Matthews rounds out a successful weekend for ACT riders

Michael 'Bling' Matthews added to his bronze medal from the time trial at the Australian National Road Championship in Buninyong by taking out the sprint finish to win the silver medal in the men's elite road race. 

Mathew Hayman (Team Sky) lead out Chris Sutton perfectly however a fast finishing Bling overtook Sutton and Von Hoff to take second only metres from the line. It made it a one-two for the Orica-GreenEdge team. Bling Matthews will be looking to take his winning form to Tour Down Under that starts in a week.

Matthews after the medal presentation

While it was a massive effort for Durbridge to get into the early breakaway and stay away, cycling purests have been questioning the tactics of the big teams efforts to chase down the breakaway through different social media channels.

Trent Wilson told Cyclingnews he instructed his GPM-Data#3 squad to set tempo on the front in an attempt to get other teams involved. Their pace-setting reduced the gap immediately until they decided to cease their efforts.  One of Wilson's riders, Joe Lewis, told the Blog, "no-one should ever let a guy like Durbridge get a 5 minutes head start".

Joe Lewis went on to say after the race that "It was a strange race, if the bigger teams that missed the break had comitted earlier they would have caught Durbridge".  In relation to his own race, Lewis went on to say that "the last two laps were stupid fast and I lost contact with just under two to go".  Lewis finished in 44th spot.

Fabio Calabria, sporting the new Team Novo Nordisk kit, had a better race in 2013 but also noted the different tactics from previous championships.  He said "the race was very different to previous years. Not as aggressive in years past. I think it is a result of 200km in the Buninyong course in January".

Hayman after leading out Sutton still finished in the first group in 23rd spot.  Other finishers included:

Fabio Calabria - 28th - 2.06 minutes.
Marc Williams  - 31st - 2.06 minutes
Nathan Haas - 35th - 2.58 minutes
Michael Cupitt - 36th - 3.03 minutes
Thomas Palmer - 42st - 5.46 minutes
Joe Lewis - 44th - 6.40 minutes

Four ACT riders failed to finish the race after officials started to red flagging riders with around two laps to go once the times dropped over 8 minutes from the leaders. Riders that did not finished included Etienne Blumstein-Jones, David Gillies, Alastair Loutit and Shaun Lewis.

It was a dominating performance by ACT riders at the 2013 Australian National Road Championship winning, three gold, two silver and two bronze medals. ACTAS cycling coach Glenn Doney told the Canberra Times that it had been one of the ACT's most successful national championship events.

Well done to all the ACT riders that participated over the weekend. 

 

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/cycling/capitals-riders-are-making-their-mark-on-the-national-stage-20130113-2cnzq.html#ixzz2HwT5tD5o

Can an ACT rider win the men's elite road race?

The peloton for the men's elite road race at the Australian National Road Race reads as a whose who of the World Tour. Orica-GreenEdge dominate the entries in 2013, therefore it is going to be difficult to pick someone who is not wearing the green and blue jersey tomorrow. Organisers may want to think whether a carte blanche attitude to unlimited Orica-GreenEdge entries is in the best interests of the National titles. 

While Orica-GreenEgde riders are there in big numbers, two notable omissions that will affect ACT chances of securing a victory are Michael Rogers and Rory Sutherland.  Both are obvisously obeying team orders to skip the national champs with both riding for Team Saxo-Tinkoff Bank.

ACT will have 12 riders in the 163 rider field (including Joe Lewis as an ACT rider even though is he registered in NSW). The riders include:

18	Mathew	HAYMAN	ACT
28	Michael	MATTHEWS	ACT
30	Nathan	HAAS	ACT
70	Thomas	PALMER	ACT
80	Alastair	LOUTIT	ACT
81	Shaun	LEWIS	ACT
100	David	GILLIES	ACT
106	Marc	WILLIAMS	ACT
126	Joseph	LEWIS	NSW
147	Fabio	CALABRIA	ACT
156	Michael	CUPITT	ACT
158	Etienne	BLUMSTEIN-JONES	ACT

Mathew Hayman: The Team Sky riders great 2012 with some very good results until injury cut short his season. The Buninyong circuit probably does not suit his style. He is likely to be one of the riders that will get in an early breakaway if he is any chance of getting a win. The race will be an early hitout for the European Spring Classics.  He will be hoping to improve on last year's 18th spot and secure a top 10 position.  

Michael Matthews: Bling joined Orica-GreenEdge from Rabobank for the 2013 season.  Picked up a bronze medal in the time trial and has very good form after winning the NSW Grand Prix series.  Will be one of the riders to watch as he uses the Nationals to launch a bid to win other stage of the Tour Down Under. Podium place a strong possibility.

Matthews celebrating his bronze medal in the men's elite TT

Nathan Haas: The Garmin-Sharp is recovering from a fall in Canberra just before Christmas.  No success at the Sun Tour this year, so I cannot see him winning the National road race.  Lack of team support will mean that he will have to try to get into a breakaway.  Maybe an alliance with Hayman could help his chances.

Thomas Palmer: The Drapac rider has a great NSW Grand Prix series picking up a race win and just coming in behind Bling Matthews.  While he won an UCI event in Japan at the 1.2 UCI rated Tour de Okinawa late in 2012, the course probably does not suit him.  Likely to finish back in the peleton.

Alastair Loutit: The Team GPM-Data#3 rider is likely to support other riders in his team.  Could be a good ally of Joe Lewis.

Marc Williams:  With the field dominated by World Tour riders it will be difficult for the Budget Forklift rider to break through and claim victory. A top 30 finish would be a great result.

Joe Lewis: Will be riding for the GPM-Data#3 team and will get support from other team riders.  The course may not be be ideal for the sprinter.  Will no doubt be hoping for a top 20 finish.

Fabio Calabria:  No team support for Fabio.  He will need to form an alliance with other riders to try to nullify the Orica-GreenEdge effect.  Expect to see Fabio attack early. Will be hoping to finish in 2013 after a did not finish in 2012.

The men's race will be show live on SBS.  Check your local guides.

Gracie Elvin takes out the women's elite road race

ACT rider, Gracie Elvin, won the women's elite road race at Buninyong today to claim her first national title. Gracie, riding for Orica-AIS for the first time in a road race, managed to bridge to a late-race group on the final lap before winning the sprint-race to the line.

Photo courtesy of  SBS

“It’s a dream to win the national jersey,” said a shocked Elvin. “I’m in disbelief, I am shaking", Elvin said.  

This is Gracie's second medal at the National Road Cycling Championships after winning a bronze at the criterium race on Thursday. Clearly spending the summer in Europe first with Jayco-AIS and then Team Faren Honda (Italian cycling team) assisted in building a strong base for the summer criterium series and road championships.  Elvin's win means Orica-AIS will be heading to Europe with the National Champion shirt in the big races.

How did other ACT riders fare

Jessie Maclean got into the opening breakaway, but while the break got over two minutes on the bunch, Maclean did not do any of the pace work, leaving the work for the other members of the breakaway. Macclean and Coldwell attacked with four laps to go, but could not keep up the momentum. Unfortunately Maclean could not maintain the effort and she failed to finish the race.

Kimberly Wells who has had an impressive 6 weeks struggled on the big climbs today.  She will have to re-group and come back in 2014 to claim her second national title. Wells finished in 43rd spot.

Rebecca Henderson came second in the under 23 road race, and 15th overall. Surely if Henderson wanted to turn her attention to road racing on a full time basis, she has the qualities and skills to make it to the top as well. 

Chloe Hosking did not perform as expected.  She finished well down in 42nd spot.  She came in with a group of Canberra riders including Wells and Lisa Keeling, who came in one place ahead in 41st spot.

Laura Meadley came in 34th spot over 3 and a half minutes ahead of the Canberra bunch that included Wells, Keeling and Hosking.

Tegan Elferkh (Vikings) was red flagged after 2 big and 2 small laps.  I understand that it exceeded her expectations.

ACT riders have dominated the women events at the National Road Cycling Championships taking gold in the women's elite road race, gold and bronze in the Criterium race and gold in the under 23 time trial and silver in the under 23 road race. 

Time for the ACT guys to step up? 

Who are the ACT's best chance in the Women's elite road race?

The women's elite road race will start at 1.30pm this afternoon around Buninyong. The winner will need to do 2 x Big and 5 x Small laps of the course for a total 106.6kms.

Like the men's elite road race, the women's road race will be dominated by Orica-AIS.  This will make it difficult for riders to get away and win. However, ACT still have a couple of favourites that have the chance to take out the gold medal or podium places.


ACT riders in the women's elite and under 23 road race 

205	Gracie	ELVIN	ACT
213	Chloe	HOSKING	ACT
221	Jessie	MACLEAN	ACT
226	Laura	MEADLEY	ACT
243	Tegan	ELFERKH	ACT
250	Lisa	KEELING	ACT
267	Kimberley	WELLS	ACT
457	Rebecca	HENDERSON*	ACT

  
Chloe Hosking: This will be the first outing for Chloe in her new team kit, Hitec Products.  While she will go into the race as one of the favourites, it will be tough to break down the Orica-AIS team.  She will get support from Rachel Neylan (silver medalist from the Worlds).  May want to set up alliances with other girls to counter the Orica-AIS dominance.

Gracie Elvin: Gracie is in top form at the moment. Picked up the bronze in the criterium race on Thursday evening at the Road Nationals.  Was also very successful at the recent Mitchelton Bay Cycling Crits. This will be Gracie's first road race outing in her new Orica-AIS kit.  Will need to get into a successful breakaway to win.  Unlikely to take the win this year, but still a strong podium chance.

Jessie Maclean: Jessie did not start Wednesday's time trial, probably to focus on today's road race.  Part of the strong Orica-AIS team.  Unlikely to win, but will be a strong workhorse for her team mates.

Laura Meadley: A strong participant in the National Road Series in National Road Series for the Suzuki-Trek team. A riders that the favourites may like to form an alliance with.

Tegan Elferkh: Took out the A-grade women's race at the CCC Twilight series at Lookout Hill last weekend in very hot conditions.  Riding in such hot conditions will prepare her well for the race conditions today.  Not expecting Tegan to take out a podium finish.  Probably finish mid table.

Lisa Keeling: Lisa has been training hard on Red Hill and Stromlo over December and January.  Rides for NRS team Boss Construction powered by Nutrixxon. Lisa is surrounded by a lot of strong and tough women, which may make it difficult to brake down.  Top 20 finish is not out of the question if Lisa gets support.

Kimberly Wells: Kimberly has been an absolute revelation over the summer. She took out the National Criterium title and also won the first race of the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Crits. A podium place in possible for Kimberly, particularly if she can get support from other women.  Has to be a smokie. A strong performance may allow Kimberly to realise her dreams of riding for a European cycling team. 

Wells taking out the national criterium race - Courtesy of the Age

Rebecca Henderson: Australian Olympic mountain bike representative will be riding in the under 23 women's road race. The course will certainly suit her skills, but a question remains whether she has done enough road racing to be a threat to the other under 23 women.  Podium place is possible.