are members of the British Under 23 team and seemed to have no trouble acclimatizing to the 30 degree heat.
Eighteen year old Simon Clarke, a member of the Junior World Champion Team's Pursuit team, won the day's fastest heat with an impressive burst of speed, after his fellow back markers had taken until the final half lap to reel in the field, scorching round the outside to qualify ahead of Jarrod Moroni and outmarker Steven Gilbert.
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Scratchmen Carney, Clarke and Rossendell made contact with the bunch a lap and a half from home in the sixth heat but weren't able to get to the front of the charging bunch. Daniel Thorson took the win, ahead of a wall of riders. Local star David Pell, Steve Fitzpatrick and Richard England got the nod after judges were forced to go to the video.
Shane Kelly was the lone Scratch rider to qualify, finishing second behind Australian Kierin Champion Joel Leonard. Leonard took the win with his trademark finishing burst, with Kelly following him to the line.
The final saw Naughton with a huge gap over the field, leaving him with no option but to try to time trial the entire distance. The rest of the field came together at two to go, and seemed to ease off, giving Naughton a sniff of an unlikely victory. He was eventually caught just shy of the bell, after Noonan took the bit between his teeth and lifted the pace again.
Young Bendigo rider Sean Pontelandolfo took over at the bell, stringing the bunch out again, while a clash of wheels saw England hit the deck hard in front of the judges. Simon Clarke had once again threaded his way through the bunch to be perfectly positioned entering the back straight and powered home to take the Gold and Opal Wheelrace in convincing fashion.
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Before the final, cyclingnews asked Clarke to assess his form. He put his success down to "some lucky rides!" but chance played no part in his race plan during the final. "I just tried to ride smart. I knew there was a bigger gap behind Richard and me to the Scratchies, so I thought that if we could get up to the Englishmen in front of us nice and quick then they'd have a hard time chasing and when they got on they'd be rather tired, so just tried to capitalise on that."
The win gives Clarke a confidence boost leading into the Madison which he will ride with Nic Sanderson. He was a little surprised to be in such good form, saying "I'm pretty happy with how I'm going. I just came off a big camp in Canberra at the AIS on the road (Clarke cemented a place in the Australian Under 23 Road team at the camp), usually that isn't very good preparation for a track event, so under those circumstances I'm pretty happy!"
Golden Mile Wheelrace Heats
Run over the metric mile equivalent of 1600 metres, the heats are held during the Saturday program, with the final the curtain raiser to Sunday's Madison. Again, riders were divided into seven heats, with only the top three in each earning a ride in the big money final.
New South Wales veteran Ian Morwood did his best to hold off the bunch from the limit mark in the first heat, but succumbed at the bell, allowing Noonan to collect his second heat win of the day. Back markers Victorian Institute of Sport team mates Pat Shaw and Jason Niblett went through after reeling in a disorganised gaggle of outmarkers in the second heat.
Tasmanian Ben Price hit the lead at the bell in the third heat, with Criterium winner Mark Cavendish on his wheel. Cavendish was content to follow Price's long effort home, with Mark Dalton thid home and another rider to qualify for both finals.
Simon Clarke collected his second heat win, after doing much of the work to put his fellow back markers in contention. Mackenzie Bradley held off the chase until the final bend, before Clarke flashed past ahead of Crampton and Fitzpatrick.
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Richard England is renowned as a strong rider who often sacrifices his own chances in handicaps by doing too much as he tows the back markers up to the front of the bunch. In the fifth heat he clearly saved a little something for himself, shooting out of the bunch in the back straight to claim a convincing win ahead of Zak Dempster and Sean Pontelandolfo in the fastest heat of the evening.
Once again the five scratch riders were split over the final two heats. They looked in trouble in Heat 7 as the outmarkers combined well; before Rossendell did the job to put Carney and Kelly close enough to sprint into the top two places. Aaron Salisbury read the move, and followed Kelly to the line to claim his place in the final.
Young and Clarke had a more straight forward ride in the final heat, powering around the bunch with ease, and taking Joel Leonard along for the ride. The final seems stacked in favour of the back markers, with two thirds of the field riding from seventy metres or less. Kelly made no secret of his desire to take the win, but watch for the diminutive American! Carney would no doubt like to go out on a high in what is almost certainly his final appearance in an Australian Wheelrace.
Kelly nominated Simon Clarke as the main danger, and hinted at his tactics for the final, saying "If and when we catch them we've got to go straight past!"
Women
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The opening women's race was ridden as a pursuit match, with the B Grade girls given a half lap start over eight laps, and the prizes going to the first three riders over the line. Erin Downing pulled her foot at the start, leaving the front group with only four, but was able to clip in in time to latch onto the A Grade group.
Even with Downing contributing to the chase, the A Grade bunch left it to the last minute to reel in the quartet. Belinda Goss had read it well, and had little trouble getting to the front when it counted, kicking clear of Jessica Berry in the home straight.
Former elite gymnast Livia Gluchowska claimed her biggest win to date in the 1000 metre handicap. Goss rode from scratch, but spend a lot of energy regaining contact with the back markers after Renee Braithwaite lost Jessica Berry's wheel.
Goss fought her way back into contention, but had no answer when the winner made her move with two hundred metres to go, sprinting well clear of Hannah Bush and Catherine Allen. After resolving differences with immigration officials recently, Gluchowska put her impressive ride down to confidence - and a fantastic push from massive training partner Mark Nelson! "I've been doing a lot of work lately with Hilton Clarke, and a lot less stressing which helped me get my confidence and speed up at the end of the season. I'm not worried about every one else (in the race), I just do my own thing and it worked out!"
The Women's final event was a traditional scratch race, which saw another convincing win to Goss ahead of Berry after eight relatively uneventful laps.
Bill McLachlan Memorial Aces 5 Mile Scratch Race
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Defending champion Shane Kelly made it two in a row, after a frenetic twenty lap dash that covered the distance in under nine and half minutes. The first fifteen laps were raced at breakneck pace, with Kelly looking in a bit of difficulty at the tail end of the strung out bunch.
Ed Clancy was the first rider willing to risk an attack, but never got more than a couple of lengths before Darren Young closed the gap. Miles Olman took up the pace making duties at three to go, with Nathan Clarke and Carney close behind. Just behind, David Pell tangled with Christian Lademann and as judges and journos alike ducked for cover, managed to pull off an amazing recovery. The hiccup allowed Kelly to weave his way into the top five, and when Carney hit out down the back straight, he was perfectly positioned to follow before sprinting clear in the home straight. Erik Weispfennig held off Cavendish for third, with Simon Clarke next home in the only race he didn't win on the night!
Kelly admitted he had been too far back late in the race, being spurred into action by the on course commentator. "The last I heard was 'Kelly's caught down the back' and actually that's where I thought I was going to stay, but luckily the pace eased up a bit with six laps to go, and that was ideal. I was feeling it, I was up on top of the handlebars trying to get a bit of air in, and a few gaps opened underneath and got a few perfect rides around the outside, so it was beautiful."
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With the Carnival focussing primarily on the endurance riders, I asked Kelly how important it is to come to country meets like Bendigo. "It's great," he replied. "I say every year I do everything I can to get here. Sometimes I can't, but I think this is the best carnival in Australia, and I could almost say one of the best in the world. The crowd's good, the weather's good, the class of rider that's here - you don't get that anywhere else."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by CJ Farquharson
- Jessica Berry and Briana James roll out in the Pursuit Scratch Race, where 'A' grade had to catch 'B' to win.
- Gold and Opal Wheelrace winner, Simon Clarke, thanks the sponsors and wishes Richard England a speedy recovery from his late-race crash.
- Serious competition in the junior races.
- David McKenzie - back on the track.
- Kristian House (GBR) concentrates during a wheelrace heat.
- Briana James at the front of the A Group in the Pursuit Scratch Race.
- Roz Bradley takes her turn for the B Group in the Pursuit Scratch Race.
- Mark Cavendish (GBR) in the midst of things in a Wheelrace heat.
- Simon Clarke at the head of the line in his Wheelrace heat.
- Shane Kelly on the wheel of Jame Carney (USA) in the 5 mile Scratch Race.
- Joel Leonard in the 5 mile Scratch Race.
- The Gold and Opal Wheelrace 'hots up' at the front, just as Richard England (C) hit the ground.
- Simon Clarke is interviewed by Cyclingnews reporter Mal Sawford after his win.
- Line-up for the 5 mile scratch race - world, national and State jerseys wait to go.
- Seeing double? World junior track champions, Simon Clarke and Mitchell Docker in the 5 mile Scratch Race.
- Daniel Thorsen, Zac Dempster and Mark Cavendish create a wall of red.
- Shane Kelly is presented with the winner's sash and flowers for winning the 5 mile Scratch Race.
- Tahlia Clayton takes B grade scratch honours from Emma Waldron and Roz Bradley.
Images by Mal Sawford
- Anthony Rix holds off Michael Downing in the U17 Scratch race
- Jessica White ready to go in the U11 Handicap
- The British team lead the senior warm up
- Jame Carney enjoying his day in sunny Bendigo
- Darren Young and Shane Kelly on the scratch mark
- The A Grade Women ready to go in the Pursuit
- Belinda Goss all fired up after tips from Gary Sutton
- Carney leads the backmarkers in a heat of the Wheelrace
Results
Afternoon Session Ascot Holiday Park Under 11 Scratch Race 1 Brae Mapson 2 Mark Kelly 3 Jarrod Asplin Neverfail Water Under 13 Women's Scratch Race 1 Antonia Abbisogni 2 Imogen Jelbart 3 Madison Leske Bart'n'print Under 13 B Grade Scratch Race 1 Brandon Asplin 2 Mark White 3 Zachary Cooper Bendigo & District Cycling Club Under 13 A Grade Scratch Race 1 Tyson McCaig 2 Jaron Gardiner 3 Evan Hull Neverfail Water Under 15/17 Women's Scratch Race 1 Samanth Verlin 2 Ester Pugh-U'ren 3 Catherine White Bendigo Mower Service Under 15 B Grade Scratch Race 1 Todd Schintler 2 Chesney Milne 3 Sam Conder Bendigo Bicycle Centre Under 15 A Grade Scratch Race 1 Aaron Box 2 Joshua Tepper 3 Nicholas Conder (RIX) Bendigo Dry Cleaners Under 17 B Grade Scratch Race 1 Jamie Crass 2 Rhys Newby 3 Jamie Leech Bendigo Fireworks Under 17 A Grade Scratch Race 1 Anthony Rix 2 Michael Downing 3 Glenn O'Shea Bendigo Pottery Under 11 600M Handicap 1 Mark Kelly (15m) 2 Brae Mapson (Scr) 3 Jarrod Asplin (50m) Bendigo & District Cycling Club Under 13 Women's 600M Handicap 1 Sophie Waldron (90m) 2 Bianca McKenzie (85m) 3 Imogen Jelbart (40m) Southern Cross Travel Under 13 600M Handicap 1 Brandon May (75m) 2 Jacob Schmid (65m) 3 Tyson McCaig (20m) Bob Cameron Under 13 600M Handicap 1 Mitchell Elmer 2 Sam O'Dea 3 Zachary Cooper Baker's Delight Under 15/17 Women's 1000M Handicap 1 Catherine White (30m) 2 Rebecca Hooper (120m) 3 Shelly Flood (80m) Peter Perez Plumbing Under 15 1000M Handicap 1 Chesney Milne (140m) 2 Kieran Pontelandolfo (150m) 3 Aaron Cooper (70m) Sundance Saloon Under 17 2000M Handicap 1 Cameron Sheedy (120m) 2 Jeremy Kelly (110m) 3 Jamie Leech (100m) Evening Session La Trobe University Bendigo Gold And Opal 2000M Wheelrace Heats Pratty's Patch Heat 1 1 Tony Jones (170m) 2.15.20 2 Justin Leske (170m) 3 Andrew Cox (170m) 4 Rohan McCaig (170m) Cartridge World Heat 2 1 Laurie Noonan (150m) 2.18.54 2 Tim Dalton (185m) 3 Laurie Naughton (260m) 4 Glenn Baldwin (185m) Santons Of Bendigo Heat 3 1 Matt Crampton (70m) 2.12.70 2 Kouji Yoshi (70m) 3 Jason Niblett (85m) 4 Justin Tomlinson (205m) Reilly Electrical Heat 4 1 Ed Clancy (65m) 2.13.42 2 Sean Pontelandolfo (140m) 3 Travis Hull (120m) 4 Peter Fitzpatrick (50m) Bolton Brothers Heat 5 1 Simon Clarke (50m) 2.12.27 2 Jarrod Moroni (170m) 3 Steven Gilbert (190m) 4 Mark Cavendish (65m) Central Deborah Motor Inn Heat 6 1 Daniel Thorsen (25m) 2.12.58 2 David Pell (70m) 3 Steve Fitzpatrick (90m) 4 Richard England (50m) Homestead Motor Inn Heat 7 1 Joel Leonard (20m) 2.12.50 2 Shane Kelly (Scr) 3 Toby Lennon (110m) 4 Casey Munro (160m) Quest Apartments Women's Pursuit Scratch Race 1 Belinda Goss 2 Jessica Berry 3 Hannah Bush Powercor Golden Mile Wheelrace Heat 1 1 Laurie Noonan (110m) 1.51.25 2 Mark Nelson (140m) 3 Justin Leske (130m) Heat 2 1 Pat Shaw (70m) 1.45.75 2 Jason Niblett (70m) 3 Justin Tomlinson (160m) Heat 3 1 Ben Price (50m) 1.48.91 2 Mark Cavendish (55m) 3 Paul Dalton (145m) Heat 4 1 Simon Clarke (45m) 1.47.47 2 Matt Crampton (65m) 3 Steve Fitzpatrick (70m) Heat 5 1 Richard England (40m) 1.44.12 2 Zak Dempster (40m) 3 Sean Pontelandolfo (105m) Heat 6 1 Jame Carney (Scr) 1.47.34 2 Shane Kelly (Scr) 3 Aaron Salisbury (70m) Heat 7 1 Darren Young (Scr) 1.46.06 2 Nathan Clarke (Scr) 3 Joel Leonard (15m) Tourism Victoria Women's 1000M Handicap 1 Livia Gluchowska (50m) 1.12.32 2 Hannah Bush (35m) 3 Catherine Allen (35m) La Trobe University Bendigo Gold And Opal 2000M Wheelrace Finalists Laurie Naughton (260m) Steven Gilbert (190m) Tim Dalton (185m) Jarrod Moroni (170m) Tony Jones (170m) Justin Leske (170m) Andrew Cox (170m) Casey Munro (160m) Laurie Noonan (150m) Sean Pontelandolfo (140m) Travis Hull (120m) Toby Lennon (110m) Steve Fitzpatrick (90m) Jason Niblett (85m) David Pell (70m) Matt Crampton (70m) Kouji Yoshi (70m) Ed Clancy (65m) Mark Cavendish (65m) Richard England (50m) Simon Clarke (50m) Daniel Thorsen (25m) Joel Leonard (20m) Shane Kelly (Scr) Final 1 Simon Clarke (50m) 2.09.19 2 Travis Hull (120m) 3 Toby Lennon (110m) Online Laser B Grade Scratch Race 1 Matt Crampton 2 Aaron Salisbury 3 Toby Lennnon Bill McLachlan Memorial AAPT Aces 5 Mile Scratch Race 1 Shane Kelly 2 Jame Carney 3 Erik Weispfennig Trickeys Diesel Women's B Grade Scratch Race 1 Tahlia Clayton 2 Emma Waldron 3 Roz Bradley Bendigo Self Contained Cottages Women's A Grade Scratch Race 1 Belinda Goss 2 Jessica Berry 3 Briana James Southern Cross Travel C Grade Scratch Race 1 Sean Pontelandolfo 2 David Browne 3 Simon Barkla Boardwalk Café D Grade Scratch Race 1 Brenton Slotegraaf 2 Justin Leske 3 Dean Stewart Tweed Sutherland Real Estate E Grade Scratch Race 1 Justin Tomlinson 2 Damien Semmler 3 David Mann O'Farrell Robertson McMahon F Grade Scratch Race 1 David Fairburn 2 Laurie Naughton 3 Brendan Sait
