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Mitchelton Bay Cycling
Classic
Men's Preview |
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Caleb Ewan is back looking to
make it two in a row but will not have it all his own way.
With Brenton Jones, Leigh Howard, Steele Von Hoff, Chris
Hamilton, Anthony Giacoppo, Neil Van de Ploeg, Luke Parker,
Jesse Kerrison and Jon Mould expect an exciting battle.
2015 Recap
Stage 1 - Caleb Ewan (2 rider break)
Stage 2 - Caleb Ewan
Stage 3 - Caleb Ewan (select group)
Stage 4 - Greg Henderson (4 rider break)
General Classification
1 Caleb EWAN (Orica GreenEDGE) 42
2 Greg HENDERSON (NZ National Team) 25
3 Michael HEPBURN (Orica GreenEDGE) 17
4 Roger KLUGE (Total Rush Hyster) 16
5 Steele VON HOFF (Avanti Racing) 15
6 Ian BIBBY (Chain Reaction) 12
7 Ryan THOMAS (Data #3 Symantec Racing) 11
8 Joseph LEWIS (Total Rush Hyster) 11
9 Mitchell DOCKER (Orica GreenEDGE) 10
10 Jonathan CANTWELL (Swift Carbon Melbourne Cycling League) 8
The Stages
Stage 1 - January 1: Ritchie Bvld, Geelong
Stage 2 - January 2: Eastern Gardens, Geelong
Stage 3 - January 3: Portarlington
Stage 4 - January 4: Williamstown
The Contenders
Full start list available
here
Caleb Ewan
After dominating last year Caleb Ewan is back looking to
defend his Bay Crits title and take a third overall win. Won
three stages last year including the first from a two-rider
break. In his first year professional did what many have long
expected and won 10 races including a stage of the Vuelta.
Says he isn't on the same form but will be hard to beat.
Backed by a strong Orica-GreenEDGE squad including key leadout
man Mitch Docker and with Luke Durbridge and Alex Edmondson he
has strong support in the sprint. Expect the others to go for
their own chances. Luke Durbridge is a former stage winner
with Alex Edmondson is one of the quickest in the field and
Mitch Docker can also sprint well. For Jack Haig criteriums
are not his speciality but don't discount him putting in a
strong ride
Brenton Jones
Jones took the win in 2014 beating some big names in the
process and has improved rapidly since then. One of the top
sprinters in the NRS in 2014 and after moving to Drapac for
2015 took wins in Asia. Jones won the final stage of the Tour
of Hainan, his final race of the year and will be looking to
pick up where he left off. A strong sprinter and his
experience racing criteriums in Australia will be a big help.
Wouter Wippert has left the team with Jones taking on the
mantle of the teams top sprinter and a win early on will be
important for his season. Drapac brings a strong team
including Sam Spokes and the experiences Travis Meyer and
Bernie Sulzberger who will be crucial to Jones' ambitions.
Avanti IsoWhey Sports
Avanti comes in with a depth of sprint talent they have
reigning criterium national champion Steele Von Hoff, U23
champion Chris Hamilton, leadout man and criterium specialist
Anthony Giacoppo and Neil Van de Ploeg who are all riders who
could contend for the win.
With a number of contenders do they go stage hunting with
different riders or do they chase the overall win with one?
With Sam Crome they have another rider who could challenge.
With 10 riders they will not all ride all four stages.
Leigh Howard
Howard has joined IAM for 2016 and is looking to reboot his
career. Riding for Chain Reaction Cycles here and with a busy
calendar of racing in January will be looking for a confidence
boosting result after a quiet two years. Howard packs a very
quick finish and has beaten the likes of Mark Cavendish in the
past. Expect to see Howard challenging for the win.
State of Matter/MAAP
Like Avanti the team brings a big group of nine riders and
with several sprinters they have several cards to play. And a
decision on whether to chase stage wins or go for the overall.
Luke Parker finished fourth on stage one last year before
taking fifth in the U23 criterium at the National
Championships. Packs a very quick finish from his time on the
track, and still holds the U19 Australian Record for the
flying 200m.
In Jesse Kerrison they have another strong contender who is
looking find the top step of the podium after a quieter 2015
with BMC Development Team. Had two strong years with Budget in
2013 and 2014 and will be looking to repeat that as he returns
to Australia.
Daniel Fitter is another strong option for the team. Recently
claimed the Australian Madison title and while mostly thought
of as a pursuiter packs a very strong sprint as well.
Jon Mould
Mould is one of the dominant riders on the national scene in
Great Britain particularly in the Tour Series. A former track
rider who packs a very quick finish. After a strong 2015 Mould
will no doubt want to pick up where he left off with his new
JLT Condor team. The quality of the field here is high and it
will be interesting to see how Mould goes against some of the
worlds top sprinters.
Budget Forklifts
2014 Tour of Taihu Lake winner Sam Witmitz will be the name to
watch in Budget colours. Often acts in a leadout roll but is a
strong sprinter in his own right. Reigning under 23 national
champion in the time trial and road race Miles Scotson is
another to keep an eye on. Has a strong finish but isn't up
there with the pure sprinters so don't be surprised to see him
on the attack.
Mathew Ross
Ross won two stages and the overall in the men's support
category last year after finishing on the podium all four
stages. A young talent and comes in with good form having
claimed bronze in the Australian Omnium Championship with
Kelland O'Brien. A step up but it will be a good test for him.
Other names to watch: Aaron Gate, Nathan Haas, Russell Gill
and Eiya Hashimoto and Kazushige Kuboki who have been racing
at the Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals.
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