Pearson the new leader after Stage 4 breakaway

Joel Pearson (Genesys Wealth Advisers) has won the fourth stage of the Tour of the Murray River after being part of a breakaway that was finally allowed to ride away from the rest of the peloton with just under 20km left to race.

Peter Thompson (Drapac Professional Cycling) and Luke Ockerby (Budget Forklifts) took the other podium places while Pearson's efforts earned him the yellow leader's jersey with Stage 2 and 3 winner teammate Anthony Giacoppo now 14 seconds in arrears.

Pearson won the tour in 2010, and is a two-time Melbourne to Warrnambool winner (2011, 2009). His win in the one-day classic was Pearson's last time where he was first across the tape.

"You start doubting yourself, whether you've still got the speed and the endurance that you used to have when you were a couple of years younger," he said. "It's not so much the win [that gives you confidence], it's just that general feeling you have, that you feel more on top of the bike.

"I'm feeling as good as I have in a long time."

Pearson explained after the win that he and teammate Campbell Flakemore made a move for the break as a way to take pressure off Giacoppo.

"It was to our advantage to keep going with it" Pearson said.

Budget took the race by the horns right from the start although any attempts at a gap were nullified quickly. Gordon McCauley (Drapac Professional Cycling) also had a dig but it was no surprise to see his move shut down by Budget.

Ockerby, who had earlier taken out the first sprint of the day, took his own chances shortly before the second intermediate but a group of six decided he was too dangerous to be left out on his own. Ockerby was eventually caught by teammate Blair Windsor and McCauley 1.5km from the second sprint.

The race was back together when GPM Wilson Racing's Josh Taylor took the best of the points at the second intermediate ahead of Kane Walker (Genesys Wealth Advisers) and Stuart Shaw (Drapac Professional Cycling). That proved the launch pad for another attack with the peloton hitting a gravel road and nine riders moved off the front - Sam Witmitz (Budget Forklifts), Pearson, Glenn O'Shea (SASI), Peter Thompson (Drapac Professional Cycling), James McCoy (PureBlack Racing), Nicholas D'Ambrosio (Parramatta Race Team), Bradeley Hall, Alexa Smythe (Plan B Racing) and Aaron Donnelly (Jacyo Honeyshotz). Their advantage didn't last and the race was back together shortly outside of the gravelled road.

Joseph Cooper (PureBlack Racing) took out the third sprint, trailed by Josh Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing) and Pat Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers) and soon the Kiwi was away on his own for the next eight kilometres out on his own before being reeled back in. That was the queue for another breakaway of 13 riders to move away - Pearson, Flakemore, Thompson, Ockerby, Peter Loft (Budget Forklifts), Harry Carpenter, Fraser Northey (SASI), McCoy, Andrew Crawley (GPM Wilson Racing), Jarryd Jones (Moira Shire), Dean Sanfilippo, James Boal (John West Cycling), and James Hepburn (RBS Morgans - ATS) earned an advantage of 40 seconds with 13kms to go. The move gave Pearson the virtual lead in the race.

Ten kilometres before the finish, the break's advantage was cut by five seconds while Windsor was brought down in the main peloton.

Pearson believes that Genesys as a whole remains a threat for the rest of the tour, but warned that Giacoppo was a long way from being discounted.

"He's a super athlete," he said. "But if I get a chance to go for one, I'll take it with both hands.

"I think you could pick any one of us... They're all just as capable as I am. That's the good thing about our team."

 

Full results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Joel Pearson (Genesys Wealth Advisers)1:49:59
2Peter Thompson (Drapac Professional Cycling)Row 1 - Cell 2
3Luke Ockerby (Team Budget Forklifts)Row 2 - Cell 2
4James McCoy (PureBlack Racing)Row 3 - Cell 2
5Dean Sanfilippo (John West Cycling)Row 4 - Cell 2
6Fraser Northey (SASI)Row 5 - Cell 2
7Jarryd Jones (Moira Shire)Row 6 - Cell 2
8James Boal (John West Cycling)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Harry Carpenter (SASI)Row 8 - Cell 2
10James Hepburn (RBS Morgans - ATS)Row 9 - Cell 2
11Andrew Crawley (GPM Wilson Racing)Row 10 - Cell 2
12Campbell Flakemore (Genesys Wealth Advisers)Row 11 - Cell 2
13Peter Loft (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:06
14Joseph Cooper (PureBlack Racing)0:00:16
15Samuel Witmitz (Team Budget Forklifts)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Luke Davison (Team Budget Forklifts)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Anthony Giacoppo (Genesys Wealth Advisers)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Ryan MacAnally (Team Budget Forklifts)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Malcolm Rudolph (Drapac Professional Cycling)Row 18 - Cell 2
20Bradeley Hall (Plan B Racing)Row 19 - Cell 2
21Stuart Shaw (Drapac Professional Cycling)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Alex Wohler (Team Downunder)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Alexander Smyth (Plan B Racing)Row 23 - Cell 2
25Evan Hull (Parramatta Race Team)0:00:20
26Alex Carver (Genesys Wealth Advisers)Row 25 - Cell 2
27Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)Row 26 - Cell 2
28Taylor Gunman (PureBlack Racing)0:00:21
29Brenton Jones (Genesys Wealth Advisers)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Edward Bissaker (Jayco-Honey Shotz)Row 29 - Cell 2
31Miles Scotson (SASI)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Shaun McCarthy (Team Budget Forklifts)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Amir Rusli (Drapac Professional Cycling)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Aaron Donnelly (Jayco-Honey Shotz)Row 33 - Cell 2
35Luke Parker (Parramatta Race Team)Row 34 - Cell 2
36Joshua Harrison (SASI)Row 35 - Cell 2
37Alistair Crameri (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 36 - Cell 2
38George Tansley (SASI)Row 37 - Cell 2
39Jacob Kauffmann (Charter Mason - Drapac Development Team)Row 38 - Cell 2
40Roman Van Uden (PureBlack Racing)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Caleb Jones (GPM Wilson Racing)Row 40 - Cell 2
42James Rendall (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Stephen Cousins (Moira Shire)Row 42 - Cell 2
44Jayden Copp (Team Downunder)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Cameron Peterson (RBS Morgans - ATS)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Daniel Nelson (Moira Shire)Row 45 - Cell 2
47Tyler Spurrell (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Thomas Patton (Parramatta Race Team)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Liam Dove (Plan B Racing)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Oliver Kent-Spark (John West Cycling)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Wade Edwards (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 50 - Cell 2
52Nicholas D'Ambrosio (Parramatta Race Team)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Jack Cummings (Parramatta Race Team)Row 52 - Cell 2
54Henry Morley (Plan B Racing)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Douglas Freeburn (Team Downunder)Row 54 - Cell 2
56Chris Beeck (Plan B Racing)0:00:30
57Gordon McCauley (Drapac Professional Cycling)Row 56 - Cell 2
58Glenn O'Shea (SASI)Row 57 - Cell 2
59Edward White (GPM Wilson Racing)Row 58 - Cell 2
60Steven Del Gallo (John West Cycling)Row 59 - Cell 2
61Kane Walker (Genesys Wealth Advisers)Row 60 - Cell 2
62Louis Crosby (PureBlack Racing)Row 61 - Cell 2
63Conor Murtagh (Charter Mason - Drapac Development Team)Row 62 - Cell 2
64William Draffen (Team Downunder)Row 63 - Cell 2
65James Butler (John West Cycling)0:00:47
66Blake Hose (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:01:02
67Jay Bourke (Moira Shire)0:01:20
68Jake Magee (GPM Wilson Racing)0:01:32
69Alex Edmondson (Jayco-Honey Shotz)0:05:51
70Blair Windsor (Team Budget Forklifts)0:08:49
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Intermediate sprints - Sprint 1: Waaia General Store
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luke Ockerby (Team Budget Forklifts)3pts
2Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Joel Pearson (Genesys Wealth Advisers)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2: Picola Hotel
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)3pts
2Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Stuart Shaw (Drapac Professional Cycling)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 3: Caltex Depot
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Joseph Cooper (PureBlack Racing)3pts
2Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Stage awards - Aggressor
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Joseph Cooper (PureBlack Racing)2pts
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General classificatioon after Stage 4
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Joel Pearson (Genesys Wealth Advisers)4:53:27
2Anthony Giacoppo (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:00:14
3James McCoy (PureBlack Racing)0:00:28
4Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:00:32
5Campbell Flakemore (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:00:33
6James Hepburn (RBS Morgans - ATS)0:00:34
7Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)Row 6 - Cell 2
8Peter Thompson (Drapac Professional Cycling)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Joseph Cooper (PureBlack Racing)0:00:39
10Fraser Northey (SASI)0:00:40
11Samuel Witmitz (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:45
12Luke Davison (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:48
13Miles Scotson (SASI)0:00:49
14Jacob Kauffmann (Charter Mason - Drapac Development Team)Row 13 - Cell 2
15Ryan MacAnally (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:50
16Alex Carver (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:00:51
17Alex Wohler (Team Downunder)0:00:52
18Dean Sanfilippo (John West Cycling)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Stuart Shaw (Drapac Professional Cycling)0:00:53
20Amir Rusli (Drapac Professional Cycling)0:00:54
21James Boal (John West Cycling)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Harry Carpenter (SASI)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Luke Ockerby (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:55
24Peter Loft (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:57
25Edward White (GPM Wilson Racing)Row 24 - Cell 2
26Malcolm Rudolph (Drapac Professional Cycling)0:00:58
27Roman Van Uden (PureBlack Racing)0:01:01
28Bradeley Hall (Plan B Racing)0:01:02
29Chris Beeck (Plan B Racing)0:01:04
30Edward Bissaker (Jayco-Honey Shotz)0:01:05
31Joshua Harrison (SASI)0:01:06
32James Rendall (Swan Hill Rural City)0:01:07
33Brenton Jones (Genesys Wealth Advisers)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Shaun McCarthy (Team Budget Forklifts)Row 33 - Cell 2
35Cameron Peterson (RBS Morgans - ATS)Row 34 - Cell 2
36Caleb Jones (GPM Wilson Racing)Row 35 - Cell 2
37Alexander Smyth (Plan B Racing)0:01:09
38Luke Parker (Parramatta Race Team)0:01:14
39Evan Hull (Parramatta Race Team)Row 38 - Cell 2
40George Tansley (SASI)0:01:15
41Aaron Donnelly (Jayco-Honey Shotz)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Alistair Crameri (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Wade Edwards (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 42 - Cell 2
44Taylor Gunman (PureBlack Racing)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Oliver Kent-Spark (John West Cycling)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Thomas Patton (Parramatta Race Team)Row 45 - Cell 2
47Daniel Nelson (Moira Shire)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Jayden Copp (Team Downunder)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Tyler Spurrell (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Henry Morley (Plan B Racing)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Jack Cummings (Parramatta Race Team)Row 50 - Cell 2
52Douglas Freeburn (Team Downunder)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Louis Crosby (PureBlack Racing)0:01:16
54Gordon McCauley (Drapac Professional Cycling)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Glenn O'Shea (SASI)0:01:23
56Stephen Cousins (Moira Shire)0:01:30
57Kane Walker (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:01:36
58Jarryd Jones (Moira Shire)0:01:54
59James Butler (John West Cycling)0:02:10
60Jay Bourke (Moira Shire)0:02:14
61Steven Del Gallo (John West Cycling)0:02:34
62Blake Hose (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:02:56
63Andrew Crawley (GPM Wilson Racing)0:03:18
64Liam Dove (Plan B Racing)0:04:19
65Nicholas D'Ambrosio (Parramatta Race Team)Row 64 - Cell 2
66Jake Magee (GPM Wilson Racing)0:06:55
67William Draffen (Team Downunder)0:06:56
68Conor Murtagh (Charter Mason - Drapac Development Team)Row 67 - Cell 2
69Alex Edmondson (Jayco-Honey Shotz)0:06:58
70Blair Windsor (Team Budget Forklifts)0:09:03
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Tasco Inland Sprint Championship
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)30pts
2Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)25Row 1 - Cell 3
3Joel Pearson (Genesys Wealth Advisers)14Row 2 - Cell 3
4Luke Ockerby (Team Budget Forklifts)13Row 3 - Cell 3
5Samuel Witmitz (Team Budget Forklifts)9Row 4 - Cell 3
6Alex Carver (Genesys Wealth Advisers)9Row 5 - Cell 3
7Anthony Giacoppo (Genesys Wealth Advisers)8Row 6 - Cell 3
8Caleb Jones (GPM Wilson Racing)8Row 7 - Cell 3
9Edward White (GPM Wilson Racing)6Row 8 - Cell 3
10Alex Wohler (Team Downunder)6Row 9 - Cell 3
11Stuart Shaw (Drapac Professional Cycling)5Row 10 - Cell 3
12Luke Davison (Team Budget Forklifts)4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Malcolm Rudolph (Drapac Professional Cycling)4Row 12 - Cell 3
14Peter Thompson (Drapac Professional Cycling)4Row 13 - Cell 3
15Ryan MacAnally (Team Budget Forklifts)4Row 14 - Cell 3
16Joseph Cooper (PureBlack Racing)3Row 15 - Cell 3
17Peter Loft (Team Budget Forklifts)3Row 16 - Cell 3
18Blair Windsor (Team Budget Forklifts)3Row 17 - Cell 3
19Miles Scotson (SASI)2Row 18 - Cell 3
20Campbell Flakemore (Genesys Wealth Advisers)1Row 19 - Cell 3
21Fraser Northey (SASI)1Row 20 - Cell 3
22Amir Rusli (Drapac Professional Cycling)1Row 21 - Cell 3
23Joshua Harrison (SASI)1Row 22 - Cell 3
24Alexander Smyth (Plan B Racing)1Row 23 - Cell 3
25Luke Parker (Parramatta Race Team)1Row 24 - Cell 3
26Glenn O'Shea (SASI)1Row 25 - Cell 3
27Kane Walker (Genesys Wealth Advisers)1Row 26 - Cell 3
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Campolina Criterium Championship
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Anthony Giacoppo (Genesys Wealth Advisers)14pts
2Ryan MacAnally (Team Budget Forklifts)12Row 1 - Cell 3
3Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)10Row 2 - Cell 3
4Luke Davison (Team Budget Forklifts)10Row 3 - Cell 3
5Samuel Witmitz (Team Budget Forklifts)9Row 4 - Cell 3
6Alex Carver (Genesys Wealth Advisers)8Row 5 - Cell 3
7Roman Van Uden (PureBlack Racing)8Row 6 - Cell 3
8Alex Wohler (Team Downunder)7Row 7 - Cell 3
9Stuart Shaw (Drapac Professional Cycling)7Row 8 - Cell 3
10Joel Pearson (Genesys Wealth Advisers)6Row 9 - Cell 3
11Edward Bissaker (Jayco-Honey Shotz)6Row 10 - Cell 3
12Brenton Jones (Genesys Wealth Advisers)4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Bradeley Hall (Plan B Racing)3Row 12 - Cell 3
14Amir Rusli (Drapac Professional Cycling)2Row 13 - Cell 3
15Shaun McCarthy (Team Budget Forklifts)2Row 14 - Cell 3
16Miles Scotson (SASI)1Row 15 - Cell 3
17Louis Crosby (PureBlack Racing)1Row 16 - Cell 3
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Beechworth Bakery King of the Mountains Championship
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)3pts
2Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Blair Windsor (Team Budget Forklifts)1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Tourism Victoria Most Aggressive Rider Award
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)2pts
Row 1 - Cell 0 Joseph Cooper (PureBlack Racing)2Row 1 - Cell 3
Row 2 - Cell 0 Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)2Row 2 - Cell 3
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Euston Club Resort Rising Star Award
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Campbell Flakemore (Genesys Wealth Advisers)4:54:00
2Joshua Taylor (GPM Wilson Racing)0:00:01
3Fraser Northey (SASI)0:00:07
4Miles Scotson (SASI)0:00:16
5Ryan MacAnally (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:17
6Alex Carver (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:00:18
7Alex Wohler (Team Downunder)0:00:19
8James Boal (John West Cycling)0:00:21
9Harry Carpenter (SASI)Row 8 - Cell 2
10Luke Ockerby (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:22
11Peter Loft (Team Budget Forklifts)0:00:24
12Edward Bissaker (Jayco-Honey Shotz)0:00:32
13Joshua Harrison (SASI)0:00:33
14Brenton Jones (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:00:34
15Evan Hull (Parramatta Race Team)0:00:41
16Luke Parker (Parramatta Race Team)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Taylor Gunman (PureBlack Racing)0:00:42
18Aaron Donnelly (Jayco-Honey Shotz)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Alistair Crameri (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 18 - Cell 2
20George Tansley (SASI)Row 19 - Cell 2
21Tyler Spurrell (Swan Hill Rural City)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Thomas Patton (Parramatta Race Team)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Oliver Kent-Spark (John West Cycling)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Jack Cummings (Parramatta Race Team)Row 23 - Cell 2
25Douglas Freeburn (Team Downunder)Row 24 - Cell 2
26Stephen Cousins (Moira Shire)0:00:57
27Jarryd Jones (Moira Shire)0:01:21
28James Butler (John West Cycling)0:01:37
29Steven Del Gallo (John West Cycling)0:02:01
30Blake Hose (Genesys Wealth Advisers)0:02:23
31Liam Dove (Plan B Racing)0:03:46
32Conor Murtagh (Charter Mason - Drapac Development Team)0:06:23
33Alex Edmondson (Jayco-Honey Shotz)0:06:25
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Teams classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Genesys Wealth Advisers14:41:55
2PureBlack Racing0:00:41
3Team Budget Forklifts0:00:46
4SASI0:00:49
5Drapac Professional Cycling0:00:56
6GPM Wilson Racing0:01:21
7John West Cycling0:01:29
8Plan B Racing0:01:33
9Team Downunder0:01:58
10Swan Hill Rural City0:02:03
11Moira Shire0:02:05
12Parramatta Race Team0:02:10
13Jayco-Honey Shotz0:07:46
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Scody Cup Leaders
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Anthony Giacoppo (Genesys Wealth Advisers)186pts
2Luke Davison (Team Budget Forklifts)120Row 1 - Cell 3
3Patrick Shaw (Genesys Wealth Advisers)92Row 2 - Cell 3
4Ryan MacAnally (Team Budget Forklifts)87Row 3 - Cell 3
5Neil Van Der Ploeg (Search2Retain)83Row 4 - Cell 3
6Brenton Jones (Genesys Wealth Advisers)82Row 5 - Cell 3
7Will Walker (Drapac Professional Cycling)81Row 6 - Cell 3
8Darren Lapthorne (Drapac Professional Cycling)80Row 7 - Cell 3
9Jai Crawford (Genesys Wealth Advisers)75Row 8 - Cell 3
10Ben Hill (RBS Morgans - ATS)69Row 9 - Cell 3

 

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