Shaw takes classic in two man sprint

 Ballarat cyclist Patrick Shaw overcame the most testing challenge of his burgeoning career with an outstanding victory in the gruelling Launceston to New Norfolk Classic today. Shaw won the 208km last-man-standing affair narrowly from breakaway partners Chris Jory, of NSW, and the gutsy New Zealander Eliot Crowther.

Sixty one riders started the classic at Country Club Tasmania in Prospect Vale and only 27 pedalled into New Norfolk in brown’s cows fashion to complete the race, founded only last year as a replacement event for the 82-year-old Launceston to Hobart Classic.

“I never knew much about this event until today but, boy, it’s one of the best bike races in Australia,” Shaw exclaimed after crossing the line. “The course is so tough.”

Shaw, who competed in Europe for the last two years and contemplated retirement upon his return to Australia in January, is enjoying a remarkable domestic season, winning the Tour of Gippsland then finishing second in the Tour of Geelong.

The Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans rider enjoys an unassailable lead in the 2010 Scody Cup series which concludes with the Caterpillar Underground Mining Tour of Tasmania which starts in Strahan on Thursday.

Shaw’s father Dennis won the 1978 Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic – a fact not lost on Patrick as he celebrated his victory today.

“This is the closest thing to emulating my dad’s win in the ‘Warrnambool’,” Patrick said. “This is so exciting for me. To win a race like this really is special.”

The stumbling block to most riders in the classic was the 10km climb up the 1052- metre Poatina mountain which came only 59kms into the race.

Shaw and a small breakaway group of Jory, and New Zealanders Crowther, Shem Rogers and Jason Christie were more than seven minutes clear of their rivals at the top of the mountain and, with the exception of Christie who finished ninth, that’s where they stayed.

Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Pat Shaw (Aus) Ballarat/Sebastopol C C5:30:25
2Chris Jory (Aus) Southern Cross CCRow 1 - Cell 2
3Eliot Crowther (NZl) New Zealand0:00:05
4Shem Rodger (NZl) New Zealand0:00:21
5Cam Peterson (Aus) Peloton Sports Inc.0:06:17
6Brendan Brooks (Aus) Murwillumbah Cycle ClubRow 5 - Cell 2
7James Williamson (NZl) New Zealand0:06:28
8Darren Rolfe (Aus) Toowoomba Cycling Club Inc.Row 7 - Cell 2
9Jason Christie (NZl) New Zealand0:06:29
10George Bennett (NZl) New ZealandRow 9 - Cell 2
11Matthew Marshall (NZl) New ZealandRow 10 - Cell 2
12Andrew Roe (Aus) Norwood C.C.0:06:33
13Ben Dyball (Aus) Caravello CC0:06:41
14Elmer Tim (Aus) Launceston City CC0:07:36
15Matthew Opperman (Aus) Mt Gambier Cycling &Triathlon0:27:46
16Scott Nolan (Aus) Southern Tasmanian Veterans0:29:07
17Johnathon White (Aus) Mersey Valley Devonport CC0:32:31
18Jim Moore (Aus) Sutherland Shire CC0:38:58
19Russell Leary (Aus) Gold Coast Goldstars C C0:48:03
20Dean Wilson (Aus) Mersey Valley Devonport CC0:48:12
21Tom Sallai (Aus) Launceston City CC0:48:15
22Glenn Myler (Aus) Northern Districts CC0:48:27
23Tom Mcdonough (Aus) Coburg Cycling Club Inc0:52:08
24Nathan White (Aus) Hobart WheelersRow 23 - Cell 2
25Michael Stevens (Aus) Sydney CC0:53:17
26David Fulton (Aus) Echuca/Moama Cycling Club0:53:32
DNFGillett Rhys (Aus) Ballarat/Sebastopol C CRow 26 - Cell 2
DNFTaylor Gunman (NZl) New ZealandRow 27 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Rice (Aus) Launceston City CCRow 28 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Bishop (Aus) Carnegie Caulfield CCRow 29 - Cell 2
DNFRowan Dever (Aus) Blackburn Cycling Club IncRow 30 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Padgett (Aus) Launceston City CCRow 31 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Smith (Aus) Launceston City CCRow 32 - Cell 2
DNFJason Chisholm (Aus) TasmaniaRow 33 - Cell 2
DNFJonathon Smith (Aus) TasmaniaRow 34 - Cell 2
DNFCridland Luke (Aus) Southern Cross CCRow 35 - Cell 2
DNSMitch Pearson (Aus) Eurobodalla Cyclists Club Inc.Row 36 - Cell 2
DNSHarrif Saleh (Mal) MalaysiaRow 37 - Cell 2
DNSAdiq Othman (Mal) MalaysiaRow 38 - Cell 2
DNSAmir Rusli (Mal) MalaysiaRow 39 - Cell 2
DNSFallanie Ali (Mal) MalaysiaRow 40 - Cell 2
DNSFakhrullah Alias (Mal) MalaysiaRow 41 - Cell 2
DNSShahrul Amin (Mal) MalaysiaRow 42 - Cell 2
DNSGhazali Hamid (Mal) MalaysiaRow 43 - Cell 2
DNSZamri Saleh (Mal) MalaysiaRow 44 - Cell 2
DNSYusrizal Usoff (Mal) MalaysiaRow 45 - Cell 2
DNSAkmal Amrun (Mal) MalaysiaRow 46 - Cell 2
DNSYong Li (Mal) MalaysiaRow 47 - Cell 2
DNSBen Cutajar (Aus) Gold Coast CATS Cycling CluRow 48 - Cell 2
DNSMatthew Benson (Aus) Riverland C.C.Row 49 - Cell 2

 

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