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2015 Mitchelton Bay Cycling
Classic
Preview |
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The fastest citerium series in
the world starts off the 2015 Aussie Summer of Cycling, with
four criteriums over four days. For those who haven't followed
the event before or need a refresher. Points and not time are
what matters for the general classification. The top 10 riders
on each stage receive points - 12-10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
Six riders are allowed to start each stage but riders are not
required to ride all four stages. A number of teams have
brought just six riders while others have larger squads and
will substitute riders in and out.
2014 Recap
Stage 1 - Zakkari DEMPSTER (From 7 rider break)
Stage 2 - Matthew GOSS (Bunch Sprint)
Stage 3 - Luke DURBRIDGE (From 2 rider break)
Stage 4 - Caleb EWAN (Bunch Sprint)
General Classification
1 Brenton JONES 30
2 Zakkari DEMPSTER 29
3 Caleb EWAN 28
4 Matthew GOSS 23
5 Leigh HOWARD 18
6 Luke DURBRIDGE 18
7 Felix ENGLISH 16
8 Tom SCULLY 15
9 Graham BRIGGS 15
10 Patrick SHAW 10
The Stages
Stage 1 - Ritchie Boulevard
Stage 2 - Eastern Park
Stage 3 - Portarlington
Stage 4 - Williamstown
The Contenders
Full start list available
here
Orica-GreenEDGE
Caleb Ewan, 2013 winner and third last year returns but this
time with the backing of the powerful Orica-GreenEDGE team.
Ewan has won a stage in the past two editions and don't be
surprised to see him pick up more in 2015. The 20 year old has
been the top sprinter in the u23 ranks the past two years and
has already podiumed against World Tour riders.
Ewan is backed by a strong team including Leigh Howard and
Mitchell Docker who will be important leadout riders as well
as Cameron Meyer, Michael Hepburn and Damien Howson who are
able to control the race, chase down a break and string out
the field in the closing laps.
Avanti Racing Team
Avanti bring nine riders and while only six can ride in each
stage they have the ability to switch riders in and out. The
team includes Steele Von Hoff, Anthony Giacoppo and Niel Van
der Ploeg all of whom could walk away with the overall title.
Steele Von Hoff is the reigning criterium champion and with
the race the last in the rainbow jersey unless he wins again
in Ballarat expect to see him want to show it off. The team
also has Anthony Giacoppo who claimed silver behind Von Hoff
at the nationals in 2014. A third option in Neil Van der Ploeg
who proved again he is one of the best criterium riders
winning the Stan Siejka Cycling Classic in Launceston in
December.
New Zealand Team
Sprinter and leadout man Greg Henderson leads a mostly
youthful team of New Zealand's track endurance team. The
tactics of the team will be interesting with former World
Omnium Champion a potential challenger. Alex Frame who has
been riding for Giant-Shimano development ream and finished
top 10 at Garmin Velothon could surprise.
Budget Forklifts
Budget brings seven riders but only four are down to start the
opening stage. It is another team that is spoilt for choice.
Former National Road Series winner Luke Davison returns to the
team following a year with Synergy Baku and the Australia
National Team as well as World and Commonwealth Gold on the
track. Davison packs a very quick sprint and will likely be
challenging for the podium positions.
Sam Witmitz won three stages and the overall at the Tour of
Taihu Lake, when he took over as the main sprinter after
illness took down Jesse Kerrison. Regardless of if he is used
as a sprinter or leadout man will be invaluable to the team as
will Tommy Nankervis.
Budget also has track stars Glenn O'Shea and Shimano Super
Crit winner Scott Sunderland on its roster but with the duo
not riding all four stages the overall is not likely to be a
consideration for them.
Condor JLT
The British squad returns with the experienced Kristian House.
House is a criterium specialist with wins all over the world
including in Australia.
Last year the team put two riders in the top 10 with Felix
English (7th) and Graham Briggs (9th), while English also won
the sprint classification.
Jesse Kerrison
20 year old Jesse Kerrison has taken wins domestically in 2014
and won the opening stage of the Tour of Taihu Lake and then
went on to win the Tour of Yancheng Costal Wetlands. His
success has earned him a spot on the BMC Development team in
2015. Kerrison's fast finish could see him fighting for the
overall win. Riding for the Chain Reaction squad under the
guidance of Scott McGrory.
CharterMason Giant
Another team that is taking advantage of the rules allowing
teams to use different riders on each stage. Only Joshua
Taylor and Paul Van der Ploeg will be riding all four stages.
Shannon Johnson is riding the final stage only so expect to
see him fighting for the win in Williamstown.
SASI
In a race where the field includes Caleb Ewan, you immediately
look to riders who can beat him. Well SASI has one of the few
riders in Australia who has, Robert-Jon McCarthy. McCarthy won
the 2012 Junior Road Race title ahead of Caleb Ewan in a bunch
sprint. In 2014 he won stages of the Herald Sun Tour and An
Post Ras, as well ad spending time with the Jayco-AIS WTA
squad.
The team also has George Tansley who packs a quick finish and
is riding all four stages. Track stars Alex Edmondson, and the
Scotson brothers, Callum and Miles will also ride some of the
stages giving the team other cards to play.
Other names to watch: Jordan Stannus, Jonathan Cantwell and
James Mowatt. |
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