Caleb Ewan and Gracie Elvin got their 2016 seasons off to a successful start as they claimed the 2016 Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic titles.
CYCLING - ROAD: Caleb Ewan and Gracie Elvin got their 2016 seasons off to a successful start as they claimed the 2016 Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic titles. Both Ewan and Elvin took the lead with wins on the opening day and didn't look back.
Women's Event
After regular trips to Victoria in the New Year for the Bay Crits as a stage hunter, Canberra's Gracie Elvin took out the 2016 edition after claiming the win on the stage one and never finishing outside the top five.
Elvin was in fine form on day one with Orica-AIS looking in control from the start. While initially having the plan to lead out Sarah Roy, Elvin's speed took her to the line first in a bunch around 20 riders. Teammate Lizzie Williams took second, with Kimberley Wells (High5 Dream Team) rounding out the podium.
The second stage around the Eastern Gardens in Geelong proved to be a day for reigning Australian criterium champion Kimberley Wells. After a quieter start than many are used to the second half of the race was full of attacks but Wells' High5 Dream Team made sure it all came back together for a bunch sprint. A long sprint by Wells in the green and gold beat out Elvin who held on to the series lead and Sarah Roy (Orica-AIS)
A long break by Amanda Spratt (Orica-AIS) and Valentina Scandolara (Alé Australia) who spent half of the race up the road dominated proceedings on stage three. Inside the final 10 minutes a five-rider group including series leader Elvin and Peta Mullens bridged across. Despite spending most of the race up the road Scandolara proved strongest in a two up sprint beating out Elvin who with a third podium in three days kept the yellow jersey firmly on her shoulders.
Despite a quiet opening to the final stage a two-rider move by Lizzie Williams (Orica-AIS) and Julie Leth (Alé Australia) just before the half way mark quickly built a significant gap on the field. A number of riders attempted to bridge across but with the two strongest teams in the race represented there was little interest in the chase. Williams was too strong for Leth and crossed the line for a solo win. Back in the bunch Elvin finished in fifth to seal the overall win.
Behind Elvin the final two remaining podium places went to Lizzie Williams and Valentina Scandolara, tied on 32 points. Lauretta Hanson (Total Rush Hyster) took the Sprint Ace and Orica-AIS the team classifications.
Men's Event
In almost identical fashion to last year Caleb Ewan took his second overall win in a row and third in total, picking up three stage wins along the way.
Avanti IsoWhey Sports were constantly on the attack throughout the opening stage in an attempt to put the sprinters under pressure. A crash thinned out the field reducing the number of contenders for the opening stage to 19. Despite the pressure put on Ewan's Orica-GreenEDGE squad, new recruit Jack Haig was on the front much of the race controlling proceedings. In the sprint nobody could stop Ewan taking the win with Brenton Jones (Drapac) and Patrick Shaw (Avanti IsoWhey Sports) completing the podium.
On stage two a number of teams wanted to avoid another bunch sprint and went on the attack in the second half of the race. Nathan Haas (VTWO) and Pat Shaw and Pat Lane of Avanti IsoWhey Sports built up an advantage of nearly 30 seconds at one point. Alex Edmondson (Orica-GreenEDGE) bridged to the move putting the pressure on Drapac to chase it down. Drapac's Travis Meyer was instrumental in bringing things back together but it was again Ewan who crossed the line first with Jones second and Leigh Howard (Chain Reaction Cycles) third.
Attacks were frequent on the penultimate day of racing, as teams knew they needed to force a break in order to break Ewan's stranglehold of the sprint. Pat Shaw was again one of the main aggressors joining forces with teammate Chris Hamilton and Fitter (State of Matter/MAAP). Track World Champion Miles Scotson (Budget Forklifts) countered the catch before a new group of Robbie Hucker and Chris Hamilton (Avanti IsoWhey Sports), Luke Durbridge (Orica-AIS) and Peter Koning (Drapac) formed. It was all back together with three to go but it was Pat Shaw who timed his run to the line to prevail over Fitter and Sam Spokes (Drapac).
Hucker (Avanti IsoWhey Sports) and Josh Taylor (State of Matter/MAAP) were the first to attack on the final day, as Hucker was looked to consolidate his lead in the Sprint Ace classification. Avanti continued to be aggressive with Sam Crome off the front before a big attack by Nathan Haas initially gained some room. The pressure from the peloton was too strong with Drapac and Orica-GreenEDGE forcing a fast pace. A late crash split what remained of the field coming in to the final laps. Ewan proved too quick taking his third stage with Jones again forced to settle for second with Alex Edmondson (Orica-GreenEDGE) third.
Three second place finishes saw 2014 winner Brenton Jones finish second overall on 30 points, 13 behind Ewan. Patrick Shaw rounded out the final podium on 27. Drapac emerged as the top team by two points over Orica-GreenEDGE and Robbie Hucker claimed the Sprint Ace classification.
Attention now turns to the 2016 Cycling Australia Road National Championships, starting Wednesday with the criteriums in Ballarat.
After regular trips to Victoria in the New Year for the Bay Crits as a stage hunter, Canberra's Gracie Elvin took out the 2016 edition after claiming the win on the stage one and never finishing outside the top five.
Elvin was in fine form on day one with Orica-AIS looking in control from the start. While initially having the plan to lead out Sarah Roy, Elvin's speed took her to the line first in a bunch around 20 riders. Teammate Lizzie Williams took second, with Kimberley Wells (High5 Dream Team) rounding out the podium.
The second stage around the Eastern Gardens in Geelong proved to be a day for reigning Australian criterium champion Kimberley Wells. After a quieter start than many are used to the second half of the race was full of attacks but Wells' High5 Dream Team made sure it all came back together for a bunch sprint. A long sprint by Wells in the green and gold beat out Elvin who held on to the series lead and Sarah Roy (Orica-AIS)
A long break by Amanda Spratt (Orica-AIS) and Valentina Scandolara (Alé Australia) who spent half of the race up the road dominated proceedings on stage three. Inside the final 10 minutes a five-rider group including series leader Elvin and Peta Mullens bridged across. Despite spending most of the race up the road Scandolara proved strongest in a two up sprint beating out Elvin who with a third podium in three days kept the yellow jersey firmly on her shoulders.
Despite a quiet opening to the final stage a two-rider move by Lizzie Williams (Orica-AIS) and Julie Leth (Alé Australia) just before the half way mark quickly built a significant gap on the field. A number of riders attempted to bridge across but with the two strongest teams in the race represented there was little interest in the chase. Williams was too strong for Leth and crossed the line for a solo win. Back in the bunch Elvin finished in fifth to seal the overall win.
Behind Elvin the final two remaining podium places went to Lizzie Williams and Valentina Scandolara, tied on 32 points. Lauretta Hanson (Total Rush Hyster) took the Sprint Ace and Orica-AIS the team classifications.
Men's Event
In almost identical fashion to last year Caleb Ewan took his second overall win in a row and third in total, picking up three stage wins along the way.
Avanti IsoWhey Sports were constantly on the attack throughout the opening stage in an attempt to put the sprinters under pressure. A crash thinned out the field reducing the number of contenders for the opening stage to 19. Despite the pressure put on Ewan's Orica-GreenEDGE squad, new recruit Jack Haig was on the front much of the race controlling proceedings. In the sprint nobody could stop Ewan taking the win with Brenton Jones (Drapac) and Patrick Shaw (Avanti IsoWhey Sports) completing the podium.
On stage two a number of teams wanted to avoid another bunch sprint and went on the attack in the second half of the race. Nathan Haas (VTWO) and Pat Shaw and Pat Lane of Avanti IsoWhey Sports built up an advantage of nearly 30 seconds at one point. Alex Edmondson (Orica-GreenEDGE) bridged to the move putting the pressure on Drapac to chase it down. Drapac's Travis Meyer was instrumental in bringing things back together but it was again Ewan who crossed the line first with Jones second and Leigh Howard (Chain Reaction Cycles) third.
Attacks were frequent on the penultimate day of racing, as teams knew they needed to force a break in order to break Ewan's stranglehold of the sprint. Pat Shaw was again one of the main aggressors joining forces with teammate Chris Hamilton and Fitter (State of Matter/MAAP). Track World Champion Miles Scotson (Budget Forklifts) countered the catch before a new group of Robbie Hucker and Chris Hamilton (Avanti IsoWhey Sports), Luke Durbridge (Orica-AIS) and Peter Koning (Drapac) formed. It was all back together with three to go but it was Pat Shaw who timed his run to the line to prevail over Fitter and Sam Spokes (Drapac).
Hucker (Avanti IsoWhey Sports) and Josh Taylor (State of Matter/MAAP) were the first to attack on the final day, as Hucker was looked to consolidate his lead in the Sprint Ace classification. Avanti continued to be aggressive with Sam Crome off the front before a big attack by Nathan Haas initially gained some room. The pressure from the peloton was too strong with Drapac and Orica-GreenEDGE forcing a fast pace. A late crash split what remained of the field coming in to the final laps. Ewan proved too quick taking his third stage with Jones again forced to settle for second with Alex Edmondson (Orica-GreenEDGE) third.
Three second place finishes saw 2014 winner Brenton Jones finish second overall on 30 points, 13 behind Ewan. Patrick Shaw rounded out the final podium on 27. Drapac emerged as the top team by two points over Orica-GreenEDGE and Robbie Hucker claimed the Sprint Ace classification.
Attention now turns to the 2016 Cycling Australia Road National Championships, starting Wednesday with the criteriums in Ballarat.
Cycling Australia
