October 20/99 9:28 am - Herald Sun Tour, Hardwood Raid, Cross News

Posted by Editor on 10/20/99
 

Herald Sun Tour, Australia

Stage 10 - Shepparton 80 km

1 Nicolai Bo Larsen (Den) Home Jack & Jones 1:46:48
2 Ciaran Power (Ire) Latrobe - Moe
3 Graeme Miller (NZ) SEW - Eurodrive - Avanti
4 Jamie Drew (Aus) Jayco - V.I.S
5 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Jayco - V.I.S
6 Peter Rogers (Aus) Southern Grampians - Hamilton
7 Antonio Cruz (USA) Australia Post
8 Troy Clarke (Aus) Jayco - V.I.S
9 Corey Sweet (Aus) Echuca - Moama
10 Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Sunsmart

22 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Australia Post all s.t.

GC

1 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Home Jack & Jones 20:58:43
2 Ciaran Power (Ire) Latrobe - Moe at 0:22
3 Tomas Konecny (Cze) Tyrepower 0:27
4 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Australia Post 0:30
5 Nicolai Bo Larsen (Den) Home Jack & Jones 0:31
6 Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Sunsmart 1:10
7 Jan Hruska (Cze) Tyrepower 1:16
8 Corey Sweet (Aus) Echuca - Moama 2:03
9 Peter Rogers (Aus) Southern Grampians - Hamilton 2:07
10 Christian Heule (Sui) Malaysia Airlines 2:12


Happy Birthday To...

Road and 'Cross rider Matt Hansen (yesterday).


Hardwood Raid, Ontario

The staff of Hardwood Hills did a trial of the MTB Raid course today (Tues Oct. 19). The course was measured just above 70 km. The first team to finish was Dave Viney, Kim Viney, Mark Haw and Mike Fawcett in a time of 6 hours 29 minutes. The second team of Andrew Doble, Pieter Hyssen, Sharon Foulkes were as close as 14 minutes at the halfway point, but finished at 7 hours 15 minutes.
Some minor course changes may come as part of their suggestions, but by and large these are some representative times.

Hope this inspires you to join us. Entry closes 5:00 pm Wed. Oct 20. For full info see website www.hardwoodhills.on.ca

Glenn Meeuwisse


More Super Cup...

Kris Westwood has added to Peter Wedge's report on the Super Cup #1 cyclo-cross race in Boston, Massachusetts.

The course was beautifully designed and fairly flat with lots of fast corners, fast barriers and technical off-camber sections. One run-up in particular was just possible to ride if you took the right line, or if you were Daniele Pontoni. Peter and Osmond Bakker cleared it every lap, and I saw Pontoni get way off line to pass a rider, going up the steepest and slipperiest side of that hill and still make it look easy.

Turn out for the races was impressive: two of the events (Junior/Masters and Senior III) had over 100 riders on the start, and over 80 started the pro race. There was a big crowd, and the announcer did a really professional job at whipping them into a frenzy. His name is Dick Ring (no joke) and he announces lots of New England races.

The women's race came down to a sprint between Anne Grande and Carmen Richardson, which the former won. Canada's own Swede Anna Healy came 17th (not 16th, Pete), just outside the money. This was her first 'cross race ever amd now she's stoked to do more.

The pro race was blazing fast in the blazing weather - over 20 degrees and sunny. Pontoni was courteous enough to wait until the third lap before dropping the lead group, which included Larsen, Bowen, Gullickson, Wedge and World's espoir bronze medallist Tim Johnson. As Pontoni ('Mickey Mouse' to his friends and admirers) disappeared up the road in a cloud of dust, Gullickson got a flat and the other four swapped the lead, riding a cagey group race. Wedge looked like he was hurting for a while but got himself sorted out, only for the attacks to begin. Larsen and Bowen opened a gap and ended up finishing in that order (Bowen couldn't contest the sprint because he rolled a tire and finished on a bare rim) behind the all-conquering Italian. Peter kept ahead of Johnson and looked good for fourth until Gullickson charged past them both with two to go. Frank McCormack spent just about the whole race by himself and finished seventh.

Meanwhile, the other boys riding in the Canadian jersey rode a pretty good race. Osmond Bakker's introduction to international 'cross produced a 21st place. He rode a smart, heads up race. Chris Hugenholz came 31st, not spectacular but a pretty good first time out.

Two other Canadians also made the trip: Warren Davies and Patrick Shea of Woodstock both got bad starts and ended up lapped by the flying Pontoni.

SuperCup series organizer Lyle Fulkerson has done a really good job promoting his events. Surely someone in Canada wants to put one on for next year? Start thinking about it everyone and in the meantime keep training: it looks like there will be a nationals after all and they might be sooner than you think. This pernicious rumour is to be confirmed within the next couple of days. Stay tuned . . .

-Kris Westwood


'Cross Nationals

From an "unnamed source"...

The pernicious rumour pervading the cycling community is gathering strength . . . "The cyclocross nationals," it is whispered from ear to ear, "will be held near Montreal on November 7th!"

Like all rumours, this one is subject to confirmation. Watch this space and by Thursday the news should be official. Meanwhile, keep training or risk being slow!