Clarke gives Genesys a stage victory

 Will Clarke (Genesys Wealth Advisers) won the battle against fellow breakaway rider Ben Dyball (Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans) to claim victory on the Mersey Valley Tour’s final stage. Despite the peloton shattering on the final stage, Jayco-Skins’ Luke Drubridge retained enough of a margin to hold on to the general classification lead, by just six seconds ahead of Dyball.

His overall victory at the Mersey Valley Tour gives Durbridge the lead in Cycling Australia’s National Road Series. Durbridge showed gratitude to the Plan B team, which helped the lone Jayco-Skins rider defend his lead against Genesys and Virgin Blue on today’s stage.

“Today was a really tough day,” said Durbridge. “The Plan B team rode super strong for me all day, I couldn't have won it without them.”

Durbridge tried his luck with a solo attack from the breakaway group on the stage’s final climb. It proved futile however as he was caught by Clarke, Dyball and a second Genesys rider near the climb’s summit.

“They attacked me all the way to the finish,” he said. “Dyball and Clarke managed to get away, so I rode tempo to try and limit my loss and keep the lead.

“I'm really happy about the win its early season so the form is only going to get better,” he added.

The NRS continues in April with the Canberra Tour, a round of both the men’s and women’s series.

Rowney wins bunch sprint

Loren Rowney claimed victory in a sprint from a reduced selection of 13 riders on the women’s final stage. While the stage glory went to Rowney, all of the main overall contenders made it into the lead group meaning the general classification saw little change.

Having taken the race lead on the previous afternoon’s stage Alexandra Carle managed to stay with the leaders on the final stage to claim the Mersey Valley Tour victory. Carle’s victory sees her lead the Nartional Road Series standings heading into the next round, the Canberra Tour.

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