Overnight race leader Michael Matthews successfully defended his lead on today’s third stage of the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic, while contract-seeking rider Bernard Sulzberger landed an important win.
The latter is still searching for a deal for 2011 and hopes that his performance will help him secure a ride with a pro team. He had been due to race with the Pegasus Sports team, but it was refused a Pro Continental licence before Christmas.
“Any exposure is good exposure and it's good exposure to get a win here,” he told AAP after the finish. “Hopefully something will eventuate.”
He, his brother Wes, former Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke and New Zealander Greg Henderson went clear as part of a four man move during the Geelong race. Team Sky’s Henderson and Sulzberger were closest in the dash for the finish, with the latter edging it by a centimetre.
Wes Sulzberger, who like his brother is also racing with the E3/Pure Tasmania setup during the Jayco Series, edged out Cooke (Lowe Farms Boomaroo Nurseries) for fourth, while Matthews (Urban) came in for fifth.
The world under 23 champion’s solid performance saw extend his overnight lead over stage one winner Matt Goss (E3 Pure Tasmania). Matthews is now two points clear heading into tomorrow’s final stage, with today’s winner a further two points back in third.
Henderson was the best sprinter in the break and so the Sulzbergers worked him over, with Wes going on a solo charge with four laps left.
Henderson is a known sprinter and so Sulzberger’s victory was an important one. He and his brother worked the Kiwi over before the sprint, tiring him out. “Greg had to do a lot of chasing and obviously that was weakening him for the sprint,” he explained.
A win by overnight leader Rochelle Gilmore in the women’s race sealed her points advantage, meaning that she should win the series. She made an error in her gearing coming into the sprint, realising that she was in the small chainring. However she had enough time to correct the problem, which would certainly have cost her the win.
"I knew once we were up to speed that wouldn't be enough gear, so I had to take the pressure off the pedals for a couple of seconds to get into the big chain ring,” she told AAP. “I was a bit nervous, but I thought I'd give it 100 per cent, I had Peta in front of me and it played out again.”
She hit the line ahead of.Chloe Hosking (TDT/Race/BikeForce) and Peta Mullens (Honda), and ended the day a full 12 points clear of Mullins. While the same number of points are available for a victory in tomorrow’s final race, Gilmore’s two victories mean that she would take the title on points even if Mullens won and she didn’t place.
The team has a dual goal tomorrow; ensure Gilmore stays out of trouble, and also try to land four wins out of four in the series. Her team-mate Tiffany Cromwell won on Monday’s second stage.
As for Sulzberger, he will try to perform well again. His push for a contract will motivate him in tomorrow’s final round in Williamstown and also in Sunday’s national road race championship.
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Jayco Bay Cycling Classic:
Elite men, stage 3, Geelong:
1, Bernie Sulzberger (E3/Pure Tasmania) 12
2, Greg Henderson (Team Sky) 10
3, Wes Sulzberger (E3/Pure Tasmania) 8
4, Baden Cooke (Lowe Farms/Boomaroo Nurseries) 7
5, Michael Matthews (Urban) 6
6, Matthew Goss (E3/Pure Tasmania) 5
7, Allan Davis (Bikebug.com) 4
8, Chris Sutton (Team Sky) 3
9, Mark Renshaw (O2 Networks) 2
10, Joel Pearson (Genesys Wealth Advisers) 1.
Jayco General Classification after Stage Three:
1, Michael Matthews (Urban) 23
2, Matthew Goss (E3/Pure Tasmania) 21
3, Bernie Sulzberger (E3/Pure Tasmania) 19
4, Greg Henderson (Team Sky) 16
5, Chris Sutton (Team Sky) 14
6, Allan Davis (Bikebug.com) 14
7, Wesley Sulzberger (E3/Pure Tasmania) 13
8, Simon Gerrans (Team Sky) 10
9, Baden Cooke (Lowe Farms/Boomaroo Nurseries) 9
10, Leigh Howard (Jayco VIS) 9.
Blood Hyundai Sprint Ace – After Stage Three:
1, Simon Gerrans (Team Sky) 11
2, Graeme Brown (Urban) 10
3, Michael Matthews (Urban) 6
4, Wesley Sulzberger (E3/Pure Tasmania) 6
Teams Classification:
1, E3/Pure Tasmania 53
2, Team Sky 40
3, Urban 38 4. Bikebug.com 14
Women:
1, Rochelle Gilmore (Honda) 12
2, Chloe Hosking (TDT/Race/BikeForce) 10
3, Peta Mullens (Honda) 8
4, Judith Arndt (Unattached/GER) 7
5, Kirsty Broun (Virgin Blue) 6
6, Bridget Officer (Vetta Pasta) 5
7, Jess Allen (Jayco VIS) 4
8, Melissa Hoskins (Honda) 3
9, Isabella King (Vetta Pasta) 2
10, Tiffany Cromwell (Honda) 1.
Jayco General Classification after Stage Three:
1, Rochelle Gilmore (Honda) 29
2, Peta Mullens (Honda) 17
3, Kirsty Broun (Virgin Blue) 16
4, Judith Arndt (Unattached/GER) 15
5, Tiffany Cromwell (Honda) 13
6, Chloe Hosking (TDT/Race/BikeForce) 10
7, Lauren Kitchen (Jayco AIS) 10
8, Belinda Goss (Vetta Pasta) 10
9, Nicole Whitburn (Unattached/Vic) 9
10, Alex Carle (Jayco AIS) 8
Blood Hyundai Sprint Ace – After Stage Three:
1, Peta Mullens (Honda) 9,
2, Tiffany Cromwell (Honda) 8,
3, Lauren Kitchen (Jayco AIS) 7.
Teams – After Stage Three:
1, Honda 61
2, Virgin Blue 24
3, Vetta Pasta 23
4, Jayco AIS 18.