World junior road race championship silver medallist Caleb Ewan again highlighted his talent when he emerged best in the final overall classification of the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic today. The stage one winner closely monitored his rivals, his task made a little easier by the illness-induced withdrawal of Leigh Howard (Orica GreenEdge), then added to his points total when he sprinted home fifth.
He ended the Bay Crits with 23 points, comfortably more than WorldTour riders Greg Henderson (Lotto Belisol, but riding for Degani Bakery Café) and Orica GreenEdge duo Mitchell Docker and Jen Mouris.
Docker had the consolation of taking the final stage, hitting the line in Williamstown ahead of Harry Carpenter (Team SASI) and Henderson.
“It’s really good to get the win after being so close last year,” said a delighted Ewan, who proved his potential against well-known competitors. “I knew there was more pressure on me, [I was a] much more marked man at this race. After the first race it gave me real confidence for the rest of the races.”
Beating several WorldTour names is a big boost to his confidence, and shows he has a huge future. “It’s right up there with worlds,” he said. “To come here and race with the pro’s who have come back from Europe, you see them in the Tour and all those big races, to beat them, it’s a real honour to race these guys.”
Ewan is just 18 years of age and is following a plan which Cycling Australia hope will bring him to a top pro career. In 2013 he will compete with the Australian WorldTour Academy and will get to race overseas in his new age division.
“This year I’m going with the academy, so we will go over to Europe in March. My plan is to make the worlds team this year for the under 23’s,” he said. “Hopefully I can stay there for the full six months.”
While Orica GreenEdge would like to have taken the overall, the team had to make do with stage victories yesterday by Luke Durbridge and today by Mitch Docker.
The latter jumped away early on in a solo move, then was joined by Carpenter. From then the two of them rode well and held off the chase behind.
“I was just thinking about the sprint, at least make this break away worthwhile…to try and get all the sprint points,” said Docker. “I saw at the end we had 30 seconds and both of us had been doing it relatively comfortably, so we put a little bit extra in and we were able to get it.”
In addition to taking the final stage victory, Docker also clocked up points by snagging the two intermediate sprints. That was enough to see him win the Sprint ACE Classification ahead of Henderson.
“It was really unexpected, I think it’s great for the team,” he said. “Last year we came with all expectations and this year a little less pressure, so we are fired up and we are now ready to go for nationals.”
Hoskins takes double success on final day:
In the women’s race, overnight leader Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) sealed her victory in style when she galloped home first in the final stage. She beat Peta Mullens (Anytime Fitness Trek) and stage one victor Kimberly Wells (Specialized Securitor), while yesterday’s stage winner Tiffany Cromwell finished further back.
The latter held onto the green sprinter’s jersey, so was pleased with that.
Hoskins’ final points total of 32 put her well clear of Mullens and Wells, who ended up on 23 and 20 points respectively.
“What a way to finish,” she smiled afterwards. “Thanks to the girls who lead me out at the finish, it was a great way to finish the tour and I finally get the stage win I have been chasing for the last two years.”
Wells tried to pull off the same surprise that she managed on stage one but was unable to do it this time. “I always knew they were going to be all over me and they were with a lap to go,” she said. “I knew the only way I was going to win was if I was first into that last corner, otherwise there was no hope for me.”
Hoskins and her team ensured that there was no surprises on the final day. “Back-to-back is sweet, having finished it on the final stage in the yellow jersey I can’t be much happier than that,” she said. She admitted that she had been worried about Wells, and was pleased that Mullens was the one who put in the big challenge in the sprint.
“I was a little bit surprised,” she said. “I won’t lie…I was happy it was her and not Kimberley Wells. I might have had a bit of trouble if it was Kimberley.”
Meanwhile in the men’s teams support race, Sean Finning soloed to a fine victory, while overnight leader Alex Morgan held on to beat Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers rider Samuel Davis in the overall.
Victorian Cameron Parlevliet took the overall win in the men’s individual support race, finishing three points clear of Bendigo’s Sam Crome.
2013 Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic – Results
Stage 3: Nelson Place, Williamstown
Elite men:
1, Mitchell Docker (Orica GreenEDGE) 12
2, Harry Carpenter (Team SASI) 10
3, Greg Henderson (Degani Bakery Café) 8
4, Shaun Mccarthy (Team Budget Forklifts) 7
5, Caleb Ewan (Bikebug) 6
Final general classification:
1, Caleb Ewan (Bikebug) 23
2, Greg Henderson (Degani Bakery Café) 14
3, Mitchell Docker (Orica GreenEDGE) 12
4, Jen Mouris (Orica GreenEDGE) 12
5, Graham Briggs (GBR National Team) 12
6, Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEDGE) 12
7, Harry Carpenter (Team SASI) 10
8, Kristian House (Rapha Condor JLT) 10
9, Leigh Howard (Orica GreenEDGE) 10
10, Shaun Mccarthy (Team Budget Forklifts)
Elite women:
1, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) 12
2, Peta Mullens (Anytime Fitness Trek) 10
3, Kimberly Wells (Specialized Securitor) 8
4, Nicole Whitburn (Liv/Giant) 9
5, Emily Collins (Wiggle Honda) 7
Final general classification:
1, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) 32
2, Peta Mullens (Anytime Fitness Trek) 23
3, Kimberly Wells (Specialized Securitor) 20
4, Tiffany Cromwell, 17
5, Nicole Whitburn (Liv/Giant) 13
6, Gracie Elvin, 11
7, Rochelle Gilmore (Wiggle Honda) 8
8, Carla Ryan (Crino Cycles – Casa & Bottega) 7
9, Kate Finegan (Specialised Securitor) 7
10, Emily Collins (Wiggle Honda) 6
Sprint ACE Classification
Elite men:
1, Mitchell Docker (Orica GreenEDGE) 14
2, Greg Henderson (Degani Bakery Café) 10
3, Luke DUrbridge (Orica GreenEDGE) 6
Elite women:
1, Tiffany Cromwell, 13
2, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica – AIS) 7
3, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) 4