Stage 4 - January 5: Geelong Botanic Gardens
Davis fires to win and series lead
By Malcolm Sawford in Geelong
Allan Davis (FRF Couriers - NSWIS) vaulted into the series lead, unleashing his famed finishing burst to cap off a textbook lead out from Graeme Brown. The top ten for the stage included a who's who of Australia's leading professionals, with Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans), Mark Renshaw (Geelong Mazda), Stuart O'Grady (Skilled), Baden Cooke (deTourMovie.com), Hilton Clarke (Portfolio Partners) and Henk Vogels (John Trevorrow's Cycle Store/Chifley Hotel) crossing the line in Davis' wake.
The final stage sees four riders in contention for the overall win: Cooke and Renshaw are tied on 30 points, two behind the new leader, with Clarke five points from the lead. The final stage's hilly circuit on the northern side of Eastern Beach has generally produced breakaway winners, so Davis and his team will face a tough challenge to keep the challengers at bay.
Davis agreed. "The points are so close on the overall, anything can happen. You need a little luck in these situations, but if we can pull off the overall, that would be great.
"Brownie did an awesome job," Davis continued, "he's a top class sprinter in himself, and it's a bonus for me having him lead me out. We came to the top corner, about 700 metres out, and he went pretty early, but he went hard enough that we gapped the guys behind us, so I had a bit of a quick look around and I went a bit earlier than what I would normally in a sprint, but because of the effort that Brownie did it made it a pretty secure victory.
"We went into the week looking for the overall victory and a stage win, and we've gone close on quite a few occasions and it's a real team effort what we've done through the week, especially today. The guys rode really well and kept it together for a bunch sprint which is what we wanted, and we've got the jersey. I'd just like to thank all the team. They've worked really hard through the week, and there's a couple of young guys [Joe Lewis and John Ebling] who have never worked with a team environment before and they've come up really good."
How it unfolded
An early attack by Dean Windsor (Drapac Porsche - Sofitel Mansion Spa), Sean Finning (Jayco Bianchi VIS) and Jack Bobridge (Skilled) that hovered ten seconds in front of the bunch looked like it might have stolen the day when reinforcements arrived and the margin began to grow. Tommy Nankervis (deTourMovie.com), Scott Davis (Geelong Mazda), Johnnie Clarke (Portfolio Partners) and Koen de Kort (A&I Helicopters) chased across, and although Bobridge fell off the pace, the remaining six riders worked evenly to go out to a 20-second lead.
It was left to the FRF Couriers - NSWIS team to do the chasing, and after some big turns by Will Walker and Brown, the long escape came to end with just 13 minutes to race. In the closing stages, solo attacks by Richard England (Jayco Bianchi VIS), Travis Meyer (Swanston Hotel/Grand Mercure) and Angus Morton (Drapac Porsche - Sofitel Mansion Spa) were all neutralized, before the FRF train assembled to deliver Davis to the line.
Bates gets it right, Dunn clings to series lead
Sixteen year-old sensation Megan Dunn (CBD/NSWIS Development Team), a self confessed non-sprinter, kept the yellow jersey with a fighting sixth place finish in the series' first bunch sprint. Kate Bates (Pitcher Partners) took the stage win with a powerful sprint, relegating Emma Rickards (Jayco VIS) and Belinda Goss (Volvo) to the minor placings.
With one race remaining, the pressure will intensify on the youngster from Dubbo, who heads into the final day with a two-point lead over Goss, and Bates a further four points adrift. Bates is certainly looking forward to the exciting final day, saying "it's much more exciting when it's not already decided before the last day. This is much better racing. It means we can ride tactically, not just against one team, there's five teams out there having a go."
Dunn didn't expect to be holding the yellow jersey again today. "But I pulled it off," she said. "Full credit to my team, it wasn't a solo effort. I've just got to give a big shout out to both the Degani Café and CBD girls because they pulled off an amazing show today - we're still wearing yellow and we've got the sprint jersey!"
Bates attributed her win to self-belief. "It comes a lot down to confidence. I know I've got the speed and the power, but knowing it when it hasn't been a bunch sprint - except for yesterday and I really ballsed that up - I think I really needed that today. If you're sprinting from ten back it doesn't matter how fast you are! It's about positioning, and I was a lot more aware of that today.
"I said to my team 'today I'll look after myself,' I certainly didn't want to be in front of Belinda, didn't want to be leading her out, she's so hard to sprint against that way."
Rickards was also delighted to finish on the podium. "It's always good to get the Jayco name up on the podium considering they're our major sponsor as well as the Bay Series major sponsor. I had a crack yesterday, but it wasn't really my sort of course. This course is a bit more suited to me with a few rolling hills in it and a slight uphill finish. I just sat patient and kept my eye on Gossy and Batesy, and when they went I went for the line but couldn't quite get Kate."
Dunn admitted that she had probably spent too much time on the front of the bunch, which may have cost her a few places at the finish. "It's all about learning for me. Olivia [Gollan], who's a top pro, has been teaching me lots of things, but I still probably did a bit too much today, but it's all about learning."
How it unfolded
Two laps in, one of the independents in the field, Sue Forsyth, jumped away from the bunch at the start of the descent towards the finish line and had a handy lead as she reached the base of the gradual climb that marked the back side of the circuit.
The combination of the gradient and the head wind proved too much, and the bunch regained contact near the summit - an outcome that would play out time and time again during the race.
At the first sprint, Lauren Kitchen (NSWIS/Degani Café) was unchallenged and further extended her lead in the Mazda Sprint Ace green jersey; and a similar effort at the second sprint effectively guaranteed the overall win for the 17 year-old. "That's just a fantastic feeling," Kitchen admitted, "but I'm still looking forward to tomorrow's race!"
Oenone Wood (Geelong Mazda) and Helen Kelly (Jayco VIS) counter attacked straight after the first sprint, but also found the drag up the back straight too tough. The day's longest escape saw Tiffany Cromwell (Richmond Cyclery/Promains) combine with Kath O’Shea (Jayco VIS), Jenny Macpherson (Rapido Cycles) and Kate Cullen (Skilled), with Cromwell making a second effort straight after the bunch reformed which kept the chasers at bay for another half a lap.
During the chase, Jessica Berry (Jayco VIS) fell heavily and lay motionless at the side of the road. Fortunately, the news after the race from team manager Anna Wilson was promising, with Berry escaping with concussion and relatively minor gravel rash.
After Kitchen's second sprint win, Rickards and Dunn tried to slip away, but were marked by the yellow jersey clad Alexis Rhodes (Pitcher Partners). Dunn and Wood combined in a final attempt to escape came just after the field had been shown '2 to go', but were quickly shut down by the Pitchers Partners squad.
On the final lap, Dunn marked Rhodes, while Goss shadowed Wood. Volvo team mates Gina Grain and Kirsty Broun set a fierce pace up the hill, before Kitchen took over the lead at the final corner. She opened the sprint a long way out, with Goss and Bates next in line. Goss started her sprint with 250 metres to go, while Bates was more patient and waited until the slight upturn in the road to blast past on the right hand side for a convincing win. Rickards also chose the right side, and overhauled a fading Goss in the final metres to claim second.
Support race
Despite a number of attacks, the B Grade race was decided by a spectacular bunch sprint, which was expected to favour series leader Joel Pearson and his strong Savings & Loans team. Adrian Hanson (Fujitsu), one of the form riders at the Tasmanian Christmas track carnivals, sprinted strongly to hold off Pearson and take the win, with Daniel Braunsteins (Drapac Porsche) third.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by WomensCycling.net
- Allan Davis (FRF Couriers) waits for the start.
- Baden Cooke (DeTourMovie.com) waits for the start.
- Davis and Matt Wilson (DeTourMovies.com) on the start line.
- Dean Windsor (Drapac Porsche) opens it up.
- Opening a gap on the Botanical Gardens road.
- Another gap appears.
- The chasing bunch.
- There was some respite from the heat through the trees.
- Changing gear at the front.
- Will Walker (FRF Couriers) powers on in the heat.
- Rory Sutherland (Geelong Mazda) attentive in the bunch.
- The leaders through the Gardens.
- Graeme Brown (FRF Couriers) reaches for a drink.
- Baden Cooke (DeTourMovie.com) in the leader's jersey.
- Fast action in the start/finish straight with a couple of laps remaining.
- Darcy Rosenlund (Geelong CC) in the bunch.
- Dean Windsor (Drapac Porsche).
- Graeme Brown (FRF Couriers) looks comfortable in the bunch.
- Graeme Brown (FRF Couriers) looks different today - he's shaved his beard!
- Jeremy Hunt (DeTourMovie.com) sits in the bunch.
- Richard England (Jayco VIS).
- Richard England (Jayco VIS) made a late-race breakaway attempt.
- Darren Lapthorne (A&I Helicopters) looking determined.
- Dean Windsor (Drapac Porsche) trying hard.
- The FRF Couriers all look out for each other.
- Rory Sutherland (Geelong Mazda) looks a bit fried in the heat.
- Dean Windsor (Drapac Porsche) sits near Stuart O'Grady (Skilled) in the bunch.
- Cadel Evans is the Bay Series guest commentator this week.
- Allan Davis (FRF Couriers) takes the win.
- Allan Davis (FRF Couriers) waits to receive his yellow jersey.
- The new race leader: Allan Davis (FRF Couriers) shows off his new jersey.
- Podium spray, the Davis way.
- The support men with a lap to go.
- The sprint for the win.
- Adrian Hanson (Fujitsu) takes the win ahead of series leader Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans).
- Adrian Hanson enjoys the interview on the podium.
- Joel Pearson (Savings and Loans) still in yellow.
- The women head off in the heat.
- The bunch and convoy on the start/finish straight.
- Lauren Kitchen stretches out the bunch for the first sprint.
- Belinda Goss (Volvo) was marked by Jenny Macpherson (Rapido Cycling).
- Tiffany Cromwell in a small break with Kate Cullen (Skilled), Jenny Macpherson (Rapido) and Kat O'Shea (Jayco VIS).
- Megan Dunn (CBD Cycles) had to cover all the attacks today to ensure she stayed in yellow.
- Dunn was closely marked by Pitcher Partners' Amanda Spratt.
- Dunn on the wheel of Alexis Rhodes (Pitcher Partners).
- Amanda Spratt tried to attack but could not get away.
- Winner Kate Bates (Pitcher Partners) rode well in the heat.
- Peta Mullens (Jayco VIS) worked hard for her team.
- Josephine Tomic (Pitcher Partners) had to close many breaks down for her team.
- Wood leads the break ahead of Burford, Grain and Dunn.
- Leonie Burford (Degani) rode well to finish seventh.
- Sara Carrigan (Rapido Cycles) managed to get in the break with Cromwell.
- The bike of Amber Jenkins (CBD Cycles) after the crash.
- Olivia Gollan (Degani) asks for clarification about the sprint points from the commissaire.
- Helen Kelly (Jayco VIS) listens intently to the briefing.
- Kate Cullen (Skilled) in the bunch.
- Third on Friday, Teressa Cliff-Ryan (Geelong Mazda).
- Tiffany Cromwell (Richmond Cyclery).
- The race leader Megan Dunn and the Australian Criterium Champion Kirsty Broun.
- Louise Moriarty (Skilled) in the bunch.
- Kirsty Broun (Volvo) accelerates in the bunch.
- Gina Grain (Volvo) was in the late break.
- Jessica Sedunary (John Treverrow Cycles).
- Kate Bates (Pitcher Partners) enjoys her win.
- Kate Bates listens to a question on the podium.
- A happy leader: Megan Dunn (CBD Cycles).
- Emma Rickards (JaycoVIS) was happy to be on the podium.
- The women on the podium (l-r): Bates, Rickards, Goss, Kitchen, Dunn.
Results
Elite men 1 Allan Davis (FRF Couriers NSWIS) 12 pts 2 Brett Aitken (Savings and Loans) 10 3 Mark Renshaw (Geelong Mazda) 8 4 Stuart O'Grady (Skilled) 7 5 Baden Cooke (detour-themovie.com) 6 6 Hilton Clarke (Portfolio Partners) 5 7 Henk Vogels (Trevorrow Cycle Store/Chifley) 4 8 Stuart Shaw (Drapac Porsche) 3 9 Satoshi Hirose (Aisan/Sofitel Mansion Spa) 2 10 Johnnie Walker (Jayco VIS) 1 Elite women 1 Kate Bates (Pitcher Partners) 12 pts 2 Emma Rickard (Jayco VIS) 10 3 Belinda Goss (Volvo) 8 4 Teressa Cliff-Ryan (Geelong Mazda) 7 5 Peta Mullens (Jayco VIS) 6 6 Megan Dunn (CBD/NSWIS) 5 7 Leonie Burford (NSWIS Degani Café) 4 8 Jenny Macpherson (Rapido Cycles) 3 9 Louise Moriarty (Skilled) 2 10 Gina Grain (Volvo) 1 B Grade men 1 Adrian Hanson 12 pts 2 Joel Pearson 10 3 Daniel Braunsteins 8 4 Robert Lyte 7 5 Luke Davison 6 6 Douglas Repacholi 5 7 Tim Hucker 4 8 Damien Turner 3 9 Blair Windsor 2 10 Danny Kah 1 Sprints Elite men 1 Matt Wilson (detour-themovie.com) 9 pts 2 Dean Windsor (Drapac Porsche) 8 3 Will Walker (FRF Couriers NSWIS) 6 3 Mark Renshaw (Geelong Mazda) 6 Elite women 1 Lauren Kitchen (NSWIS Degani Café) 17 pts 2 Olivia Gollan (NSWIS/Degani Café) 6 2 Sara Carrigan (Rapido Cycles) 6 Teams Elite men 1 detour-themovie.com 42 pts 2 Geelong Mazda 41 3 FRF Couriers/NSWIS 32 Elite women 1 Pitcher Partners 56 pts 2 Volvo 37 3 CBD/NSWIS 32 General classification after stage 4 Elite men 1 Allan Davis (FRF Couriers NSWIS) 32 pts 2 Mark Renshaw (Geelong Mazda) 30 3 Baden Cooke (detour-themovie.com) 30 4 Hilton Clarke (Portfolio Partners) 27 5 Matt Wilson (detour-themovie.com) 12 6 Stuart O'Grady (Skilled) 12 7 Rory Sutherland (Geelong Mazda) 11 8 Zac Dempster (A&I Helicopters) 10 8 Brett Aitken (Savings and Loans) 10 10 Stuart Shaw (Drapac Porsche) 10 10 Dean Windsor (Drapac Porsche) 10 Elite women 1 Megan Dunn (CBD/NSWIS) 32 pts 2 Belinda Goss (Volvo) 30 3 Kate Bates (Pitcher Partners) 26 4 Alexis Rhodes (Pitcher Partners) 22 5 Emma Rickard (Jayco VIS) 16 6 Teressa Cliff-Ryan (Geelong Mazda) 15 7 Lauren Kitchen (NSWIS Degani Café) 12 8 Oenone Wood (Geelong Mazda) 11 9 Leonie Burford (NSWIS Degani Café) 11 10 Peta Mullens (Jayco VIS) 10 B Grade men 1 Joel Pearson 40 pts 2 Daniel Braunsteins 29 3 Robert Lite 27 4 Douglas Repacholi 15 5 Cameron Carlyle 15 6 Adrian Hanson 14 7 Bradley Edmunds 14 8 Danny Kah 9 9 Tim Hucker 9 10 Blair Windsor 8