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100 Mile Cycling Classic

Mount Gambier, South Australia - Saturday, April 21, 2007

By Pat Koopman, The Border Watch

Savings and Loans Cycling Team captain Stephen Cunningham set a new course record on his way to claiming line and time honours in the 71st Win Television Alex Roberts Mount Gambier 100 Mile Cycling Classic on Saturday.

Cunningham, who has recently retired from top level competition, spearheaded the Savings and Loans Cycling Team's assault on this year's great race. The 36 year old set a new course record of 3 hours, 29 minutes and 59 seconds to stamp his authority on the 160 kilometre road race.

The Savings and Loans Cycling Team dominated the top five placings, with Cunningham joined by teammates David Pell (second) and Craig McCartney (fourth) as the leaders crossed the finish line on Bay Road. Also in the top five were Christopher Luxton (ORBEA), third, and Brian McNamara (Warrnambool), fifth.

Cunningham described his win as "fantastic" when he spoke to The Border Watch following his triumph. "It's certainly towards the end of my career," Cunningham said. "It's one of the biggest (career) highlights. I've always wanted to win this race and I've finally achieved it."

Cunningham described his win as a dream come true. "We just had such a solid team behind me," he said. "Riders like David Pell and Craig McCartney towards the finish, I really couldn't have done it without their help. It was just a fantastic team effort."

Cunningham said he felt better and better as he got deeper into the race. "That's usually what happens with me," he said. "After about 100 kilometres the legs came good and I felt fantastic."

Cunningham was part of a five rider breakaway as they initiated their bid for victory with about five kilometres to go. It was perfectly timed. "It was, we hit a cross tail wind coming back and we knew we had to get rid of some of those really big sprinters that were sitting in the 17 minute bunch and those sort of riders," Cunningham said. "It was everything at that point, rather than waiting to the Mount to do it. It was a tremendous effort."

Savings and Loans Cycling Team teammate, former Australian road racing champion Russell van Hout was a scratching from the scratch bunch due to the death of his father Bill. Cunningham dedicated his race triumph to the memory of his teammate's father.

Cunningham gained time honours in the 100 Mile two years ago and understandably has a close affiliation with the time honoured race. "This is one of my favourite races, if not my favourite race," he said. "I think it's got the best finish in Australia, it's a fast finish. The public come out and really support it. It's a fantastic result for me."

Results

1 Stephen Cunningham (Savings & Loan Credit Union)    3.29.55
2 David Pell (Savings & Loan Credit Union)                   
3 Christopher Luxton (ORBEA)                                 
4 Craig McCartney (Savings & Loan Credit Union)              
5 Brian McNamara (Warrnambool)                               
6 Adrian Hanson (Coburg)                                     
7 Brendan Schultz (Hamilton)                                 
8 Peter Meuller (Savings & Loan Credit Union)                
9 Adrian Laidler (Savings & Loan Credit Union)               
10 Tyrin Simpson (Carnegie Caulfield)                        

Local results 2007