South Bank Grand Prix / Australian criterium Championships - CN

Brisbane, Queensland, December 2, 2007

Results 2006 Results Previous race

Race 3: Under 23 men National criterium Championships

Gill Celebrates signing with Under 23 Championship

By John Michael Flynn in Brisbane, Australia

The rain sets in.
Photo ©: John Flynn

South Australian Russell Gill brought some pre-Christmas cheer to the Team O'Grady CSC development squad, with a sprint finish victory in the Australian Men's Under 23 criterium championship.

The win capped off an excellent week for Gill, who recently signed a contract to ride with Savings & Loans in 2008.

Gill's result came amid trying circumstances, with a downpour of rain making conditions treacherous for much of the Under 23 championship race.

"It was really bad, the road, just couldn't see anything for about three or four laps, it wasn't particularly nice," Gill said.

"It's a great way to finish off my time with Team O'Grady Development."

Gill avoided a crash on the final lap, which ended the hopes of race favorite Dean Windsor, among others.

Queensland's Ord Minnett team featured prominently in the race, with Jack Anderson keeping the pace high and Hayden Josefski emerging at the death with a silver medal. The Maryborough product will link up in 2008 with the South Australia.Com AIS squad in Europe.

"Oh it was tough, come back from a big road block and the first bit of the race I was suffering a bit," Josefski said.

"There was a crash on the last corner which worked in our favor and there was a clear finish in the end.

"I got second place, and I was happy with that, a good finish to the season."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Flynn/Cyclingnews.com

The rain sets in.
The under 23 men in action.
Horrible conditions for the under 23 men.
Jack Anderson of Queenslands Ord Minnett team working hard.

Images by Tim Francis

Drapac Porshe rider
Bad things are about to happen…
Russel Gill went on to win the U23 race
The rain fell hard on the men's U23 field
Gill wins u23 national title
u23 podium

Results

1 Russell Gill
2 Hayden Josefski
3 Michael Hepburn

5 Aaron Kemps (T-Mobile)