Saleh gives Malaysia a stage win

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Ballarat cyclist Patrick Shaw recorded a unique victory in the Tour of Gippsland today – without winning any of the event’s eight stages. The ultra-consistent Shaw won by 22 seconds from North Sydney speedster Joseph Lewis, with unheralded New Zealander Rico Rogers a further six seconds away in third place.

Shaw’s triumph was richly deserved. Riding for the Patrick Jonker-managed Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans team, he clocked up three second placings and a third in the five-day tour and was always prominent near the front of the 160-man field.

The son of 1978 Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic winner Dennis Shaw, Patrick was talent-spotted by the Victorian Institute of Sport as a youngster but went solo two years ago and raced with an Italian trade team in Europe.

His results were eye-catching, recording 45 top-10 placings, but he failed to win a race and returned home to Victoria earlier this year, contemplating retirement.

When the Adelaide-based Jonker, 12th placegetter in the 1998 Tour de France, approached him several months ago with a Virgin Blue offer, Shaw seized the opportunity and hasn’t looked back.

He rated his Gippsland tour victory as the most important of his career.

“I have always had aspirations of winning one on these Scody Cup races but the opportunity has never arisen,” he said. “The door opens up sometimes and you have got to make the most of your opportunities. I had great team support all week and I am really enjoying this victory.”

The tour’s final stage in Paynesville was marred by heavy rain and race officials reduced the 44km criterium to 27.5kms, also chopping out the 16 intermediate sprints which offered 96 seconds in time bonuses.

The large field rode cautiously in the slippery conditions, with the criterium going to little-known Malaysian Harrif Saleh from Rogers, with Tasmanian Ben Grenda a close third.

Saleh, a member of the Malaysian national team which contested the tour, impressed throughout the five days with his speedy aggression. He also recorded two other minor placings.

Joseph Lewis, riding for the Drapac-Porsche outfit, took some consolation from his overall runner-up placing, by winning the SP AusNet sprint championship. Shaw’s tour victory was bolstered further when he also triumphed in the CreditCollect criterium championship.

Results