News

First team confirmed

By Rod Morris

The Tasmanian Institute of Sport is leaving no stone unturned in its bid for success in the Skilled Tour of Tasmania.

TIS Head Cycling Coach Kevin Tabotta confirmed yesterday, his No. 1 team would include his best five ride available.

Heading the TIS team, which will also race under the Prince Albert Inn sponsorship banner will be:

Nathan Clarke -- Winner of the Sprint Championship in last year's Herald Sun Tour and ready to embark on another European campaign this Australian winter.

Sean Sullivan -- Reigning Tasmanian Criterium champion and recognised as -- arguably -- the State's best long term prospect as a road king.

Caleb Manion -- Leading Tasmanian home in last year's Tour of Tamar and will prove to be the real workhorse o this team.

Sid Taberlay -- Winner of last week's inaugural Mountain to Beach (MTB) Mountainbike Classic. Making the change to road racing with consummate ease.

Bernard Sulzberger -- Holder of the prestigious Australian Cycling Federation's National Junior Road Rider of the Year for 2001. His expertise on a road bike and knowledge of the Tour of Tasmania route will stand this team in good stead.

Tabotta also hopes to field a second TIS team in the six stage, 522 km Tour. Although not confirmed, the TIS No. 2 team will come from the following riders:

Matt Conn
Matt Rice
Mark Jamieson
Darren Young (depending on injury)
Jai Crawford and/or
Stephen Rossendell.

"The No. 2 team will revolve around development and big race exposure for young riders, while still including some experienced cyclists as well," Tabotta said.

The Skilled Tour of Tasmania starts officially in Hobart on Wednesday February 27 with a testing 97 km stage from Hobart to Kingston via Huonville.

Stage two will consist of a 122 km ride from Swansea to St Helens, followed the next day by an arduous 177 km climb from St Helens to Launceston.

On March 2, Stage Four of the Tour heads to the picturesque North-West Coast with a 82.6 km "sprint" from Burnie to Latrobe, followed an hour later by 42 km criterium stage in Latrobe.

The Tour will climax on Sunday, March 3 with an 11.7 individual time trial staring at finish at the Launceston Casino.

This will be the sixth Tour of Tasmania held under the directorship of Victorian cycling promoter John Trevorrow, since he resurrected the event in 1996.

Trevorrow won the Tour of Tasmania in 1979 and has a real affinity with the Apple Isle.

"I would move there tomorrow, if the circumstances were right," Trevorrow said.

The 2002 Tour of Tasmania teams are to be confirmed this week with the likelihood of 16 teams of five riders each.

Sydney gold medal Olympian Brett Aitken will carry the mantle of the No. 1 rider in the tour, while confirmed road specialist David McKenzie is racing against the clock to overcome an injury he suffered prior to the Tour Down Under in January.