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News of 13/10/2009

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: news2009

Published on Tuesday, 13 October 2009 06:12

Sven Nijs wins opening race Superprestige, using Di2

Sven Nijs (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) has returned to the Cyclo-Cross podium where he belongs. Nijs is the leader in the Superprestige classification now, after winning yesterday’s opening race in Ruddervoorde, Belgium. The only rider who could challenge him was reigning World Champion Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus), although he clearly had still tired legs after his win the day before in the International Cyclo-Cross of Namur (Belgium). At the finish, Nijs had a 40 seconds lead over Albert, with Stybar (Czech Republic) finishing third at one minute. Sven Nijs and Niels Albert are both using Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, as well as Shimano SH-M310 shoes, DURA-ACE WH-7850-C24-TU wheels and a PRO Vibe handlebar and stem. So at least they are battling each other with equal weapons … We are looking forward to an exciting Cyclo-Cross season!

K’s for KIDS

Drapac Porsche Cycling has been associated with the KIDS Foundation for a lengthy period of time – attending their camps, assisting with fundraising and promoting awareness amongst schools and the broader community. In conjunction with the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, we have an opportunity to combine two of our passions - charitable causes and cycling. Here’s an opportunity to Drapac Porsche Cycling as they ride more than 650kms throughout Victoria to help raise awareness and money for kids. The money goes towards a great cause and one we are hugely proud to be associated with. To make a donation, simply click on “Drapac Porsche’s Fundraising Page” and select the "Donate Now" button to nominate the rider or team you wish to sponsor. The KIDS Foundation is a Health Promotion Charity and national leader in childhood injury prevention and recovery.  The KIDS Foundation Injury Prevention delivers quality school and community based safety education programs as well as facilities and programs for children with serious burns or life changing injuries and support for their families and carers.  For more information on the KIDS Foundation, visit their website – kidsfoundation.org.au

CHECK OUT each stage of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour on Channel Ten's One HD in a half hour highlights package at 8:30pm. Race reports from each stage will be published on the team website. 

Photo: DPC Team Member, Rhys Pollock assists in the panning for gold at KIDS Foundation’s Camp Tango.

Graig Alexander wins Ironman World Championships Hawaii, using Di2

Australian Graig “Crowie” Alexander (36) defended his World Ironman crown with success yesterday in Kona, Hawaii. With this new title, he became only the fourth athlete in history to claim multiple World Ironman titles following in the footsteps of Dave Scott, Mark Allen and Tim DeBoom as the only men to taste success more than once on the tough course in Hawaii that incorporates a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42km run. It wasn’t an easy victory for him but his race was tactically superb, passing pacesetter Chris Lieto to take the lead with eight kilometers to go and eventually win by more than two minutes in an overall time of 8 hours, 14 minutes and 4 seconds. Alexander: “It’s great to win a race when everything goes to plan, but to have to fight and scrap for it… to have to dig so deep and come away with a win like that is another feeling again.” Graig chose to ride a Shimano Dura-Ace group with the Di2 electronic shifting system, Shimano Dura-Ace wheels, a PRO Missile aerobar and PRO Vibe carbon stem as well as Shimano SH-TR70 Triathon shoes. Pictures by Delli Carr.

Who says life begins at 40?

Forty year old Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu could not understand all the fuss about his age when he out-powered his younger opponents to win today's 149km first stage of the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour. "I never retired. For the last two years I have been mostly at home in Estonia but I never stopped riding. Now I am riding around the world in places I did not ride so much before," the four time Tour de France stage winner said after his win. "If I have a number on my back, I am a rider. I don't want to feel ridiculous." But he did concede that on a day of crashes, attrition and testing weather conditions, experience was on his side, especially as he found himself the lone LeTua team rider within the 41 man break that halved the list of Tour contenders on day one. "I am used to be alone, even when I was with the big teams, so I am quite used to it. "I did not have my best legs today especially at the beginning because I have no racing for three weeks. But as the stage went on, it started to feel a bit better," he explained. The stage was highlighted by a series of crashes, including one after just 20 kilometres of racing that sent last week's Tour of Tasmania winner Bernie Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) to hospital with deep abrasions and lacerations to his left side. Kirsipuu narrowly missed the last one, just 200 metres from the finish when Zac Dempster, who was on his wheel collided with a road sign and fell heavily. Using every bit of that vast experience, the Estonian was undeterred, his eyes by then set firmly on the stage win and the yellow jersey. "I saw the Garmin guys leading out and for me it was just a question to keep on Chris Sutton's wheel. With 200 metres to go I decided to kick and was a little bit afraid that the others might catch me, but it was okay, " Kirsipuu said. Shortly after during the presentation ceremony, he acknowledged that the yellow jersey was even less expected than a stage win but conceded that with a bit of luck he might keep it on tomorrow's stage from Colac to Warrnambool, even though he is sure he is not on overall contender on general classification. Most of those who were, remain in contention, with the exception of the Jayco Australian team's, Richie Porte and British road champion, Kristian House (Rapha Condor) who found themselves caught in the main bunch that eventually finished 18 minutes behind the leaders after today's racing. Chris Sutton (Garmin) and Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) were again prominent in the final dash for the line as they were in Sunday's Preface, taking the minor placings behind Kirsipuu. Sutton's team mate and Tour favourite, Bradley Wiggins always looked comfortable in the lead group, as did last year's third-place getter, Ben Day (Fly V). Cantwell, who will wear the Budget Forklifts Green Jersey tomorrow after finishing in the points in all three sprints contested today, was happy with the outcome. "The finish was really tight, Garmin led out and I pretty much just held on. I'm kind of glad we don't have the yellow jersey for tomorrow because it puts a little more pressure on you," the Queenslander said. Garmin got their jersey in the Herald Sun King of the Mountains classification with US rider, Alex Howes, winning one and finishing second in the other of the day's two climbs. The choice of the daily award for the most aggressive rider was an easy one after Canberra architect Stuart Shaw bravely hopped on a reserve bike after crashing early in the stage, before rejoining the front group and then making a lone break for nearly 30 kilometres between the two major hill climbs of the day. Tomorrow's second stage will take the peloton, now reduced to 95 riders after today's hard grind, from Colac to Warrnambool, featuring two category three hills and intermediate sprints at Cobden and Allansford.

Tuesday 13 October

Stage Two – Colac to Warrnambool – 143km

Start – Murray St (Princes Hwy), Colac, 10.30am

Finish – Flagstaff Hill, Warrnambool, ETA 2.00pm

Via Tomahawk Creek, Jancourt East, Cobden, Scotts Creek, Timboon, Brucknell, Nirranda East, Nullawarre, Mepunga East, Allansford

Results

Stage One – Ballarat to Ballarat – 149km

1. Jaan Kirsipuu L2A 3hrs41:54 

2. Chris Sutton GRM same time  

3. Jonathan Cantwell VAU same time  

4. Bradley Wiggins GRM + 4 secs  

5. David Pell SLV + 4 secs  

6. Dean Downing RCR + 4 secs  

7. Matthew Wilson AUS + 4 secs  

8. David Tanner RRC + 4 secs  

9. Richard Lang BFL + 4 secs  

10. Mitchell Pearson RSR + 4 secs  

General Classification

1. Jaan Kirsipuu L2A 3hrs41:44 

2. Jonathan Cantwell VAU + 1 sec  

3. Chris Sutton GRM + 4 secs  

4. Richard Lang BFL + 11 secs  

5. Dean Downing RCR + 12 secs  

6. Joe Lewis DPC + 12 secs  

7. Bradley Wiggins GRM + 14 secs  

8. David Pell SLV + 14 secs  

9. Matthew Wilson AUS + 14 secs  

10. David Tanner RRC + 14 secs  

Herald Sun King of the Mountain

1. Alex Howes GRM 14 points 

2. Stuart Shaw DPC 12 points  

3. Kiel Reijnen/Jai Crawford (SLV)  JBC   4 points  

Budget Forklifts Sprint Points Classification

1. Jonathan Cantwell VAU 16 points 

2. Jaan Kirsipuu L2A 10 points  

3. Chris Sutton GRM   8 points  

Make it Happen in Provincial Victoria Under 23 Classification

1. Richard Lang BFL 3hrs41:55 

2. Joe Lewis DPC + 1 sec  

3. Mitchell Pearson RSR + 3 secs  

Championship System Teams Classification

1. Garmin Slipstream (USA) GRM 11hrs05:50 

2. Fly V Australia (Australia) VAU same time  

3. Rapha Condor (Great Britain) RCR + 4 secs