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Dauphiné Libéré
Photo ©: Sirotti

 UCI codes explained

Timbercorp Cup Tour of the Murray River - NE

Australia, August 26-September 2, 2007

Main Page    Results   Overall standings    Previous Stage   Next Stage

Stage 2 - August 26: Moama to Barham, 112.9 km

Reluctant Macca moves into yellow

By Rod Morris in Barham, Victoria

Peter McDonald (NSWIS/FRF)
Photo ©: Shane Goss
(Click for larger image)

When Sydney rider Peter McDonald won last week's criterium at the Australian Cycling Grand Prix at Ballarat, he had full intentions of having a spell from the bike. With the eight day Fishers IGA Tour of the Murray River looming, McDonald didn't think he had much of a chance. "The Murray River tour is all pretty flat and I'm more of a hill climber, so I didn't intend to race," McDonald said.

At the end of the opening day of the tour, McDonald surprisingly finds himself the holder of the coveted leader's yellow jersey. Racing in the best form of his career, McDonald won the afternoon's second stage from Moama to Barham, eight seconds ahead of David Pell (Vic) and a further 13 seconds to Geelong teenager Leigh Howard.

It is the first time in his career, McDonald has led a multi-stage tour, but he is making no bold predictions. "This is only day one, there's a lot of racing to go yet and you can bet everyone will be attacking me now,” he said. "Its going to be very hard to defend this for the next seven days, but I'll give it a good shot."

How it unfolded

The stage two podium (L-R):
Photo ©: Shane Goss
(Click for larger image)

The afternoon's second stage provided the longest race of the tour, 112.9 km from Moama to Barham along flat, hot and dusty country roads. But with the race venturing into NSW, Sydney rider Peter McDonald took full opportunity to win on home soil. Part of a strong breakaway group of a dozen riders, McDonald took the initiative six kilometres from the finish when he and Victorian David Pell forged further ahead.

Then in the last kilometre, McDonald hit out again, escaping from Pell and cruising to what looked like a comfortable win, eight seconds ahead of Pell. The chasing bunch was led home by exciting Geelong 17 year-old Leigh Howard, who has just returned from winning a gold medal at the World Junior Track Championships.

Next in line was tour veteran Robert McLachlan (Canberra), with Patrick Shaw (Vic) fifth. McDonald had dual reason to celebrate as he also forced his way into the prized leader's jersey, 12 seconds clear of Pell and a further 13 seconds to Shaw.

Queenslander Grant Irwin, who led after the opening stage, finished 10th in the afternoon's race, 23 seconds adrift of McDonald and coupled with bonuses, dropped to fourth place overall, 29 seconds shy of the New South Welshman.

The tour continues on Monday with another double stage day. The morning's action will see a 33 km criterium in Kerang and then the afternoon will include a 74.7 km road race from Kerang to Cohuna.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

Results

1 Peter Mcdonald                                 2.54.46
2 David Pell                                        0.08
3 Leigh Howard                                      0.21
4 Robert Mclachlan                                      
5 Patrick Shaw                                      0.22
6 Benjamin King                                         
7 Tom Middleton                                     0.23
8 John Ebeling                                          
9 David Kemp                                            
10 Grant Irwin                                          
11 Jack Bobridge                                        
12 Cameron Hughes                                   0.25
13 Brad Edmunds                                     9.07
14 Tony Mann                                        9.10
15 Miles Watson                                     9.12
16 Darcy Rosenlund                                  9.23
17 Gavin Nicholls                                   9.46
18 Nicholas Sanderson                                   
19 Re Meneaud-Young                                     
20 Mark Jamieson                                        
21 Jarrod Harman                                        
22 Peter Dawson                                         
23 Brett Aitken                                    10.15
24 Craig Robertson                                 15.32
25 Glen Peterson                                        
26 Gilbert Gutowski                                     
27 Hayden Josefski                                      
28 Michael Stallard                                     
29 Travis Frisby                                        
30 Brendan Schultz                                      
31 Joe Mcdonnell                                        
32 Lachlan Stewart                                      
33 Will Dickeson                                        
34 Timothy Decker                                       
35 Daniel Mcculloch                                     
36 Chris Steffanoni                                     
37 Will Wettenhall                                      
38 Luke Aggett                                          
39 Evan Corry                                           
40 Ben Mather                                           
41 Jacob Lea                                            
42 David Tozer                                          
43 Chris Jory                                           
44 Jamie Crass                                          
45 Sean Finning                                         
46 Matt King                                            
47 Matt Sillars                                         
48 Russell Gill                                         
49 Daniel Furmston                                      
50 Robert Lyte                                          
51 Steven Robb                                          
52 Shaun Higgerson                                      
53 Douglas Repacholi                                    
54 Gary Mueller                                         
55 Peter Milostic                                       
56 Miles Olman                                     16.09
57 Samuel Rix                                      23.50
58 Nigel Sullivan                                  29.29
59 Thomas Baxter                                        
60 Daniel Braunsteins                                   
61 Matthew Sherwin                                      
62 Jonathan Coulter                                     
63 Vaughan Bowman                                  30.23
64 Jason Hegert                                         
65 Peter Smith                                     31.13
66 Simon Brown                                     31.42
67 Nathan Wise                                          
68 Grant Webster                                   32.47
69 Malcolm Rudolph                                 32.51
70 Brendon Sharratt                                33.05
71 Stephen Price                                   37.44
72 Jeremy Hills                                         
DNF Craig Mccartney                                     
DNF Nicholas Walker                                     
DNF Peter Johnstone                                     
DNF Daniel Johnston                                     
DNF Jack Hudson                                         
DNF Josh Page                                           
DNS Alexander Machin                                    
 
Sprints
 
Green Gu
1 Peter Dawson                                         3 pts
2 Robert Lyte                                          2
3 Miles Watson                                         1
 
Fairfield
1 Grant Irwin                                          3 pts
2 Miles Watson                                         2
3 Peter Dawson                                         1
 
Merryban
1 Peter Dawson                                         3 pts
2 Miles Watson                                         2
3 Patrick Shaw                                         1
 
Caltex
1 Miles Watson                                         3 pts
2 Patrick Shaw                                         2
3 Darcy Rosenlund                                      1
 
Caldwell
1 Peter Dawson                                         3 pts
2 David Pell                                           2
3 Miles Watson                                         1
 
Toroga
1 Patrick Shaw                                         3 pts
2 David Kemp                                           2
3 Benjamin King                                        1
 
Tyebar
1 Peter McDonald                                       3 pts
2 David Pell                                           2
3 Patrick Shaw                                         1
 
Most aggressive rider 
 
1 Robert McLachlan                                     2 pts
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 Peter McDonald                                 3.29.20
2 David Pell                                        0.12
3 Patrick Shaw                                      0.25
4 Grant Irwin                                       0.29
5 Leigh Howard                                      0.36
6 Robert Mclachlan                                  0.37
7 Tom Middleton                                     0.43
8 John Ebeling                                          
9 Benjamin King                                     0.46
10 David Kemp                                           
11 Cameron Hughes                                   0.47
12 Jack Bobridge                                    0.48
13 Miles Watson                                     9.17
14 Brad Edmunds                                     9.20
15 Tony Mann                                        9.35
16 Darcy Rosenlund                                  9.38
17 Peter Dawson                                     9.56
18 Nicholas Sanderson                              10.00
19 Mark Jamieson                                   10.11
20 Jarrod Harman                                        
21 Brett Aitken                                    10.25
22 Re Meneaud-Young                                10.26
23 Gavin Nicholls                                  11.14
24 Russell Gill                                    15.48
25 Robert Lyte                                     15.50
26 Will Dickeson                                   15.52
27 Sean Finning                                         
28 Gilbert Gutowski                                15.54
29 Ben Mather                                      15.55
30 Gary Mueller                                         
31 Michael Stallard                                15.57
32 Travis Frisby                                        
33 Chris Steffanoni                                     
34 Daniel Mcculloch                                     
35 Hayden Josefski                                      
36 Brendan Schultz                                      
37 David Tozer                                          
38 Timothy Decker                                       
39 Craig Robertson                                      
40 Jacob Lea                                            
41 Evan Corry                                           
42 Lachlan Stewart                                      
43 Matt King                                            
44 Peter Milostic                                       
45 Chris Jory                                           
46 Daniel Furmston                                      
47 Steven Robb                                          
48 Matt Sillars                                         
49 Douglas Repacholi                                    
50 Shaun Higgerson                                 16.14
51 Joe Mcdonnell                                   16.27
52 Jamie Crass                                     16.33
53 Miles Olman                                     16.54
54 Will Wettenhall                                 19.22
55 Glen Peterson                                   21.42
56 Luke Aggett                                          
57 Samuel Rix                                      24.15
58 Matthew Sherwin                                 29.49
59 Daniel Braunsteins                              29.54
60 Vaughan Bowman                                  30.48
61 Jason Hegert                                         
62 Nigel Sullivan                                  30.59
63 Jonathan Coulter                                     
64 Peter Smith                                     31.38
65 Nathan Wise                                     32.05
66 Simon Brown                                     33.12
67 Malcolm Rudolph                                 33.16
68 Brendon Sharratt                                33.30
69 Thomas Baxter                                   35.39
70 Grant Webster                                   36.37
71 Stephen Price                                   40.24
72 Jeremy Hills                                    42.44
 
Sprints classification
 
1 Miles Watson                                        20 pts
2  David Pell                                         13
3  Patrick Shaw                                       13
4  Peter Mcdonald                                     13
5  Brad Edmunds                                       10
6  Peter Dawson                                       10
7  Grant Irwin                                         6
8  Darcy Rosenlund                                     5
9  Sean Finning                                        5
10 Leigh Howard                                        4
11 Gilbert Gutowski                                    3
12  Robert Lyte                                        2
13  David Kemp                                         2
14  Cameron Hughes                                     1
15  Benjamin King                                      1
                                      
 
Most aggressive rider classification
 
1 David Pell                                          2 pts                                            
2 Robert McLachlan                                    2