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Oceania Championships Men's
Road Race Preview |
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Neither defending Champion Luke
Durbridge or under 23 winner and second place finisher Rob
Power are back this year. Bernard Sulzberger and Brenton Jones
both of Drapac who were the next best finishers last year are
back looking to climb on to the top step. The big teams of
Avanti, Budget Forklifts and Drapac all bring big teams that
will be sure to control the race. Avanti and Budget both have
riders from both New Zealand and Australia creating a further
dynamic.
Don't discount the riders without big teams though including
Michael Hepburn, Ben Hill and Lachlan Morton among others.
The Route
Four laps of a 35.78km circuit around Goombungee, just north
of Toowoomba. The hilly course is one that suits the puncheur
and climbers. An undulating eight kilometres opens the laps
before a 13.17km climb starting at the 8.4km mark. While the
average gradient might only be 1.5% if raced at a fast pace
will likely put a lot of riders under pressure.
Over the top there is a short descent of just under two
kilometres before a second 1.9km climb that tops out after
25km. After a gradual downhill run for two kilometres the
peloton will face another rise before a seven kilometre run in
to the finish.
The opening lap if raced hard is likely to result in a much
reduced peloton. Expect to see attacks come on the final two
rises. If a rider or a group is able to get a gap there is a
strong change they could solo away to the finish.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Avanti
New Zealand
Patrick Bevin
Jason Christie
Joe Cooper
Tom Davison
Fraser Gough
Taylor Gunman
Australia
Ben Dyball
Mitch Lovelock-Fay
Mark O'Brien
Pat Shaw
Neil Van der Ploeg
Avanti has 11 riders in the race, six from New Zealand and
five from Australia. The question is do they work together as
a trade team or are allegiances split between nations. With a
qualifying spot at the World Championships at stake there is a
lot on the line.
Patrick Bevin and Joe Cooper are two of the most on form
riders in the race. Second and third at the recent Herald Sun
Tour with Bevin the winner on the final stage. Bevin has a
very quick finish especially from a small group and has shown
he is on form. Cooper is the defending champion in the time
trial and might be more focused there. Young Kiwi duo Taylor
and Jason Christie will also fancy their chances. Gunman won
the New Zealand Cycle Classic at the start of February with
Christie in second.
Neil Van der Ploeg could be the name to watch though. Bronze
medallist at the Australian National Championships with a very
quick finish and climbs very well. If Van der Ploeg is in
contention at the finish will be one to keep a very close eye
on.
Tour of Southland winner Tour of Southland and climber Mark
O'Brien are other riders to keep an eye on.
Budget Forklifts
Australia
Jack Anderson
Josh Berry
Brendan Canty
Kristian Juel
Jacob Kauffmann
Tommy Nankervis
Josh Prete
Brodie Talbot
Sam Witmitz
New Zealand
Daniel Barry
Samuel Horgan
Michael Torckler
Despite having a number of riders in France at the Track World
Championships Budget has still assembled a strong team. 12
riders again split between Australia and New Zealand.
2009 winner Tommy Nankervis is back after finishing fifth in
2014, second in the bunch sprint behind Brenton Jones. Brendan
Canty finished fourth on the final stage of the Herald Sun
Tour on route to seventh overall. New Zealand Cycle Classic
stage winner Josh Prete is yet another card for the team to
play. The team might not be as well known as Avanti or Drapac
but they regularly take big wins. Jack Anderson and Kristian
Juel both also finished in the first chasing group last year.
Climber Michael Torckler returns to a team in Oceania after
several years racing in the United States. Former winner of
the Tour of Borneo, Tour of Wellington and top 10 at Jelajah
Malaysia. Solid performances so far in 2015 with 16th Cadel
Evans Great Ocean Road Race and 17th Herald Sun Tour. Samuel
Horgan is another name keep an eye on.
Drapac
Graeme Brown
Will Clarke
Robbie Hucker
Brenton Jones
Jordan Kerby
Darren Lapthorne
Lachlan Norris
Cameron Peterson
Adam Phelan
Tim Roe
Malcolm Rudolph
Sam Spokes
Bernard Sulzberger
With 13 riders in the race, and all from Australia Drapac is
the team to watch and expect them to be in the action from
start to finish. With Brenton Jones they have arguably the
fastest sprinter in the race and can put together a strong
leadout in the event of a sprint. Fourth placed finisher last
year Jones climbs well, the only question is how he has
recovered from his crash at the Herald Sun Tour.
Expect to see the team put multiple riders in the early break
and depending on the composition they could be happy to let it
stay away. Will Clarke comes in with good form having won the
prologue at the Herald Sun Tour and packs a quick finish.
Bernard Sulzberger finished third last year and was the top
finished after winner Luke Durbridge and under 23 winner Rob
Power. Sam Spokes and Adam Phelan are both suited to the
course and like Clarke have strong finishes especially from
smaller groups.
With riders like Tim Roe, Lachlan Norris and Darren Lapthorne
they have other options for longer attacks on the climbs.
Michael Hepburn
As the only rider in the field from Orica-GreenEDGE, Hepburn
is outgunned with Avanti, Budget and Drapac all having big
teams. Hepburn will likely have to gamble on going in the
early break or hoping it comes together. Hepburn's form at the
Australian National Championships seemed to be about the best
of his career to date. Part of the team that piloted Cameron
Meyer to victory at the Sun Tour. If Hepburn is in the mix as
the finish could be one to take the win.
Charter Mason Giant
Jayden Copp
David Edwards
Ben Hill
Ryan Macanally
Charter Mason Giant might not have the team strength in
numbers but they are another team who regularly punch above
their weight. Ben Hill has made a strong return after his
suspension including three stage wins at the Tour of
Southland. An attacking rider who is likely to be seen off the
front at least once during the race.
Jayden Copp finished in the first chase group last year in
13th. If it all comes back together expect to see the team
work for Ryan Macanally.
Oliver Kent-Spark
Has twice finishes in the top 20 at the Australian
Championships but his biggest success came at Melbourne to
Warrnambool at the end of the 2014 NRS season where he took
the win ahead of Alex Edmondson. Without a big team around him
it will be difficult but his Melbourne to Warrnambool victory
shows he is more than capable.
Other names to watch: Lachlan Morton, Craig Evers, Aaron
Donnelly and Chris Jory.
Under 23
Names to watch: Harry Carpenter, Harrison Carter, Angus Lyons,
Dan Fitter, Tom Kaessler, Alex Clements, Jai Hindley, Josh
Harrison, Ayden Toovey and Para Cycling World Champion
Alistair Donohoe. |
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