Peloton Cafe || 2015 Tour of the Great South Coast Stage 8 – Patrick Bevin (image copyright Con Chronis)
New Zealander Patrick Bevin powered to an emphatic victory in the 2015 Tour of the Great South Coast today, claiming the eighth and final stage at Port Fairy as well as the Campolina Criterium Championship.
He defeated West Australian Scott Sunderland and Jackson Law, of New South Wales, in the 50km Port Fairy criterium to compete a successful week for the Avanti Racing Team that began with a clean sweep of the podium on Stage 1.
Bevin, 24, won the 565km five-day tour by 28 seconds from German duo Raphael Freienstein and Michael Schweizer, which sees the kiwi extend his lead in the Subaru National Road Series individual standings to 21 points over Schweizer.
“I’m extremely happy to take out the final stage and the overall General Classification win today, capping off a week of amazing work from the Avanti Racing boys,” said Bevin. “It’s been a tough race, having to be attentive all day, every day, so it is a great reward.
“I’m really looking forward to next week and carrying on the momentum we have picked up early after the mid-season break in the NRS,” he added.
Avanti Racing Team manager Andrew Christie-Johnston was full of praise for Bevin’s performance, pointing out that he had battled a chest infection since the tour started in Mount Gambier last Wednesday.
“I am sure that Patty will make an impression on the world scene,” Christie-Johnston said. “He can sprint and he can climb. This tour really suited him. We love this tour and its diverse conditions and terrain. We always bring our best team.”
The Port Fairy criterium was highlighted by a four-rider breakaway of Liam Magennis, Lucas Hamilton, Liam White and Samuel Volkers. They won seven of the nine intermediate sprints between them but were rounded up with just three kilometres remaining.
Magennis, making his NRS debut, was awarded the MGA Insurance Brokers Most Aggressive Rider award in the stage and was quick to thank his supporters.
“It was fun today, I attacked early as I saw Ben Hill go up the road and based on the tactics of other teams, we decided before the race to get up the road and make the most of the stage,” Magennis said.
“I’ve had a good start to the year, but this is my first ever NRS race and I was keen to see how the race unfolded. It’s a nice reward after the support of my parents, Mobius, Titanium Partners and the team as I will now have a bit of break for the end of the season to focus on my HSC.”
Young West Australian Jackson Mawby enjoyed a most successful tour, winning the Scody King of the Mountains title and the overall MGA Most Aggressive rider category.
Queenslander Daniel Fitter, a candidate for the Australian four-man teams pursuit unit at the 2016 Rio de Janerio Olympics, displayed his undoubted class by claiming the CFMEU Rising Star award.
The Campolina Sprint Championship was won by the 31-year-old Schweizer who rode consistently throughout the five-days of the tour.
Text via Cycling Australia Media Release
