Simon Gerrans Geared Up For Third Herald Sun Tour Title

2012 Australian champion Simon Gerrans will attempt to become just the fourth rider in history to win three Jayco Herald Sun Tour titles when he lines up in the new-look Tour in January. The four-day 2013 Tour will be held from Thursday, 3 to Sunday, 6 January following the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic (Jan 1-3) to kick off the summer of cycling calendar in Australia. Following his back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, a victory for Gerrans would see the Victorian join the likes of Barry Waddell, Graham McVilly and new race director John Trevorrow as the only men to have won the Tour on three separate occasions. ?I won the last two ?Sun Tours? I rode, so I am obviously very motivated to continue that record and win for a third time,? Gerrans said. ?It would be a huge honour to join some of the legends of Australian cycling with three victories, although I am not sure current race director John Trevorrow was 100% keen to have me on board in threat of matching his feat,? he joked. Gerrans, who celebrated the most successful year of his career with wins at Tour Down Under, Milan ? San Remo and Grand Prix Cycliste de Qu?bec as well as the national championships, has targeted the Jayco Herald Sun Tour as part of an early national campaign which he hopes will help him repeat the feats of 2012. ?Starting so strong in 2012 and winning races in Australia set me up for my best season to date,? Gerrans said. ?I will be using the same theory and hope to start 2013 in the same way and continue building on my successes from 2012.? The 32-year-old was joined by three-time world track champion Leigh Howard at the launch of the Mitchelton Summer of Cycling in Williamstown today in preparation for the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic from January 1-3 and the Jayco Herald Sun Tour from January 3-6. Howard, who himself had a breakthrough year beating fast man Mark Cavendish in a sprint to take out a stage of the Tour of Britain, will celebrate the New Year by riding the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic which starts in his home town of Geelong on New Year?s Day. ?I want to go there and win.? I have ridden the Bay Crits for a long time now and I?m itching to have a win so hopefully this will be the year,? Howard said. ?I had not a bad season this year but I would certainly like to win a few more races next year. ?Right from the start of the season, I don?t want to wait to wait to the end of the season like this year. I start in Argentina and want to try and get a win there but any race I am in as a designated sprinter, I want to try and win a stage.? Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty said the Tour was firmly entrenched in Victoria?s sporting calendar, and the move to January alongside the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic would provide an opportunity for more Victorians to enjoy the race during their summer holidays. ?Cycling, whether as a spectator or participant, really is the perfect summer sport,? Minister Delahunty said. ?The number of riders making the trip up Beach Rd to the Mornington Peninsula of a weekend is phenomenal now we have entered the warmer months. ?And we expect to see huge crowds here in Williamstown for the final day of the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic and opening Jayco Herald Sun Tour prologue, as well as up that famous climb on Arthurs Seat on the 6^th of January. ?We are really pleased to be able to support the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, and the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic, through initiatives like the Significant Sporting Events Program to help keep Victoria in the national and international spotlight.? The Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic and Jayco Herald Sun Tour are joining forces for the ?Mitchelton Summer of Cycling? which will kick off a packed domestic cycling season in Australia starting on new year?s day. For the second year running the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic will celebrate the New Year with its traditional hotdog criterium on January 1 before moving to Portarlington the following day. The third and final criterium will be raced in Williamstown prior to the prologue of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour. The new look four-day Jayco Herald Sun Tour returns for its 60^th edition from Thursday, 3 to Sunday, 6 January 2013.? Starting with an individual time trial in Williamstown, the Tour will take in regional centres Sunbury, Bendigo, Mitchelton Winery and Healesville, culminating with the highly popular Arthurs Seat climb on the Mornington Peninsula. Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic  

What:	24thedition of the world?s fastest criterium series
When:	Tuesday, 1 to Thursday, 3 January 2013
Course:	Criterium 1 ? Tuesday, 1 January – Ritchie Blvd, GeelongCriterium 2 ? Wednesday, 2 January – Portarlington Criterium 3 ? Thursday, 3 January ? Williamstown
Website:	www.baycyclingclassic.com.au

  Jayco Herald Sun Tour  

What:	60thedition of Victoria?s oldest stage race
When:	Thursday, 3 to Sunday, 6 January 2013
Course:	Prologue – Thursday, 3 January ? Williamstown ITT Stage 1 – Friday, 4 January – Melbourne (Sunbury) to Bendigo Stage 2 – Saturday, 5 January – Mitchelton Winery to Healesville Stage 3 – Sunday, 6 January ? Moonah Links to Arthurs Seat?
Website:	www.jaycoheraldsuntour.com.au