11th Mitta Mitta to Mt Beauty - E2

Mt Beauty, Victoria, Australia, October 26, 2003

2002 Results Results

BY Mikkeli Godfree

The field rolls out of Mitta Mitta
Photo ©: Mikkeli Godfree

Nick Kiraly (Mongoose - SRAM) has won the 11th Mitta Mitta to Mt. Beauty, a race that is seen as the warm-up race for the National Championships run the following week. This year's event was more prestigious given its newly gained UCI recognition for which it attracted UCI points.

A good field was in attendance and after some solid pace-making by Chris Jongewaard (Avanti) which pared down the front group to five (Jongewaard, Lowe, Kiraly, Miller and McConnell), Kiraly made his move. Only Jongewaard could follow, although it wasn't for long. Kiraly built a lead of 30 seconds by the start of the 15km bitumen run-in to Mt Beauty while Jongewaard and Lowe (Mapie-Yeti-SRAM) worked together to bring back the lone leader. Lowe off-loaded Jongewaard at Tawonga but couldn't bring in Kiraly, who held on to win by 26 seconds.

Photos

Images by Mikkeli Godfree/Freewheel Magazine

The riders roll out of Mitta Mitta, with the field already single file.
Trent Lowe (Mapei - Yeti - SRAM) pops a wheelie on the climb, while Lefmann, Miller and Kiraly look on, bewildered.
Nick Kiraly (Mongoose - SRAM) ups the pace.
Back on the bitumen, Trent Lowe (Mapei - Yeti - SRAM) leaves Chris Jongewaard (Avanti) in pursuit of Nick Kiraly.
With 14 kilometres to go and Nick Kiraly up ahead, Trent Lowe (Mapei - Yeti - SRAM) looks back to assess the damage he's done after a solo attack.
Nick Kiraly (Mongoose - SRAM) is stoked as he crosses the line for the win.

Results, 55 km

1 Nick Kiraly (Mongoose - SRAM)          1.46.56
2 Trent Lowe (Mapei - Yeti - SRAM)
3 Chris Jongewaard (Avanti)
4 Aiden Lefmann (Sobe Cannondale)
5 Brent Miller (Bianci)
6 Dan Van der Ploeg (Merida)
7 Daniel McConnell (Yeti)
8 Matthew Molan
9 Al Farley (VIS-ts)