Giacoppo claims Rhyll Criterium victory

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A photo finish has decided the opening stage of the Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland with former Australian criterium champion Anthony Giacoppo (Huon Salmon – Genesys Wealth Advisers) claiming a narrow victory over Jesse Kerrison (Budget Forklifts).

The pair cleared a crash on the final corner of the 1.4km circuit in Rhyll on Phillip Island in an aggressive start to round six of the National Road Series. Giacoppo's teammate Pat Shaw, fresh from victory in the Melbourne to Ballarat at the weekend was pushed into fourth by Ben Grenda (Polygon Australia).

"Our team raced perfectly today," said Giacoppo. "We were in control and rode the last six to eight laps on the front. We always knew if we could do that, then we’d be very hard to match.

"I heard a bit of carnage on the last corner but I didn't see any of it. Behind the top five riders there is always a mad rush for the right position and with such a tight circuit it’s hard to get there.

"Coming into the last corner I had a free run to the line."

Wednesday's win is Giacoppo's second in the NRS in 2013, having also won stage 2 of the Battle on the Border in May.

Giacoppo holds the overall lead heading into stage 2, a kermesse around the famed Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.

Budget Forklifts, Polygon and Target Trek got the 30-laps of racing off to an aggressive start and continuing the form shown at the last-up Santos North Western Tour, Kerrison took the honours in the first sprint of the day.Grenda was second with Alistair Donohoe (search2retain p/b health.com.au) third.

A small break formed following the intermediate with Grenda in tow among the handful of riders but was never allowed to gain any more than 10 seconds on the bunch with Euride leading the chase. Their Olympic representative Alex Edmondson took the opportunity to flush out his legs after a block of racing on the track and with 16 laps remaining, the peloton was back together.

NRS veteran Stu Shaw (Suzuki Bontrager) was first across the line for the second sprint, followed by Alex Wohler (Budget Forklifts) and Edmondson, leaving Euride to again take charge of the pace as the criterium began to wind up for the final laps.

Huon – Genesys were next to take the reins with six laps remaining, before Polygon moved to the front with an eye to delivering Grenda to a second stage victory for the season. Budget Forklifts however, current leaders of the Queensland Road Series and with plenty of recent racing under their belts, also looked ominous. As the bell for the final lap sounded, it was the Orange Army that lined out at the head of the peloton setting up Giacoppo for the win. 

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