Herald Sun Tour 2009 Peleton news

Wiggins reigns supreme

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:33:00 +1100

It may have poured all week during the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour but after today's final stage on Lygon Street it was Bradley Wiggins' turn to reign, in the company of his talented accomplices from the Garmin Slipstream team.

The team's display during the 61.5 kilometre circuit race that brought this year's Tour to a close was nothing short of emphatic.

But their strong riding at the front of the field didn�t stop Fly V Australia�s Jonathan Cantwell from claiming the final stage.

For the Englishman, Wiggins, the emotion finally showed after playing it low key for the rest of the Tour.

"I could have been in London today, the amount of people that were cheering for me," he said post race.

"It didn't really kick home to me until today. Very few stage races around the world finish like this with so many people around an area like Lygon Street. Shows how big cycling is here.

"And then you look at the roll of honour on the trophy Gerry (Ryan of Jayco) presented to me. The names are so good. It's brilliant to be on there."

Wiggins also acknowledged the importance of the team, and gave some idea of the process they went through in dealing with the dilemma of whether to go with him or Chris Sutton for the overall win.

"We had a few beers last night trying to decide what to do but CJ really made his mind up deciding to give it to me and that was it really. But even then we were still umming and ahring with two laps to go whether Chris was going to do the final sprint," Wiggins said.

"And the boys - they were amazing."

For Cantwell, it was clearly a matter of getting as much out of the final day as possible, a task he fulfilled admirably.

"I knew I couldn't catch Chris Sutton or Bradley Wiggins on GC so we had other plans. First was to get on the podium for the Tour, second was to win the points jersey and the third was to win the stage," Cantwell said.

"We weren't sure of what the Garmin tactics were going to be but we got all three, so I guess we did okay. The team has been brilliant all year, especially today.

"The green jersey's not bad but I'd prefer yellow. It's a bit of a strange feeling me being on the stage for the GC podium, being just a sprinter. I couldn't be more happy.�

Sutton was also content with his lot, acknowledging that he had surpassed both his and his father, 1984 winner Gary's expectations with his three stage victories.

The team's sporting director, Matt White, who had to direct his troops through the quandary of the previous 24 hours, was understandably more than happy with the outcome.

"With four stages, the general classification, the king of the mountains (Tom Peterson) and the team win it's been a successful week. The boys should be very proud," said White, who can now turn his attention to the arrival of his first child with wife Jane Saville in coming days.

The Tour also produced some fine performances by the next generation of Australian stars, led by 19 year old Leongatha rider, Nick Aitken who convincingly held onto the white jersey for the best under 23 rider, in finishing eleventh overall. It was an impressive effort from the tall Jayco Australian team man, who only got the call up for duty at the last minute as a replacement for Baden Cooke.

Equally impressive amongst the younger riders were Mitchell Pearson (Prime Estate) who picked up a couple of top ten stage finishes, Michael Matthews (Jayco AIS) who added a second placing on the final stage to some fine break away efforts earlier in the week and his team mate, Rohan Dennis, who mixed it with the best of the older riders to take fourth in the individual time trial on Friday.

Results

Stage Six � Circuit Race, Lygon Street, Melbourne � 61.5km
1. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU 1hr26:57
2. Michael Matthews, SAI same time
3. David Tanner, RRC same time
4. Aaron Kemps, RRC same time
5. Jaan Kirsipuu, L2A same time
6. Jonny Clarke, JBC same time
7. Rhys Pollock, DPC same time
8. Darren Rolfe, VAU same time
9. Bradley Wiggins, GRM same time
10. Bernard Van Ulden, JBC same time

General Classification
1. Bradley Wiggins, GRM 15hrs51:27
2. Chris Sutton, GRM + 11 secs
3. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU + 20 secs
4. Svein Tuft, GRM + 48 secs
5. Bernard Van Ulden, JBC + 1min43
6. Matthew Wilson, AUS + 2min05
7. Ben Jaques-Mayne, BPC + 2min08
8. Aaron Kemps, RRC + 2min12
9. Phil Zajicek, VAU + 2min12
10. David Tanner, RRC + 2min23

Garmin-Slipstream Dilemma

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:13:00 +1100

Bradley Wiggins' stunning time trial to win today's fifth stage of the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour on the Geelong foreshore has left Garmin Slipstream's boss, Matt White, with a major dilemma.

Today's ride over a technically difficult 10 kilometre course in 13 minutes and seven seconds, 14 seconds ahead of nearest rival, team mate and world championships silver medallist in the discipline, Svein Tuft, demonstrated why he is acclaimed as one of the globe's best time triallers.

Gamin-Slipstream now have three riders in the top four on general classification which would be a dream scenario for any other sports manager but for White it�s a potential nightmare.

But it is a problem he planned to solve before retiring for bed.

"Maybe we're going to flip for tomorrow. I haven't really thought about it yet and we will probably talk about it tonight at our meeting," White said as he pondered aloud about which of Wiggins and the winner of three stages on this year's Tour, Chris Sutton, would be the team choice.

"We're a team. We came here to win the Tour and we are going to do that. It's just a question of with whom."

Wiggins certainly has the credentials to get the nod not simply because he is the senior rider in the team. This year's fourth-place getter in the Tour de France is also a six time world champion and a triple Olympic gold medallist.

But Wiggins was not inclined to demand top billing, although he jokingly at first suggested the best solution might be a more old fashioned one.

"We might just have a big punch-up in the carpark and see who comes off best," Wiggins quipped to the crowd during the presentation to him of the Tour leader's yellow jersey.

When later asked how it would be worked out he was more serious in thought.

"I haven't been in this position before, so I don't know how we will work it out. But if he (Sutton) wants to win, he can win. We always ride together, we get on really well and we are close both on and off the bike. I might let him have it," Wiggins said.

Sutton, who has the possibility to become the first son of a previous winner to take overall victory in Australia's oldest stage cycling race, was of a similar view,

"We're just going to have a team meeting tonight. The main aim is to win tomorrow and to go for five stages straight," Sutton said.

"We bleed for each other. We're brothers in arms. We are not racing against each other, it's a team effort. I just didn't win three stages here, it was the boys who put me there - the riders and the staff."

After politely declining to speculate on how the meeting might go, Sutton did give an indication that he would be more than happy if the decision was to ride for him.

"To win this race has always been a dream of mine. If I win I am going to be super happy. I will win the Jayco Herald Sun Tour one day - if its not this year, I'll be back for the next one."

But he was equally if not more adamant that he would be content with a different scenario as he re-iterated the respect he has for his older team mate.

"I'll ride for Wiggo. We've known each other since 2006 when we were at Cofidis. Bradley's a great time trial specialist and this morning talking at breakfast he really clamed me down. He is always helping me." Sutton said.

Which all probably makes White's call more difficult to determine. The only hint as to how it might pan out came when he acknowledged that Sutton might be more motivated on this occasion. Clearly the boss was not worrying about anyone outside the team.

"The good thing is that Cantwell is far enough away. We can get first and second anyway," a remarkably relaxed White said.

From his side, Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia), who now sits in third overall at 32 seconds behind Wiggins, was still upbeat.

"I am a little bit disappointed - when you get so close, yet so far. But I am renowned for my sprinting and criterium riding, so I am still hopeful of the podium," Cantwell said referring to Saturday's final stage - a criterium based on Lygon Street in Melbourne.

But even that is far from assured, with Garmin a possibility to take all three spots, with Tuft now sitting just seven seconds behind Cantwell.

Tomorrow's sixth and final stage is a circuit race over 15 laps of 4.1km circuit taking in Lygon, Grattan and Rathdowne Streets in Carlton. With intermediate sprints after laps five and 10 delivering three, two and one bonus seconds respectively to the top three placegetters in each and stage honours worth 10, six and four seconds, it will be a helter skelter affair from start to finish.

Saturday 17 October
Stage Six - Circuit Race, Melbourne � 4.1km circuit
Start � Lygon St, Carlton � 5:15pm
Finish � Lygon St, Carlton � 15 laps (approx 6:30pm)

Results

Stage Five � Individual Time Trial, Geelong Foreshore � 10km
1. Bradley Wiggins, GRM 13min07.52
2. Svein Tuft, GRM + 14.35 secs
3. Bernard Van Ulden, JBC + 32.44 secs
4. Rohan Dennis, SAI + 42.91 secs
5. Ben Day, VAU + 43.54 secs
6. Chris Sutton, GRM + 48.07 secs
7. Michael Matthews, SAI + 48.50 secs
8. Ben Jaques-Mayne, BPC + 57.33 secs
9. Rhys Pollock, DPC + 60.94 secs
10. Phil Zajicek, VAU + 65.93 secs

General Classification
1. Bradley Wiggins, GRM 14hrs24:32
2. Chris Sutton, GRM + 5 secs
3. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU + 32 secs
4. Svein Tuft, GRM + 39 secs
5. Bernard Van Ulden, JBC + 1min41
6. Matthew Wilson, AUS + 1min53
7. Ben Jaques-Mayne, BPC + 2min02
8. Phil Zajicek, VAU + 2min06
9. Aaron Kemps, RRC + 2min12
10. Nick Aitken, AUS + 2min25

It's Sutton again

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:53:00 +1100

Chris Sutton today extended his domination of this year's Jayco Herald Sun Tour with a third successive stage win on the 139 kilometre journey from Anglesea to Barwon Heads.

On a day that started and finished in pouring rain, it was again all about Sutton and his Garmin-Slipstream team, but with a fine cameo from young Canberra rider Michael Matthews (Jayco AIS) and former Australian road champion, Darren Lapthorne (Rapha Condor).

Matthews, who was later recognised for his brave riding with the day's most aggressive rider award, joined Lapthorne on a two man break that stayed away for more than 70 kilometres before being caught with just over 10 kilometres to ride.

But it was the sprinter Sutton who reigned supreme for the third day in a row, just nudging out Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) and Garmin team-mate, Bradley Wiggins in a desperate lunge for the line as the heavens opened up on the waterfront at Barwon Heads.

"I was yelling at the boys from 3k to go and then I told Brad to go 500 metres out. I was going to let him have the stage, as I thought we could take one and two,� an increasingly confident Sutton said after the race.

"But then I could feel riders coming and I thought it could have been either Jonathan Cantwell or Jaan Kirsipuu, so I went for it.�

Still, he had plenty of praise for his team, particularly Tom Peterson, who narrowly missed victory the day before.

"The boys have ridden for me but we have three up on general classification now and so anything can happen. We planned it like that,� the 25-year-old said.

"Tom is a great bike rider and he did 5k in front up the 10km climb today. He played his role yet again, that's why were winning races, why we're going so well."

Peterson did manage a victory for himself today, securing the Herald Sun King of the Mountains polka dot jersey, his win in the first climb of the day between Moggs Creek and Lorne effectively putting the title out of reach of the rest of the peloton.

Cantwell again played cat and mouse with Sutton all day, with each of them picking up three bonus seconds in the intermediate sprints and then jousting for the stage win right to the finish.

The Queenslander retains the Budget Forklifts green jersey for the leading sprinter on the Tour but lost four seconds to Sutton on general classification as a result of the stage winner's superior time bonus reward. Nonetheless his confidence remains high with just two stages to ride.

"I'm five seconds behind Chris overall. For two sprinters to go head to head it's been a bit of a strange outcome so far. But I have 38 seconds up my sleeve on Bradley and when you have an inspirational team, anything can happen," Cantwell said.

With belief within both the Garmin and Fly V outfits sky high, all is set for a fascinating time trial stage in Geelong on Friday and a spectacular criterium around Lygon Street in Melbourne on Saturday.

The presence of Tour de France fourth-place getter and brilliant time trialler, Wiggins will ensure plenty of interest in both. Cantwell says he has been working on that aspect of his riding and Sutton feels the course will suit him, citing the stop start corners and a few little hills.

"I was a national under 19 time trial champion but I steered away from it after that. My tactics will just be to go out hard and get faster and faster," Sutton said.

But he also acknowledged that he will be taking on someone quite special.

"I can't really describe it (riding with Wiggins). Since I was young Bradley Wiggins was my hero, my idol, I wanted to be like Bradley Wiggins. But he doesn't see it like that - we roomed together at Cofidis for two years and he taught me so much. He sees me like a little brother," Sutton said.

Tomorrow's fifth stage is a 10 kilometre individual time trial in Geelong that could well determine who wins the 58th edition of Australia's oldest stage cycling race.

Friday 16 October
Stage Five � Individual Time Trial, Geelong Foreshore � 10km
Start � Ritchie Boulevard, Eastern Beach, Geelong, 12.45pm
Finish � Ritchie Boulevard, Eastern Beach, Geelong, last rider to depart at approx 2.15pm

Results

Stage Four � Anglesea to Barwon Heads � 139m
1. Chris Sutton, GRM 3hrs06:47
2. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU same time
3. Bradley Wiggins, GRM same time
4. Aaron Kemps, RRC same time
5. Jaan Kirsipuu, L2A same time
6. Dean Downing, RCR same time
7. Mitchell Pearson, RSR same time
8. Leigh Howard, SAI same time
9. David Tanner, RRC same time
10. Matthew Rice, JBC same time

General Classification
1. Chris Sutton, GRM 14hrs10:42
2. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU + 5 sec
3. Bradley Wiggins, GRM + 43 secs
4. Matthew Wilson, AUS + 58 secs
5. Svein Tuft, GRM + 1min08
6. David Tanner, RRC + 1min38
7. Phil Zajicek, VAU + 1min43
8. Aaron Kemps, RRC + 1min48
9. Ben Jaques-Mayne, BPC + 1min48
10. Bernard Van Ulden, JBC + 1min52

Sutton's second stage sets scene for Slipstream

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:22:00 +1100

Chris Sutton still says his father is not interested enough to come and watch him ride but the younger man took another giant step towards making that and other things more likely with a second stage win in today's leg of the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour, that also delivered him the yellow jersey.

After his Garmin Slipstream team mate, Tom Peterson, looked to have booked a spot in a two man shoot-out with Geelong's Leigh Howard (Jayco AIS) for the honours on the 164km third stage from Warrnambool to Apollo Bay, Sutton was part of a big pack that hunted them down just 100 metres from the line.

"I thought Tom Peterson would win the stage but Fly V kept chasing. I feel a bit sorry for both of them. Leigh Howard is a great bike rider and Tom is going really strong at the moment. He was upset he missed the move yesterday and I am sure he is a bit upset today as well. But that is bike racing. We rode a team plan," a measured Sutton said after the win, still unaware that he had wrestled the leader's prized yellow jersey from Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V) by the barest one second margin.

And while Sutton still has plans of retaining the jersey through to Melbourne on Saturday in an attempt to complete the first father and son Tour victories, complementing father Gary's 1984 success, he is aware of that same team plan and of the threats from elsewhere.

"The race is not over yet and let's hope I've still got it on my back tomorrow. I know Jonno Cantwell and the rest of Fly V will give us a run for the money. It has been a big 24 hours but we are not getting too excited.

"We're riding for Wiggo and Svein - the three of us can podium but the big dangers are Jonno and Matthew Wilson," Sutton said.

Sutton is clearly in awe of Bradley Wiggins ability and knows the asset that Svein Tuft, a world championships silver medallist at time trial in 2008, is to their team,

"Wiggo is like a freight train. I can't describe how fast he goes. Today after Fly V did all the work, which was perfect for us, Trent Lowe took over at the front, and then Bradley and I tagged on.

"We don't really talk that much on the road. We just have a bit of a signal. Wiggo just taps his hand on his rear and I hang on," Sutton explained.

Peterson on the other hand was clearly despondent post race, despite picking up the polka dot jersey for the leader in the King of the Mountains category, two hill climbs, two sprint wins and a few bonus seconds during the day.

"I'm speechless. I would have loved to have won it today, but we went with the team," the 2009 Tour of California stage winner said during the presentation ceremony.

The rising star Howard, who won the award for the most aggressive rider on the day was more philosophical but equally frustrated.

"It is a bit unfortunate and I am very disappointed. We went a long way out. At 15k to go we thought we had it and we probably slowed up a bit too much, ' the talented 19 year old said.

"And then there was the obvious change of tactics from Garmin. He kept attacking me. I understand why they did it - they won they stage."

Although he scored no additional points on the stage, that was race in kinder conditions than the two previous days, although still testing for the riders, Cantwell retained the sprinters green jersey and kept some confidence.

"It was do or die day for me with those climbs but my team did a great job, 167k's on the front. I am super confident we can get it (the yellow jersey) back. Race dynamics change. We'll sit tomorrow and let them (Garmin) do the work," an upbeat Cantwell said.

That fourth stage tomorrow takes the peloton over 139 kilometres from Anglesea to Barwon Heads, with intermediate sprints at the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch and at Moriac and a testing climb up Benwerrin.

Thursday 15 October
Stage Four � Anglesea to Barwon Heads � 120km
Start � Anglesea Bowls Club, Cameron Road, Anglesea, 11.00am
Finish � Hitchcock Ave, Barwon Heads � ETA 2:00pm
Via Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven, Lorne, Benwerrin, Deans Marsh, Bambra, Wurdlboluc, Moriac, Mount Duneed, Thirteenth Beach Road.

Results

Stage Three � Warrnambool to Apollo Bay � 164km
1.    Chris Sutton    GRM    3hrs48:58
2.    Jonathan Cantwell    VAU    same time
3.    David Tanner    RRC    same time
4.    Tom Peterson    GRM    same time
5.    Bradley Wiggins    GRM    same time
6.    Mitchell Pearson    RSR    same time
7.    Leigh Howard    SAI    Same time
8.    David McCann    RSR    + 2 secs
9.    Peter Latham    BPC    + 2 secs
10. Phil Zajicek    VAU    + 2 secs

General Classification
1.    Chris Sutton    GRM    11hrs04:18
2.    Jonathan Cantwell    VAU    + 1 sec
3.    Bradley Wiggins    GRM    + 35 secs
4.    Matthew Wilson    AUS    + 45 secs
5.    Svein Tuft    GRM    + 55 secs
6.    David Tanner    RRC    + 1min25
7.    Phil Zajicek    VAU    + 1min30
8.    Aaron Kemps    RRC    + 1min35
9.    Ben Jaques-Mayne    BPC    + 1min35
10. Bernard Van Ulden    JBC    + 1min39

Sutton wants to be just like his Dad

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:22:00 +1100

Chris Sutton says it probably won't impress his old man all that much but his grinding win in today's second stage of the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour, was a strong first step towards emulating at least one of his father's achievements.

Gary Sutton won the 1984 Tour, the year after his brother, Shane began the family tradition. Today the next generation made a serious bid to continue it.

In the 141km stage from Colac to Warrnambool, the young Sutton, riding for Garmin Slipstream, was the toughest of the tough in a field that was buffeted by ferocious winds from every direction as the course weaved its way through some of Victoria's finest dairy country.

Sutton mused that his father would be mildly happy with his efforts.

"He'll probably say good onya son but not as good as me. But I think he's quietly proud of me - especially now I'm cooking, cleaning and speaking a couple of languages," Sutton said.

"Whilst it is always sweet to get a win, especially in Australia, hopefully I've got another couple in me yet. And I've still got hopes of winning overall so we can become the first father and son combination to do it.

"I look up to my dad, he's a great coach. And then there's Uncle Shane, who coaches me. He'll say it�s about time."

After the early part of the day was almost a replica of Monday, with a big breakaway of around forty and a series of crashes that sent ten men out of the race, three via hospital, the finish was a quite a contrast.

This time just six were left to battle it out for stage honours and the all important time bonuses that go with the top three placings. They were the remnants of a thirteen man group that broke away from the lead pack of around 50 riders with just on 30 km to ride.

Initially the focus was on Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) as he continued his domination of the Budget Forklifts Green Jersey with a second win in the day's two intermediate sprints at Cheese World. Then tactics took over with 17km to go to the stage finish on Flagstaff Hill.

Five kilometres further on, he along with 2007 Tour winner Matt Wilson (Jayco Australia) and a resilient David Pell (Savings and Loans) made a break for home, establishing a twenty second break on most of the other leaders but ominously for them, they had Garmin's Svein Tuft for company.

Predictably perhaps, his mere presence resulted in his team mates, pre-Tour favourite Bradley Wiggins and Sutton being able to make it across to join the group.

Despite a lack of awareness about the uphill nature of the finish, Sutton prevailed just, but not sufficiently to deny Cantwell the prized yellow jersey.

"I hadn't looked at the race book. It was a bit of a mistake on my behalf, I guess," said Sutton.

Cantwell, who claimed on Monday he was happy to have then missed yellow to avoid the associated pressure, clearly had experienced a change of heart overnight.

"It's a dream come true - to put this (the yellow jersey) on my shoulders. We have had a great preparation, the team has worked inside out, everything together," Cantwell said.

And he did not rule out keeping it for a good while yet, in spite of the aspirations of Sutton and his mates.

"I have been trying to get as many time bonuses as I can on guys like Tuft and Wiggins before the time trial on Friday. If I can go with 30 seconds on them, I'll be happy.

"A 10 kilometre time trial is definitely in my reach. I have been working on both my hill climbing and time trialling for most of 2009, the Queenslander said.

Garmin's domination of the Herald Sun King of the Mountains classification continued through Alex Howes, who won both of the day's climbs whilst 19 year old Leongatha cyclist Nick Aitken who replaced Baden Cooke in the Jayco Australia team on the eve of the Tour took over the white jersey for the best under 23 rider.

Tomorrow's third stage should see the wind at the 85 remaining riders' backs as they journey the picturesque 164 kilometres from Warrnambool to Apollo Bay, with intermediate sprints at Peterborough and the 12 Apostles and the Tour's toughest climb over Lavers Hill

Wednesday 14 October
Stage Three � Warrnambool to Apollo Bay - 164km
Start � Flagstaff Hill, Merri St, Warrnambool, 10.00am
Finish � Collingwood St, (Great Ocean Road), Apollo Bay, ETA 2.00pm
Via Allansford, Mepunga East, Nirranda, Peterborough, Port Campbell, Princetown, Lower Gellibrand, Lavers Hill, Glenaire, Marengo

Results

Stage One � Colac to Warrnambool � 141km
1. Chris Sutton, GRM 3hrs33:44
2. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU same time
3. Matthew Wilson, AUS same time
4. David Pell, SLV same time
5. Bradley Wiggins, GRM + 3 secs
6. Svein Tuft, GRM + 9 secs
7. Phil Zajicek, VAU + 56 secs
8. David Tanner, RRC + 57 secs
9. Aaron Kemps, RRC + 1min01
10. Ben Jaques-Mayne, BPC + 1min01

General Classification
1. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU 7hrs15:17
2. Chris Sutton, GRM + 3 secs
3. Matthew Wilson, AUS + 19 secs
4. David Pell, SLV + 25 secs
5. Bradley Wiggins, GRM + 28 secs
6. Svein Tuft, GRM + 46 secs
7. Jaan Kirsipuu, L2A + 1min16
8. Phil Zajicek,VAU + 1min21
9. David Tanner, RRC + 1min22
10. Nick Aitken, AUS + 1min25

Who says life begins at 40?

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:41:00 +1100

Forty year old Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu could not understand all the fuss about his age when he out-powered his younger opponents to win today's 149km first stage of the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour.

"I never retired. For the last two years I have been mostly at home in Estonia but I never stopped riding. Now I am riding around the world in places I did not ride so much before," the four time Tour de France stage winner said after his win.

"If I have a number on my back, I am a rider. I don't want to feel ridiculous."

But he did concede that on a day of crashes, attrition and testing weather conditions, experience was on his side, especially as he found himself the lone LeTua team rider within the 41 man break that halved the list of Tour contenders on day one.

"I am used to be alone, even when I was with the big teams, so I am quite used to it.

"I did not have my best legs today especially at the beginning because I have no racing for three weeks. But as the stage went on, it started to feel a bit better," he explained.

The stage was highlighted by a series of crashes, including one after just 20 kilometres of racing that sent last week's Tour of Tasmania winner Bernie Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) to hospital with deep abrasions and lacerations to his left side.

Kirsipuu narrowly missed the last one, just 200 metres from the finish when Zac Dempster, who was on his wheel collided with a road sign and fell heavily. Using every bit of that vast experience, the Estonian was undeterred, his eyes by then set firmly on the stage win and the yellow jersey.

"I saw the Garmin guys leading out and for me it was just a question to keep on Chris Sutton's wheel. With 200 metres to go I decided to kick and was a little bit afraid that the others might catch me, but it was okay, " Kirsipuu said.

Shortly after during the presentation ceremony, he acknowledged that the yellow jersey was even less expected than a stage win but conceded that with a bit of luck he might keep it on tomorrow's stage from Colac to Warrnambool, even though he is sure he is not on overall contender on general classification.

Most of those who were, remain in contention, with the exception of the Jayco Australian team's, Richie Porte and British road champion, Kristian House (Rapha Condor) who found themselves caught in the main bunch that eventually finished 18 minutes behind the leaders after today's racing.

Chris Sutton (Garmin) and Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) were again prominent in the final dash for the line as they were in Sunday's Preface, taking the minor placings behind Kirsipuu. Sutton's team mate and Tour favourite, Bradley Wiggins always looked comfortable in the lead group, as did last year's third-place getter, Ben Day (Fly V).

Cantwell, who will wear the Budget Forklifts Green Jersey tomorrow after finishing in the points in all three sprints contested today, was happy with the outcome.

"The finish was really tight, Garmin led out and I pretty much just held on. I'm kind of glad we don't have the yellow jersey for tomorrow because it puts a little more pressure on you," the Queenslander said.

Garmin got their jersey in the Herald Sun King of the Mountains classification with US rider, Alex Howes, winning one and finishing second in the other of the day's two climbs.

The choice of the daily award for the most aggressive rider was an easy one after Canberra architect Stuart Shaw bravely hopped on a reserve bike after crashing early in the stage, before rejoining the front group and then making a lone break for nearly 30 kilometres between the two major hill climbs of the day.

Tomorrow's second stage will take the peloton, now reduced to 95 riders after today's hard grind, from Colac to Warrnambool, featuring two category three hills and intermediate sprints at Cobden and Allansford.

Tuesday 13 October
Stage Two � Colac to Warrnambool � 143km
Start � Murray St (Princes Hwy), Colac, 10.30am
Finish � Flagstaff Hill, Warrnambool, ETA 2.00pm
Via Tomahawk Creek, Jancourt East, Cobden, Scotts Creek, Timboon, Brucknell, Nirranda East, Nullawarre, Mepunga East, Allansford

Results

Stage One � Ballarat to Ballarat � 149km
1. Jaan Kirsipuu, L2A 3hrs41:54
2. Chris Sutton, GRM same time
3. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU same time
4. Bradley Wiggins, GRM + 4 secs
5. David Pell, SLV + 4 secs
6. Dean Downing,RCR + 4 secs
7. Matthew Wilson, AUS + 4 secs
8. David Tanner, RRC + 4 secs
9. Richard Lang, BFL + 4 secs
10. Mitchell Pearson, RSR + 4 secs

Cantwell continues winning run with Preface win

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:55:00 +1100

Jonathan Cantwell�s amazing run of success on the Australian road cycling circuit continued with a hair�s width victory in today�s Preface to the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Ballarat

The 27 year old Queenslander has now won the opening stage of the last four Australian stage races. His last minute dash for the line gave him the tiniest of margins over Garmin Slipstream�s Chris Sutton, but it was enough to secure him the honour of wearing the yellow jersey on tomorrow�s opening stage.

�I went with 100 metres to go. It was full on up hill and with a cross wind so I couldn�t go any earlier�, a clearly elated Cantwell said after the win.

�I�ve won every opening stage of all the tours in Australia I�ve ridden in this season, so I couldn�t be happier.

�We had a gut feeling the break was going to go today, so it was important we were there, and in the end we had three guys in it.

�We came here to make a race out of the first one and the guys rode awesomely.�

It was a clearly a satisfactory outcome for Fly V Australia team boss, Henk Vogels who earlier in the day had issued orders to his squad to ride only for Cantwell.

�I am very proud. They do everything I ask them to do - it just keeps rolling along, � Vogels said post race.

He also had some special praise for Cantwell, who he described as a character and a real scallywag, saying the winner of the 2009 tours of Atlanta and the Murray Valley had learned a lot this year.

Cantwell, Sutton and the eventual third-place getter, Gene Bates (Drapac Porsche) were part of an eighteen man break that dominated the race from lap 10 of the twenty 2.2km laps round Ballarat�s main street.

The group opened up as much as a 52 second gap over the peloton but managed to remain intact as a bunch until the last 200 metres of the final climb up Sturt Street.

Sutton, who has the chance to be part of the first father/son combination to win Australia�s oldest stage cycling race, said during the presentations that he was beaten by a better bike rider on he day.

�I know I was second. The team did everything we could but just got beat.�

Bates was similarly complimentary, including Sutton in his praise.

�I tried to kick and hold the wheel, but they were both to good for me.�

The Tour proper begins tomorrow (Monday 12 October) with a 160km stage starting and finishing in Ballarat.

The 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour is presented by Jayco and the Herald Sun, along with the continued support from the Victorian Government. For the first time, the Honda Civic Hybrid Women�s Tour will give Australia�s elite female cyclists a chance to shine with a three day tour held in conjunction with three final three days.

Network Ten's 24 hour sport channel, ONE will broadcast half hour highlights packages each weekday evening � check your local guides for times - as well as showing the final stage of the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour live between 5:00pm and 7:00pm AEST on Saturday, 17 October.

Monday 12 October
Stage One � Ballarat to Ballarat � 160km
Start � Botanical Gardens, Lake Wendouree, 10.30am
Finish � Botanical Gardens, Lake Wendouree, ETA 2.00pm
Via Creswick, Daylesford, Trentham, Spring Hill, Glenlyon, Daylesford, Creswick

Results - Sunday 11 October
Preface � Ballarat � 2.2km circuit
1. Jonathan Cantwell, VAU 1h5m29s
2. Chris Sutton, GRM Same time
3. Gene Bates, DPC Same time
4. Michael Matthews, SAI Same time
5. Jaan Kirsipuu, L2A Same time
6. David Tanner, RRC Same time
7. Michael England, BFL Same time
8. Ricardo Van Der Velde, GRM +6 secs
9. Darren Lapthorne, RCR +6 secs
10.Kiel Reijnen, JBC +6 secs