Rising cycling star Caleb Ewan has started 2013 in winning fashion taking honours in the elite men?s race on the first day of the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic in Geelong today.
?I haven?t raced for a while so I didn?t know how I was going to go in the race, this week we did a few hard training sessions with the bike and with that I came up pretty good for the race,? Ewan, who was riding for Bikebug, said.
In the closing part of the race it was New Zealand?s Tom Scully (Grays Online) and Orica-GreenEDGE rider Jensen Mouris who did a lot of the work at the front, opening a seven second gap only to be eaten up by Ewan and Degani Bakery Cafe?s Greg Henderson on the final lap.
?With five laps to go I didn?t think we could bring them back, there wasn?t really a big organised chase, just the Drapac guy sitting on the front and I knew once he blew there were two GreenEDGE guys and I knew they wouldn?t chase, so Jonny got on the front and drilled it,? Ewan said.
It was experienced crits rider Jonathan Cantwell who set the tone and orchestrated the moves for Bikebug.
?He basically told me what to do, you would see me just following him around everywhere just watching.?
?Brad McGee told me to watch everything he does because he’s obviously experienced.?
Teammate Jack Edwards also played a big role early to help setup the win for Ewan.
?I couldn?t see him for the first half of the race, which was the plan, and then later on I saw him come flying through the pack. His really strong for his age,? said Ewan.
Coming off last year?s impressive performance its clear Ewan has an air of confidence about him and bigger things are destined for the NSWIS ride.
?Winning last year I had the ability to come into the race more confident and felt a lot better mentally.?
?As a 17-year-old coming into the race I was a bit overwhelmed, they?re big guys, they race full time, but once I got into the race and won it I felt much more confident and they gave me much more respect.?
?Receiving the yellow jersey, it?s going to be a little bit easier to keep with only three stages, I really like the Bay Crits and it?s a shame they had to cut it to three.?
Specialized Securitor rider Kimberly Wells upstaged a dominate Orica-AIS to win the elite women?s event earlier in the day.
“It always makes you feel better coming in having had some good results, I also did a Gold Coast cycling festival, with another crit there, so that has definitely helped in the preparation,? Wells said.
?Coming into today I was feeling really nervous because it?s a real step up in the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic.”
Wells, a doctor off the bike, took full advantage of the strong Orica GreenEDGE-AIS lead train.
“The GreenEDGE girls are always up the front and us Specialized girls were trying to infiltrate that. I was keen to try and break them up. We all saw their lead out train at the end of today’s race and I wanted to jump in on it.”
After the first intermediate sprint the peloton came together causing havoc and forced Wells into the fence and off her bike.
“Bouncing all over the place, I was involved in one of the crashes and smashed my ankle into the fence.
“I’ve taken a bit skin off, but a bit of ice will fix that up.”
Wells, strong enough to continue fighting did enough to win over defending champion Melissa Hoskins.
Returning to defend his title, Alexander Morgan (Jayco VIS) showed why he is touted as future star of the sport, defending his 2012 victory ahead of Samuel Davis (Huon Salmon ? Genesys Wealth Advisers) and Nathan Earle (Huon Salmon ? Genesys Wealth Advisers) in the men?s teams support race, presented by Bikebug.
Victorian Dan Nelson held off the chasing bunch including former AIS rider Hayden Bradbury to win the Total Rush men?s individual support race at the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic. Digging deep as his seven second lead with three laps to go was cut down to three seconds on the final lap, Nelson held off the bunch on the final hairpin to take his maiden ?Bay Crits? win.
Elite Men?s Results
Pos. Rider Team Points
1 Caleb EWAN Bikebug 12
2 Jens MOURIS Orica-GreenEDGE 10
3 Thomas SCULLY Grays Online 8
4 Graham BRIGGS Great Britain National Team 7
5 Greg HENDERSON Degani Bakery Caf? 6
6 Thomas PALMER Drapac Professional 5
7 Leigh HOWARD Orica-GreenEDGE 4
8 Simon YATES Great Britain 3
9 Brenton JONES Huon Salmon ? Genesys Wealth 2
10 Anthony GIACOPPO Huon Salmon ? Genesys Wealth 1
Elite Women?s Results
Pos. Rider Team Points
1 Kimberley WELLS Specialized Securitor 12
2 Melissa HOSKINS Orica ? AIS 10
3 Rochelle GILMORE Wiggle Honda 8
4 Kate FINEGAN Specialized Securitor 7
5 Nicole WHITBURN Liv / Giant 6
6 Peta MULLENS Anytime Fitness Trek 5
7 Sarah ROY Crino Cycles ? Casa & Bottega 4
8 Loes GUNNEWIJK Orica ? AIS 3
9 Jenny MACPHERSON Liv / Giant 2
10 Kirsty GLOVER 1
