Dennis starts his 2012 Olympic bid with under 23 gold in Buninyong

On a day that couldn't have gone more smoothly for his Jayco-AIS team, Rohan Dennis, who wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de l'Avenir late last year has claimed his maiden national road title.

The 21-year-old who hails from South Australia was a level above in the final two laps of the brutal Buninyong course, jumping away with a select group of three riders that included, Eric Sheppard (VIS) and Calvin Watson (Jayco-AIS), before asserting himself on the final climb up Mount Buninyong.

Watson went all-out for Dennis on the penultimate ascent, falling back to make it a battle for two at the front.

Dennis looked, and was comfortable, and when it came down to the final sprint, made it look easy as he powered away from a cramping Sheppard. Speaking at the stage finish Dennis praised the work of his team first and foremost.

"It was amazing, we had Patrick Lane and Aaron Donnelly working really well early, and at the end we still had five or six guys.

"Calvin then did a great job in setting me up for the finish, I really can't thank my teammates enough.

"I must admit - I doubted things with like five laps to go, I was cramping but I was able to rehydrate and I started feeling a lot better in the final two laps.

"I have been working for this for a few years now and it is the first national road race I have ever won. I can't really put it in words right now - I am just overwhelmed really."

Sheppard meanwhile was stoked to come away with silver.

"It was a hard race out there, but this is probably my best result ever," said the Victorian Institute of Sport cyclist. "From three or four to go, I noticed there were splits in the bunch and so I knew it was a perfect time to go.

"In the final few laps, Rohan and I were both cramping up and thinking the same thing, that is hoping the other guy didn't hit, didn't take off.

"But I gave it my all and full credit to Rohan," added Sheppard.

How it unfolded

On time and under blue skies in the rural town of Buninyong, some 126 riders rolled out for the 2012 Mars under 23 men's road national championships.

The first move went almost on the gun, with 6 riders including Sam Spokes (NSWIS), Rhys Gillett, Tim Cameron (Suzuki-Trek), Julian Hamill (GPM-Wilson Racing), Brian McLeod (Budget-Forklifts) and Alex Wong (GPM-Wilson Racing) forming an escape on the first ascent of the famous Mount Buninyong.

With no Jayco-AIS riders in the break, the blue-and-red team quickly put riders on the front of the main bunch and with the pace on, and the gap stabilised around the 1 minute mark.

The pace proved too hot for Alex Wong, who dropped from the break, and proceeded to go out the back of the bunch on the following lap.

It didn't take long for the group to wittle down further, with Hamill, and then Spokes finding the going too tough on the third climb of Buninyong.

The lead trio however looked very solid, and with Gillett and McLeod there was plenty of engine to keep the break going.

Under the watch of the Jayco-AIS squad led by Patrick Lane the gap went out to 1:30, then back down to 1 minute with the leash never extending too much.

The break seemed to content to split the sprint and KOM points between them. Gillett accumulated the sprint points, while McLeod took the KOMs. Cameron, who was largely a passenger just seemed happy to be there.

Gruppo Compatto

In just one lap, the gap disappeared - it was 1:30 and then it wasn't. Cameron had had enough, and then Gillett and McLeod surrendered as the race hit the final 45 kilometres [four laps].

The chase, which had been led by Jayco-AIS from the outset, suddenly turned into counter attacking opportunity for the squad.

Rohan Dennis (Jayco-AIS), Eric Sheppard (VIS) and Calvin Watson (Jayco-AIS) formed a move on the third from last time up Mount Buninyong and would never be seen again.

Watson was used as a work horse for Dennis who was clealy the favoured rider, and after a couple of break neck laps, Watson dropped off leaving it to be a battle of two riders - Sheppard and Dennis.

In the bunch behind, the chase was marked by - you guessed it Jayco-AIS. That made it difficult for the other teams, who by now were sparse in number anyway.

Genesys combined with Tom Palmer (Drapac) and several other riders, and made a late charge. All three of the remaining Genesys riders surged on the final climb up Buninyong, Sam Davis, Blake Hose, and Campbell Flakemore, but their eleventh hour efforts were not enough.

The gap was just too big blowing out to more than a minute with five kilometres, mainly downhill to come.

In the final straight the sprint, which was a long one, opened up really early, and sensing weakness Dennis jumped away. Sheppard cramped and fell behind, allowing Dennis to take the foot off the gas and cruise on for a really classy win.

Calvin Watson finished third to take a well deserved bronze medal.

Brian Mcleod was the KOM winner, while Gillett topped the sprint classification.

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Full Results
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Rohan Dennis (SA)3:04:41
2Eric Sheppard (Vic)0:00:02
3Calvin Watson (Vic)0:01:03
4Jay McCarthy (QLD)Row 3 - Cell 2
5Ben Grenda (Tas)0:01:12
6Blake Hose (Vic)Row 5 - Cell 2
7Stephen Hall (Wa)Row 6 - Cell 2
8Samuel Davis (Wa)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Luke Fetch (Vic)Row 8 - Cell 2
10Stuart Smith (Vic)Row 9 - Cell 2
11Mitchell Lovelock-Fay (ACT)Row 10 - Cell 2
12Matthew Clark (Vic)Row 11 - Cell 2
13Oliver Kent-Spark (Vic)Row 12 - Cell 2
14Lachlan Morton (NSW)Row 13 - Cell 2
15Michael Crosbie (Vic)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Alex Clements (Tas)0:01:15
17Thomas Palmer (ACT)0:01:45
18Phillip Mundy (SA)0:02:25
19Stuart Mulhern (QLD)Row 18 - Cell 2
20Campbell Flakemore (Tas)Row 19 - Cell 2
21Kevin Hawes (NSW)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Alex Wohler (QLD)0:05:30
23James Mowatt (Vic)0:06:19
24Sam McCallum (Vic)Row 23 - Cell 2
25Trenton Day (NSW)Row 24 - Cell 2
26Scott Mcphee (SA)0:07:34
27Trent Morey (Vic)Row 26 - Cell 2
28James Szollosi (QLD)Row 27 - Cell 2
29Timothy Cameron (ACT)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Jack Haig (Vic)Row 29 - Cell 2
31Nathan Elliott (Vic)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Damien Wright (QLD)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Robbie Hucker (Vic)0:07:37
34Craig Hutton (NSW)0:10:09
35Lachlan Doak (Vic)0:10:44
36Danny Pulbrook (Tas)Row 35 - Cell 2
37Nicholas Woods (NSW)Row 36 - Cell 2
38Luke Ockerby (Tas)0:10:47
39Justin Vanstone (QLD)Row 38 - Cell 2
40Brian Mcleod (QLD)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Jamie Lacey (QLD)0:10:49
42Jordan Davies (NSW)0:14:49
43Merlin Spranz (SA)0:19:25
44Aaron Eynaud (Vic)0:20:28
45Rhys Gillett (Vic)0:20:31
46Stephen Bomball (ACT)0:22:54
DNFDamien Howson (SA)Row 46 - Cell 2
DNFNick Aitken (Vic)Row 47 - Cell 2
DNFAaron Donnelly (NSW)Row 48 - Cell 2
DNFJordan Kerby (QLD)Row 49 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Lane (Vic)Row 50 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Hill (NSW)Row 51 - Cell 2
DNFBrenton Jones (Vic)Row 52 - Cell 2
DNFJared Triggs (NSW)Row 53 - Cell 2
DNFLachlan Ambrose (SA)Row 54 - Cell 2
DNFJames Boal (Vic)Row 55 - Cell 2
DNFShaun O'Callaghan (Vic)Row 56 - Cell 2
DNFAndrew Martin (Wa)Row 57 - Cell 2
DNFDarcy Woolley (Vic)Row 58 - Cell 2
DNFMitchell Cooper (Vic)Row 59 - Cell 2
DNFDouglas Freeburn (QLD)Row 60 - Cell 2
DNFHarry Carpenter (SA)Row 61 - Cell 2
DNFJoshua Apolony (NSW)Row 62 - Cell 2
DNFCameron Bayly (SA)Row 63 - Cell 2
DNFSamuel Beveridge (Vic)Row 64 - Cell 2
DNFJoshua Blake (SA)Row 65 - Cell 2
DNFAaron Blomeley (Vic)Row 66 - Cell 2
DNFPeter Braunsteins (Vic)Row 67 - Cell 2
DNFJames Butler (Vic)Row 68 - Cell 2
DNFTrent Carman (QLD)Row 69 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Carver (NSW)Row 70 - Cell 2
DNFTimothy Chadwick (Vic)Row 71 - Cell 2
DNFTaylor Charlton (QLD)Row 72 - Cell 2
DNFAndrew Christie (Vic)Row 73 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Collyer (NSW)Row 74 - Cell 2
DNFAlistair Crameri (Vic)Row 75 - Cell 2
DNFSam Crome (Vic)Row 76 - Cell 2
DNFSteven Del Gallo (Vic)Row 77 - Cell 2
DNFPat Drapac (Vic)Row 78 - Cell 2
DNFJay Dutton (NSW)Row 79 - Cell 2
DNFCallum Fagg (Tas)Row 80 - Cell 2
DNFLuca Giacomin (Vic)Row 81 - Cell 2
DNFJulian Hamill (NSW)Row 82 - Cell 2
DNFBilly Hutton (NSW)Row 83 - Cell 2
DNFCameron Ivory (NSW)Row 84 - Cell 2
DNFJarryd Jones (Vic)Row 85 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Kell (NSW)Row 86 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Lane (Vic)Row 87 - Cell 2
DNFScott Law (NSW)Row 88 - Cell 2
DNFAlastair Loutit (NSW)Row 89 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel McDonald (NSW)Row 90 - Cell 2
DNFMacauley Mulhull (NSW)Row 91 - Cell 2
DNFConor Murtagh (Vic)Row 92 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Parsons (SA)Row 93 - Cell 2
DNFJoshua Prete (QLD)Row 94 - Cell 2
DNFJames Rendall (NSW)Row 95 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Schilg (NSW)Row 96 - Cell 2
DNFTodd Schintler (Vic)Row 97 - Cell 2
DNFClive Silcock (Vic)Row 98 - Cell 2
DNFNicholas Smith (Vic)Row 99 - Cell 2
DNFJoel Stearnes (Tas)Row 100 - Cell 2
DNFFergus Sully (Vic)Row 101 - Cell 2
DNFGeorge Tansley (SA)Row 102 - Cell 2
DNFJosh Taylor (NSW)Row 103 - Cell 2
DNFAngus Tobin (NSW)Row 104 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Wong (NSW)Row 105 - Cell 2
DNFPeter Wood (Vic)Row 106 - Cell 2
DNFAdam Allen (QLD)Row 107 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Davison (NSW)Row 108 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Edwards (QLD)Row 109 - Cell 2
DNFJack Beckinsale (NSW)Row 110 - Cell 2
DNFSamuel Spokes (NSW)Row 111 - Cell 2
DNFMitchell Codner (NSW)Row 112 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel O'Keefe (NSW)Row 113 - Cell 2
DNFIvan Michelin-Beard (ACT)Row 114 - Cell 2
DNFLiam Dove (Vic)Row 115 - Cell 2
DNFStefan Imberger (Vic)Row 116 - Cell 2
DNFNicholas Dougall (QLD)Row 117 - Cell 2
DNFBlaise Bourke (Vic)Row 118 - Cell 2
DNFBen Hilleard (Vic)Row 119 - Cell 2
DNFBrendan Johnston (NSW)Row 120 - Cell 2
DNFJackson Law (NSW)Row 121 - Cell 2
DNFJack Matthews (Tas)Row 122 - Cell 2
DNFIan Richards (QLD)Row 123 - Cell 2
DNFChris Zucchet (Vic)Row 124 - Cell 2
DNFJarrod Coveney (NSW)Row 125 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Macanally (QLD)Row 126 - Cell 2
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Sprint Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Rhys Gillett (Vic)15pts
2Brian McLeod (QLD)13Row 1 - Cell 3
3Timothy Cameron (ACT)7Row 2 - Cell 3
4Eric Sheppard (Vic)4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Calvin Watson (Vic)4Row 4 - Cell 3
6Rohan Dennis (SA)4Row 5 - Cell 3
7Luke Ockerby (Tas)3Row 6 - Cell 3
8Nicholas Dougall (QLD)2Row 7 - Cell 3
9Jay Mccarthy (QLD)1Row 8 - Cell 3
10Samuel Spokes (NSW)1Row 9 - Cell 3
DNFDamien Howson (SA)3Row 10 - Cell 3
DNFNick Aitken (Vic)3Row 11 - Cell 3
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KOM Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Brian McLeod (QLD)18pts
2Rhys Gillett (Vic)17Row 1 - Cell 3
3Rohan Dennis (SA)8Row 2 - Cell 3
4Timothy Cameron (ACT)6Row 3 - Cell 3
5Calvin Watson (Vic)4Row 4 - Cell 3
6Eric Sheppard (Vic)2Row 5 - Cell 3
7Jay Mccarthy (QLD)2Row 6 - Cell 3
DNFNick Aitken (Vic)2Row 7 - Cell 3
DNFPatrick Lane (Vic)1Row 8 - Cell 3

 

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Alex Hinds, Production Editor

Sydney, Australia

Follow @al_hinds

Alex Hinds is a graduate of Economics and Political Science from Sydney University. Growing up in the metropolitan area of the city he quickly became a bike junkie, dabbling in mountain and road riding. Alex raced on the road in his late teens, but with the time demands of work and university proving too much, decided not to further pursue full-time riding.

If he was going to be involved in cycling in another way the media seemed the next best bet and jumped at the opportunity to work in the Sydney office of Cyclingnews when an offer arose in early 2011.

Though the WorldTour is of course a huge point of focus throughout the year, Alex also takes a keen interest in the domestic racing scene with a view to helping foster the careers of the next generation of cycling.

When not writing for Cyclingnews Alex is a strong proponent of the awareness of cyclists on the road in Sydney having had a few close run-ins with city traffic in the past.

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