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Jayco Bay Cycling Classic - NE

Geelong, Australia, January 2-6, 2009

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Stage 3 - January 4: Geelong - Eastern Park - Elite men

Walker attacks to win

By Malcolm Sawford in Eastern Park

Will Walker (Degani) was a clear winner on day three.
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

Will Walker (Degani/CBD) took an impressive win on day three of the 2009 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic. The victory followed over 30 of the 55 minutes on the attack on the short but hilly circuit.

"You get a certain amount of rest each lap, and a certain amount of time you've got to be explosive, and that's the perfect mix for me," said Walker. He won ahead of sprint leader Dean Windsor (Mazda).

Graeme Brown took over the race lead, ahead of day one winner Simon Gerrans and Dean Windsor.

Walker, who burst on to the international scene with a win on the same circuit in 2002 at the age of 17, is now an experienced professional in the European peloton. He will ride for the Spain-based Fuji-Servetto ProTour team this season.

"You have to go when it's the hardest. You just attack at the hardest point and then nobody can follow – except Dean Windsor, who is one of the strongest crit riders in Australia, and Kristian House. We thought 'bugger those pro's at the back, we'll just ride away from them!"

The aftermath of the crash in the men's race.
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

A violent attack from day one winner Simon Gerrans with 15 minutes remaining saw him reduce a 16-second deficit to the leading trio to just four seconds, but he was ultimately unable to close the gap. House (Urban Hotels) eventually dropped back to the chase group. He left the two youngsters to extend their advantage. Third place went to one of Walker's young team mates, Daniel Braunsteins, after a late escape. Rabobank professional Graeme Brown, riding this event for the Urban Hotel team, led the bunch home.

Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections),
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

Overnight leader Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans) and Baden Cooke (O2 Reflections Group) were amongst the riders caught up in an early fall which caused officials to suspend racing for five minutes. Both riders rejoined the race, but Cooke later succumbed to the rapid pace and failed to finish. Pearson worked hard in the chase group, but had his run at the final corner obstructed and finished out of the points.

The fourth stage at Port Arlington promises an even tougher test, with two demanding climbs each lap. Gerrans is a former winner on the circuit, but Windsor also fancies his chances. "My Mazda team did a good job in trying to wreck the chase today, and hopefully I can reward them with a yellow in the next couple of days. The green looks good, but I want a stage win this week," said Gerrans.

Brown is using the event as a final tune up for the Tour Down Under in South Australia later this month, but agreed the chance for the overall win was too good to pass up. "I've definitely got a plan on the way I want to race here, which is best for my whole season. I talked to the [Rabobank] team and the team trainer, and we're not going to go off the plan – but in saying that when you've got the yellow jersey it changes everything."

The support race was dominated by a two rider break away. Cameron Carlyle was too strong for Scott Liston in the sprint to the finish and took an impressive win. Overnight leader Jacob Sutherland finished in sixth place and retained his leader's jersey on a count back from the consistent Shaun McCarthy.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

Results

1 Will Walker (Degani/CBD)                                     12 pts
2 Dean Windsor (Mazda)                                         10
3 Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD)                               8
4 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel)                                    7
5 Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub/Ridley)                               6
6 Simon Gerrans (O2 Networks - Reflections Group)               5
7 Mark Renshaw (Mazda)                                          4
8 Jono Cantwell (Virgin Blue)                                   3
9 Tommy Nankervis (Total Rush)                                  2
10 Leigh Howard (Jayco VIS)                                     1
 
Points
 
Sprint 1
1 Dean Windsor (Mazda)                                           
2 Kristian House ( Urban Hotel)                                  
3 Nic Sanderson (Rock Racing)                                    
 
Sprint 2
1 Dean Windsor (Mazda)                                           
2 Will Walker (Degani/CBD)                                       
3 Kristian House (Urban Hotel)                                   
 
Sprint 3
1 Dean Windsor (Mazda)                                           
2 Will Walker (Degani/CBD)                                       
3 Kristian House (Urban Hotel)                                   
 
General classification after stage 3
 
1 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel)                                   23 pts
2 Simon Gerrans (O2 Networks - Reflections Group)              20
3 Dean Windsor (Mazda)                                         20
4 Robbie McEwen (Bike Hub/Ridley)                              19
5 Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans)                               18
6 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue)                              13
7 Will Walker (Degani/CBD)                                     12
8 Baden Cooke (O2 Networks - Reflections Group)                10
9 Daniel Braunsteins (Degani/CBD)                               8
10 Leigh Howard (Jayco VIS)                                     8
11 Mark Renshaw (Mazda)                                         7
12 Michael Stallard (Savings & Loans)                           5
13 Jono Cantwell (Virgin Blue)                                  5
14 Tommy Nankervis (Total Rush)                                 2
15 Cody Stevenson (Budget Forklifts)                            2
16 Nic Sanderson (Rock Racing)                                  1
17 Brett Aitken (Savings & Loans)                               1
 
Points classification
 
1 Dean Windsor (Mazda)                                         18 pts
2 Joel Pearson (Savings & Loans)                                6
3 Bernie Sulzberger (Virgin Blue)                               5
4 Will Walker (Degani/CBD)                                      4
5 Kristian House (Urban Hotel)                                  4
6 Rory Sutherland (Total Rush)                                  3
7 Kris Koke (Trevorrow/Chifley/Sally's Paddock)                 3
8 Graeme Brown (Urban Hotel)                                    3
9 Darren Lapthorne (Urban Hotel)                                2
10 Nathan Wise (Degani/CBD)                                     2
11 Nic Sanderson (Rock Racing)                                  1
12 Jonny Clarke (2XU)                                           1
13 Mark O'Brien (Bike Hub/Ridley)                               1
14 Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing)                                 1
 
Teams classification
 
1 O2 Networks - Reflections Group                              30 pts
2 Mazda                                                        27
3 Savings & Loans                                              24
4 Urban Hotel                                                  23
5 Degani/CBD                                                   20
6 Bike Hub/Ridley                                              19
7 Virgin Blue                                                  18
8 Jayco VIS                                                     8
9 Total Rush                                                    2
10 Budget Forklifts                                             2
11 Rock Racing                                                  1
 
Support men
 
1 Cameron Carlyle                                                
2 Scott Liston                                                   
3 Jarrod Moroni                                                  
4 Stuart Grimsey                                                 
5 Shaun McCarthy                                                 
6 Jacob Sutherland                                               
7 Dale Parker                                                    
8 Matthew Benson                                                 
9 Nathan Oman                                                    
10 Geoff Straub                                                  
 
Points
 
Sprint 1
1 Scott Liston                                                   
2 Cameron Carlyle                                                
3 Stuart Grimsey                                                 
 
Sprint 2
1 Cameron Carlyle                                                
2 Scott Liston                                                   
3 Dale Parker                                                    
 
General classification after stage 3
 
1 Jacob Sutherland                                             24 pts
2 Shaun McCarthy                                               24
3 Cameron Carlyle                                              22
4 Matthew Benson                                               19
5 Scott Liston                                                 16
6 Stuart Grimsey                                               11
7 Jarrod Moroni                                                 9
8 Patrick Drapac                                                8
9 Shaun Lewis                                                   7
10 Marc Williams                                                6
11 Luke Mackenzie                                               5
12 Samuel Spokes                                                5
13 Dale Parker                                                  5
14 Luke Ockerby                                                 3
15 Adam Trewin                                                  3
16 Nathan Oman                                                  2
17 Angus Tobin                                                  2
18 Lachlan Morton                                               2
19 Geoff Straub                                                 1

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