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Australian Open Road Championships - CN
Mt Torrens, Australia, January 11-14, 2006
Main Page Results Race Details Previous Race
Race 6 - January 14: Elite Men's Road Race, 175.5 km
Walker brilliant as Van Hout takes the elite jersey
By Les Clarke in Mt Torrens, with additional reporting by Kathie Stove
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Victorian U23 rider William Walker (Rabobank) has taken one of the biggest wins of his fledgling career, winning the Australian Open road race in Mt Torrens today as Australia's U23 riders put their more experienced competitors on notice with a display of confident and aggressive riding.
Walker won in a solo attack, with the bunch sprint for second taken out by another U23 rider, Tasmanian teenager Wes Sulzberger (TIS/Cyclingnews), and the first senior rider across the line was South Australia's Russell Van Hout in third after a crash earlier in the race took out many of the favourites.
Defending champion Robbie McEwen was in a group that suffered the indignity of being withdrawn from the race by commissairses because it was in danger of being lapped by the more aggressive breaks that had demolished the field.
But the finale wasn't without controversy, with protests flying thick and fast as commissaires deemed Henk Vogels then Victorian Gene Bates rode dubious final sprints. Bates was eventually relegated for riding an improper line.
As an U23 rider, Walker won't be eligible to wear the elite national champion's jersey; he has to settle for the gold medal for winning the Open as well as the U23 national champion's jersey, but he is not allowed to wear the U23 national champion's jersey in open road races. That honour goes to South Australia's Van Hout, who is, ironically, still hoping to secure a fulltime professional ride for the 2006 season.
Walker made the critical move late in the race, flying away from the leading bunch after several attacks were unsuccessful in breaking up the leading group. Walker's attack soon after the feed zone on the final lap stuck, however, and he was able to motor to the finish and win by a comfortable 27 seconds from the 19-year old Tasmanian Sulzberger and Van Hout.
The 20-year-old Victorian, who will be riding in the senior ranks of the Rabobank squad this season, showed why he's tipped as the future of Australian cycling with a super-strong finish to hold off a bunch that contained former Australian champions Vogels, Nick Gates and Matt Wilson. After a an early crash that put favourites Allan Davis and Luke Roberts out of contention, the race for the Australian championship became a war of attrition, with big-hitters such as Robbie McEwen and Simon Gerrans not making it to the finish.
And as it was a day for upsets, it also saw Australia's 'Crocodile man', Adam Hansen, winner of the incredibly tough Crocodile Trophy MTB endurance race, pick up second place in the senior ranks (and fourth overall) with a smart and strong ride - indeed, his last-lap attack really stuck and shattered the lead group - finishing well ahead of many other more well-credentialed roadies.
How it unfolded
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With 180 starters in the field, it was always going to be a tight opening to the men's elite race, and after the great view offered by Andrew in the Shimano neutral service car during Friday's women's race, Cyclingnews took to the Commisaire's car for another action-packed ride through Mt Torrens. After only two kilometres, a fall involving 60 riders made what promised to be a tough day even more difficult, with riders such as Baden Cooke, Allan Davis and Luke Roberts caught up in the opening-lap chaos. Davis, tipped by many to be a contender for the title, withdrew soon after as a result of two punctures. Speaking to Cyclingnews after his withdrawal, the Queenslander was clearly frustrated, saying, "I got caught in the crash and punctured my front. After I got a spare I started chasing back to the bunch and then my rear punctured...there were no more spare and I had to get a lift back from the motorbike. What can you do?"
Victorian rider Simon Gerrans wasn't injured in the fall, but it certainly spoiled his chance at victory. "The crash must have been only about four k's into the race. I chased for a good half an hour to get back on again after the crash - it's hard to do that early on. The race was just really aggressive from the start, with breakaways going and coming back again. Once the break formed up the road it became quite negative in the bunch, because everyone wanted to get across but nobody wanted to do much," he said.
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It was then time for a group of six to go away, with Mark Renshaw, Glen Chadwick, Cody Stevenson and Tony Mann among the small group that tried to break going into the third turn at the 10 kilometre mark. Soon after it was all back together before Henk Vogels decided to flex his muscles, taking three riders out the front of the bunch. The tone of the race had been set, and the battle began to take shape. In a prelude of things to come, it was William Walker who made his way to the front to test the waters of the early stages, only to find them too cool to his liking, moving back into the safety of the bunch.
When the three riders led by Vogels were joined by four more riders, the bunch vigilantly chased them down, keen to keep any early moves in check. Before long it was all together, with the bunch bringing the break back on the climb out of Mt Torrens on lap 2. The second lap was all about the selection, with riders lifting the pace and more attacks flowing freely. Vogels went out front again, this time joined by David Betts and David Pell - these three would form the beginning of the leading bunch that later reformed to stay away until the finish. All three were working well together, doing turns and putting more time into the field - with the peloton slow to react, they soon gained an advantage of 1:05 minutes.
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Requiring mechanical assistance, Mark Renshaw dropped back in the field and was forced to chase back onto the bunch, making his day in the office a tough one. Meanwhile, a chasing bunch had now formed, with about ten riders including Peter McDonald and Matt Goss doing their best to bring back the leading group. A lap later this group had increased in size to 17 riders, with Vogels, Walker, Nick Gates, Russell Van Hout, Peter McDonald, Adam Hansen and Gene Bates included in the selection - this group formed the nucleus of the winning move. The group maintained their lead throughout the fourth lap, and as the fifth lap of the 19.5km circuit approached two clear groups had formed, with 15 riders in the front bunch and 12 in the second.
By the beginning of lap 5 it appeared as though the chasing group would make it across to the leaders, but it wasn't to be. Over the course of the next three laps this leading group built their advantage to a maximum of 2:45 minutes over the chasing group, which included Matt Wilson, Sean Sullivan, Shaun Higgerson and last year's silver medallist Robert McLachlan. From there the peloton sat up and trailed by a maximum of 14:15 minutes, and it was clear that the winner would most likely come from the group well established at the head of the field. The question was - would it be one of the young guns, or one of the old hand pros?
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Heading into the eighth of nine laps the main bunch, who were the third group on the course and 11km behind the leading group, were withdrawan from the race as the pace of the leaders increased. As a result, the gap to the chasing group increased to 3:20 minutes, with Walker, Wes Sulzberger and Jonathon Clarke doing some big turns and searching for any weaknesses. Vogels then prodded the will of the group with a burst at the front, but they brought the move back. The race continued with constant attacks aimed at 'softening up' the remaining riders before they hit the final lap. But going into the last circuit these attacks hadn't achieved their objective, and the leading group remained together as they crossed the start/finish line.
It was an action-packed final lap, with Nathan Jones, Adam Hansen and Walker all launching attacks over the first half of the course; but it was Hansen's attack that broke the group, prompting Walker to chase and pass Hansen before launching his winning move just outside the feed zone at the 13km mark of the circuit. From there it became a one-horse race for the win, with Walker steadily increasing his lead and maintaining it, and the chase more content to sit up and fight over second. This is how it ended, with Walker taking the win, Wes Sulzberger taking second and Russell Van Hout finishing in third.
Having ridden an immaculate race for the win, Walker - an U23 rider - was not aware that although he had taken the gold medal for the race, he did not secure the elite national champion's jersey. He was, however, awarded the U23 champion's jersey, but won't be allowed to wear that in elite events. "You're kidding. I think that's diappointing. I can't really understand those rules, but I guess that's life." With mixed emotions Walker explained that, "I came across to him [Adam Hansen] on the hill and he really just couldn't keep up to me. So it was 15 k's solo for me and they were always there so you've got to go into the red, or the black, or whatever colour it is. It's just unbelievable to have a bit of a gap in the last few hundred metres and not get caught."
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Having worked hard out front for most of the race, Henk Vogels was bitterly disappointed at the finish, saying that, "This was a demanding course, and the small guys like Willie Walker are fantastic bike riders and really suited to this course. It really came down to the last climb, where we were all right up to him, but he just rode away - hats off to him, he's obviously a talent for the future."
Vogels spoke of the final sprint, where believes some "erratic riding" could have caused an accident and cost him a medal. "There was some fairly erratic riding and I got put into the barriers; I had to put on my brakes otherwise I would've hit the start-finish sign. I'm not sure if I medalled, but I don't think so."
Second-placed Wes Sulzberger, another of the youth brigade at just 19, showed that the future of cycling in Australia continues to look bright. "It's unbelievable - I can't believe it myself," he said at the finish. "It was great to get in the break and once I was there I just went with it to the end." Speaking about the finish, Sulzberger said that Gene Bates went across from the outside and into his path, causing Nic Gates to be pushed into the barriers. Relieved to have avoided an accident, Sulzberger believed the result could've been different if not for Bates' final sprint.
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Controversy continued after the finish, however, as commissaires told Vogels he had been omitted from the results after what they believed was a dubious final sprint, with Sulzberger relegated to eighth place for the same reason. Both riders were furious, with Vogels saying, "They're trying to rub me for a separate incident that happened 300 metres before ... there was that much hooking going on; I was on the inside and riding a straight line the whole time. I led out the sprint; how can I move across the road? I rode a straight line all the way until Gene Bates guided me into the barriers."
But following lengthy discussions Vogels was reinstated to fifth place, cold comfort for a rider with aspirations of taking the national champion's jersey. Russell Van Hout, having just won the jersey, said he felt "pretty good". "There were plenty of attacks in that final lap, and that sprint was the choppiest sprint I've ever ridden; everyone was just all over the place," he said.
"With 100 metres to go I've got through a gap I was lucky to get through, and the run through that just got me home." It was a confusing conclusion to a topsy-turvy race, with Cycling Australia committing to running separate road races for the U23 and senior riders next year.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mark Gunter/www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph
- Luke Roberts (CSC) and Matt Hayman (Rabobank) have a chat
- Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) one off the chances today
- William Walker (Rabobank) …would have a surprise ahead of him
- The largest field ever take too the road
- Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto) leads the early break
- Baden Cooke (Unibet.com) at the start line
- Robbie McEwan (Davitamon-Lotto) rounds the hairpin
- The Peloton makes its way through the Adelaide hills
- Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto) and team mate Nick Gates in the break
- Jonathon Clarke (VIC) leads the break
- Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto) keeps his speed on a small descent
- Russell VanHout (SA) did his fair share of work in the break
- The chasers had a bit of a go but couldn’t bring it back
- Matt Wilson (Unibet.com) riding in the break
- Russell VanHout (SA) near the feed station
- William Walker (Rabobank) looked more like a senior ridder rather than a U23
- The time gaps showed they were going nicely
- Russell Van Hout (SA) always puts in a big effort
- William Walker (Rabobank) with a couple of laps to go
- The chasing bunch lead by Trent Wilson (Jittery Joe's)
- William Walker (Rabobank) can see the finish line now
- William Walker (Rabobank) takes his biggest win yet
- Wesley Sulzberger (TAS) sprinting for second
- The U23 podium (l-r): Wes Sulzberger, William Walker and Jonathon Clarke
- William Walker (Rabobank) looking good in the Aussie colours
- Russell VanHout (SA) get to wear the Aussie jersey for this year
- The open champs podium Wes Sulzberger, William Walker and Russell Van Hout
- William Walker (Rabobank) on the podium for the second time today
- Podium hijinx... as
- Russell Van Hout (SA) a relaxed character
Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
- Event Director Mike Turtur (L), chats with commentator Stuart Doyle while the South Australian police are on the march in Mt.Torrens.
- Hey Mum, have you seen where my bike is?
- A kangaroo! This must be an Aussie road race.
- Casey Munro from Victoria holds his wrist after a fall just four kilometres into the 175.5km race.
- Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) gets a helping hand from Ben Brooks.
- Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) looks for more speed on a descent in the men's road race title.
- Gene Bates of South Australia is going bananas in the lead group.
- Matt Wilson (Mr.Bookmaker) chows down in the leading group.
- Mt.Torrens, South Australia - scene of the 2006 Australian Open Road Championships.
- Wes Sulzberger (Cyclingnews.com, L) and Henk Vogels (Davitamon Lotto), explain the final kilometres of the race to the President of Cycling Australia, Mike Victor.
- Hey man, it's really cool to win the Australian road title - well, the under 23 crown, anyway...
- Wes Sulzberger (Cyclingnews.com) from Tasmania, proudly displays his silverware on the podium after his second place in the men's road race.
Results
1 William Walker (Vic) Rabobank* 4.09.17 2 Wesley Sulzberger (Tas) South Australia.com - AIS* 0.27 3 Russell Van Hout (SA) - Australian Elite Champion 4 Adam Hansen (Qld) 5 Henk Vogels (WA) Davitamon-Lotto 6 Jonathon Clarke (Vic) South Australia.com - AIS* 7 Peter McDonald (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello 0.39 8 Gene Bates (SA)** 9 Matthew Wilson (Vic) Unibet.com 1.36 10 David Betts (Qld) 1.38 11 Tony Mann (Qld) FRF Couriers-Caravello 1.43 12 Nathan Jones (WA) 3.49 13 Bernard Sulzberger (Tas) 14 Nicholas Gates (NSW) Davitamon-Lotto 3.52 15 David Pell (Vic) 6.40 16 Joshua Collingwood (SA) 9.50 17 David Mcpartland (Vic) 18 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Navigators 19 Trent Wilson (NSW) Jittery Joe's 20 Shaun Higgerson (NSW) South Australia.com - AIS* 21 Peter Herzig (Qld) 22 Sean Sullivan (Tas) 23 Mathew Hayman (ACT) Rabobank 24 Paul Crake (ACT) 25 Brendan Brooks (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello 26 Robert Mclachlan (ACT) DNF Robbie McEwen (Qld) Davitamon-Lotto DNF Cody Stevenson (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello DNF Nicholas Formosa (Qld) DNF Cameron Jennings (Qld) DNF Stephen Cunningham (SA) DNF Baden Cooke (Vic) DNF Raymond Forbes (Vic) DNF Simon Gerrans (Vic) Ag2r-Prevoyance DNF Ryan Moody (Vic) DNF Steven Pilson (Vic) DNF Andrew Ward (Vic) DNF Ian Gregory (WA) DNF Simon Pearson (SA) DNF Nic Sanderson (Vic) DNF Allan Davis (Qld) Liberty Seguros DNF Ben Day (Qld) Carval DNF Luke Roberts (SA) Team CSC DNF Peter Dawson (WA) South Australia.com - AIS DNF Michael Cupitt (ACT) DNF Ben Brooks (NSW) Jelly Belly DNF Phillip Chapman (NSW) DNF Brian Crawford (NSW) DNF Cameron Hughes (NSW) DNF Ashley Humbert (NSW) DNF Aaron Little (NSW) DNF Joshua Marden (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello DNF Kelvin Martin (NSW) DNF Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello DNF Bradley Mills (NSW) DNF Peter Milostic (NSW) DNF Mark Renshaw (NSW) Credit Agricole DNF John Tzinberg (NSW) DNF Mark Wall (NSW) DNF Nicholas Wood (NSW) DNF Craig Cahill (Qld) DNF Ross Cattle (Qld) DNF Glen Chadwick (Qld) Navigators DNF Mark Chadwick (Qld) DNF Giuseppe Cirella (Qld) DNF Peter Garrone (Qld) DNF Tristan Ius (Qld) DNF Aaron Kemps (Qld) Liberty Seguros DNF Shaun Leggate (Qld) DNF Craig Mackie (Qld) DNF Anthony Osbrough (Qld) DNF Jaaron Poad (Qld) DNF Steven Rankine (Qld) DNF Matthew Smith (Qld) DNF Cameron Bowden (SA) DNF Ben Cook (SA) DNF Phillip Dalton (SA) DNF John Danvers (SA) DNF Will Dickeson (SA) DNF Christopher Green (SA) DNF Kym Howard (SA) DNF Michael Mcgee (SA) DNF Matthew Oppermann (SA) DNF Errol Schmidt (SA) DNF Elliot Walters (SA) DNF Luke Bell (Vic) DNF Christopher Fry (Vic) DNF Domenic Gatto (Vic) DNF Mark Hooper (Vic) DNF Matthew Lloyd (Vic) DNF Adam Murchie (Vic) DNF Samuel Rix (Vic) DNF Nicholas Shipp (Vic) DNF Robert Tighello (Vic) DNF Martin Tobin (Vic) DNF Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) DNF Byron Davy (WA) DNF Brad Hall (WA) DNF Richard England (Vic) DNF James Kelly (SA) DNF Mitch Chapman (NSW)* DNF Chris Jory (NSW)* DNF Bradley Payne (Qld)* DNF Scott Lyttle (NZL)* DNF Mathew Rex (SA)* DNF Jai Crawford (Tas)* DNF Ryan Sullivan (Tas)* DNF Joshua Wilson (Tas)* DNF Jason Hegert (Vic)* DNF Peter Ladd (Vic)* DNF Tommy Nankervis (Vic)* DNF Patrick Shaw (Vic)* DNF Clinton Slotegraaf (Vic)* DNF Johnny Walker (Vic)* DNF Michael Ford (Vic)* DNF Mark Jamieson (Tas)* DNF Richard Moffatt (NSW)* DNF Miles Olman (Qld) South Australia.com - AIS* DNF Sean Finning (Vic)* DNF Fabio Calabria (ACT)* DNF Tyler Butterfield (BER)* DNF Robert Cater (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello* DNF Luke Cridland (NSW)* DNF Brendan Jones (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello* DNF Ben Isaksen (NSW)* DNF Samuel Lee (NSW)* DNF Owen Macphillamy (NSW)* DNF James Meadley (NSW)* DNF Peter Spencer (NSW)* DNF David Tanner (NSW)* DNF Brendan Washington (NSW)* DNF Dean Windsor (NSW)* DNF Joel Davis (Qld)* DNF David Kemp (Qld)* DNF Daniel Strahan (Qld)* DNF Matthew Wood (Qld)* DNF Michael Johnstone (SA)* DNF Andrew Roe (SA)* DNF Daniel Furmston (Tas)* DNF Matthew Goss (Tas) South Australia.com - AIS* DNF Jarrod Harman (Tas)* DNF Timothy Walker (Tas)* DNF Jack Alexander (Vic)* DNF Simon Clarke (Vic)* DNF Zakkari Dempster (Vic)* DNF Mitchell Docker (Vic)* DNF Shaun Morris (Vic)* DNF Casey Munro (Vic)* DNF Brenton Slotegraaf (Vic)* DNF Steven Robb (Vic)* DNF Cameron Wise (Vic)* DNF Nathan Wise (Vic)* DNF Marc Williams (ACT)* DNF Stephen Rossendell (Tas)* DNF Mark O'brien (Vic)* DNF Kyle Bateson (Qld) *U23 riders (not eligible for the Elite title) **Gene Bates relegated for irregular riding in the final sprint Effective Elite classification 1 Russell Van Hout (SA) 4.09.44 2 Adam Hansen (Qld) 3 Henk Vogels (WA) Davitamon-Lotto 4 Peter McDonald (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello 0.39 5 Gene Bates (SA)* 6 Matthew Wilson (Vic) 1.36 7 David Betts (Qld) 1.38 8 Tony Mann (Qld) FRF Couriers-Caravello 1.43 9 Nathan Jones (WA) 3.49 10 Bernard Sulzberger (Tas) 11 Nicholas Gates (NSW) Davitamon-Lotto 3.52 12 David Pell (Vic) 6.40 13 Joshua Collingwood (SA) 9.50 14 David Mcpartland (Vic) 15 Hilton Clarke (Vic) Navigators 16 Trent Wilson (NSW) Jittery Joe's 17 Peter Herzig (Qld) 18 Sean Sullivan (Tas) 19 Mathew Hayman (ACT) Rabobank 20 Paul Crake (ACT) 21 Robert Mclachlan (ACT) DNF Robbie McEwen (Qld) Davitamon-Lotto DNF Cody Stevenson (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello DNF Nicholas Formosa (Qld) DNF Cameron Jennings (Qld) DNF Stephen Cunningham (SA) DNF Baden Cooke (Vic) DNF Raymond Forbes (Vic) DNF Simon Gerrans (Vic) Ag2r-Prevoyance DNF Ryan Moody (Vic) DNF Steven Pilson (Vic) DNF Andrew Ward (Vic) DNF Ian Gregory (WA) DNF Simon Pearson (SA) DNF Nic Sanderson (Vic) DNF Allan Davis (Qld) Liberty Seguros DNF Ben Day (Qld) Carval DNF Luke Roberts (SA) Team CSC DNF Peter Dawson (WA) South Australia.com - AIS DNF Michael Cupitt (ACT) DNF Ben Brooks (NSW) Jelly Belly DNF Phillip Chapman (NSW) DNF Brian Crawford (NSW) DNF Cameron Hughes (NSW) DNF Ashley Humbert (NSW) DNF Aaron Little (NSW) DNF Joshua Marden (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello DNF Kelvin Martin (NSW) DNF Joe Mcdonnell (NSW) FRF Couriers-Caravello DNF Bradley Mills (NSW) DNF Peter Milostic (NSW) DNF Mark Renshaw (NSW) Credit Agricole DNF John Tzinberg (NSW) DNF Mark Wall (NSW) DNF Nicholas Wood (NSW) DNF Craig Cahill (Qld) DNF Ross Cattle (Qld) DNF Glen Chadwick (Qld) Navigators DNF Mark Chadwick (Qld) DNF Giuseppe Cirella (Qld) DNF Peter Garrone (Qld) DNF Tristan Ius (Qld) DNF Aaron Kemps (Qld) Liberty Seguros DNF Shaun Leggate (Qld) DNF Craig Mackie (Qld) DNF Anthony Osbrough (Qld) DNF Jaaron Poad (Qld) DNF Steven Rankine (Qld) DNF Matthew Smith (Qld) DNF Cameron Bowden (SA) DNF Ben Cook (SA) DNF Phillip Dalton (SA) DNF John Danvers (SA) DNF Will Dickeson (SA) DNF Christopher Green (SA) DNF Kym Howard (SA) DNF Michael Mcgee (SA) DNF Matthew Oppermann (SA) DNF Errol Schmidt (SA) DNF Elliot Walters (SA) DNF Luke Bell (Vic) DNF Christopher Fry (Vic) DNF Domenic Gatto (Vic) DNF Mark Hooper (Vic) DNF Matthew Lloyd (Vic) DNF Adam Murchie (Vic) DNF Samuel Rix (Vic) DNF Nicholas Shipp (Vic) DNF Robert Tighello (Vic) DNF Martin Tobin (Vic) DNF Marcus Wettenhall (Vic) DNF Byron Davy (WA) DNF Brad Hall (WA) DNF Richard England (Vic) DNF James Kelly (SA) Gene Bates relegated for irregular riding in the final sprint Back to top
