"Hey folks. We had one week off after our first NRS-race in Tasmania, the Mersey Valley Tour. And I still have mixed feelings about how it went down there. While Nathan (Earle) definitely delivered with a stage-win and 2nd overall, plus Aaron (Donnelly) taking out the TT and me finishing 4th overall, the way we lost the race-win is a bit.. mehhh..

Adam Semple was so impressive on that final stage and climb, that we definitely need to take care of this skills in our next races, the National Herald Sun Tour and - maybe our best chance for a race-win - the Tour of Toowoomba."


That's me on Cradle Mountain, trying to catch up to the leading group with Nathan, Semple and Mark O'Brien.. I eventually was gapped, but Nathan took out the stage, so who cares?

"From my personal point of view, I have to be satisfied with the start of the season. Kicking this year off with a 4th place in such a tough race like Mersey, wow. Things went well right from the start, as my TT-skills helped me a lot to strengthen my position within the team, I guess.

Like said before, I guess Toowoomba will suit us most. The TTT should be our's, as we finished impressive in the Mersey-ITT (3 riders in Top-10). And the hilly profiles of the whole tour should be fine as well. Nathan is in shape, and I'm feeling great, too. So you better watch out for us keeping the pace of the season opener!"

National Herald Sun Tour

The second race of the NRS 2013 and it's the first time the Herald Sun Tour is held as part of Australia's elite road series. Four stages will make for a hopefully great debut for this tour, that will navigate some of the most picturesque and challenging parts of Victoria.

Highlights will be 2nd day in Bendigo, with a 'Paris-Roubaix' style finish on the Bendigo Cycling Track. Crucial will be of course the final stage: With the terrain rising and falling throughout the day, the peloton makes its way towards Dromana for the first ascent of Arthurs Seat. The Yellow Jersey holder will need to make sure he is up front as the Tour comes to a thrilling finish. The race descends from Red Hill as the peloton lines up for a second and final climb of Arthurs Seat.

It's also the first chance for the best sprinters to shine, as the Herald Sun Tour features two rather flat stages, both with difficulties near to the finish though. Stay tuned for a 2nd preview of favorites.

On final day, the riders face the Arthur's Seat two times..

Blogging rider(s)/

Ethan Kimmince (Oz Cycling)

National Herald Sun Tour (Preview #2)

Adam Semple (Satalyst)/ Winner of the NRS opener in Mersey Valley, should also be in the mix here. He won't lose as much time in the prologue and is definitely capable of rocking the Arthur's Seat on final day.

Nathan Earle (Huon-Genesys)/ Runner-up at Mersey Valley Tour. Looked dominant until the final stage there and is definitely in shape. Will know what to expect from Semple.

Mark O'Brien (Budget)/ It may not be his most favorited race, but the strong climber can also be one of the best on a hilly stage like Herald Sun's final day. 3rd in Mersey Valley, always strong in early season.

Neil Van der Ploeg (search2retain)/ Decent allrounder, who could be a real threat here. He can both take bonus seconds in the flat stages, as well as finishing in the leading groups on final day. Watch out!

Jack Haig (Huon-Genesys)/ Did well in the opener, finishing 4th overall after beating all the other GC-favorites in the opening ITT. If he does the same here, he will be at the front at Arthur's Seat.

Luke Davison (Drapac)/ Defending NRS-champion and last year's dominating sprinter (10 stage-wins in total). Expect him to deliver for his new team as well.

Ben Grenda (Oz Cycling)/ His breakthrough year? Grenda could - like Davison - take the yellow shirt after the first flat stage. He can survive those short climbs near the finish.

Scott Law (GPM Data#3)/ Similar rider like Grenda. Will be one of the stronger sprinters in the NRS this year.

Jack Beckinsale (Huon-Genesys)/ Promising young sprinter. Incredibly fast already.

Jesse Kerrison (Budget)/ Budget Forklifts may have lost Davison, but Kerrison is one of the most interesting prospects in 2013. He has the speed, but may struggle in his first tricky flat stages with hills.

National Herald Sun Tour (Stage 1, Prologue)

The prologue in Williamstown probably won't have that much influence for the final GC, but of course it's a nice chance for some less stronger stage-racers to take the yellow shirt for at least one day.

And also some minor seconds-gaps can be crucial in the end, as we don't know how selective the final hilly stage will be.



Paul Van der Ploeg (Satalyst) may be as dangerous as his brother Neil, as he is a decent allrounder. And he delivered today, setting the first notable best time with 7'08", beating strong trimetrialers like Miles Scotson (Euride) or Tour of the South West's TT-winner Michael Troy (GPM).



Marc Williams (Budget) already proved his skills at the Mersey Valley Tour, finishing 6th overall and therefore not much worse than teammate Mark O'Brien.. Williams is always one of the best against the clock, and he managed to beat Van der Ploeg by 1" for the new provisional lead.



Ayden Toovey (Racing Kangaroos) is one of many interesting prospects in the NRS. Aged 18, he's already a real threat for short prologues like this opening stage of the Herald Sun Tour. It's his team's first race this year, but this wouldn't prevent him from rocking the road: new BT, another second faster than Williams!



Gordon McCauley (Drapac) won't be the team's GC-leader, but he's Drapac's best today: finishing with the same time as Williams for provisional 3rd.



One of the top-favorites for every timetrial this year: Harry Carpenter (Euride). And he did stand the pressure, beating Toovey by 1" for the new lead. Have we already seen today's fastest?



No! A rather surprising strong Cameron Bayly (search2retain) finished one second ahead of Carpenter: 7'05"! While his captain Neil Van der Ploeg couldn't fight for today's honours (7 seconds behind as 25th), Bayly proves that he's also capable of scoring points for the team.



No one else of the GC-favorites like Earle, Haig or Semple could finish within the Top-10, and so Jordan Kerby (Jayco) might have been one of the last to beat Bayly.. but just as his teammate Mark Jamieson (6th) or GPM's James Hepburn (4th), the strong timetrial-specialist couldn't take the win today, as he lost 3" on Bayly for 8th position!



Cameron Bayly, congrats on a great prologue! His team search2retain has high ambitions with Neil Van der Ploeg this year and in this race in particular, so it ain't that bad to already claim the yellow on first day.

National Herald Sun Tour (Stage 2, Flat, 148km)

The second stage of the Herald Sun Tour should be one for the sprinters. But it will be interesting to see how the last climb 'One Tree Hill' 10km before finish plays out. A chance for a late attack? Also the Roubaix-style finish in Bendigo's velodrome should make for a great event.



Jeremy Cameron (African Wildlife) and Trent Carman (Downer EDI) were the first to give it a try today. Empty-handed.



A third attempt finally worked: Lachlan Ambrose (Veneziano), Vaughan Bowman (Target) and Reuben Donati (Downer EDI) managed to break clear from the bunch just as they entered the tour's toughest climb up the Mt Machedon.



They were joined by Karl Murray (New Zealand) and Kyle Bridgewood (Data#3) at the top of the climb, where Ambrose took the 5 points for the KoM-lead!



NRS-leader Adam Semple (Satalyst) enjoyed this day in the Subaru-shirt so far.. the pack looked in control the whole stage.



And with today's second intermediate sprint approaching (3 bonus-seconds are rewarded in every KoM/Points-sprint), the peloton reeled the escapees in.

Oz Cycling Development Team and Huon-Genesys did most of the work pulling the breakaway back..



It's somehow deserved that Oz's Ben Grenda took this intermediate ahead of top-favorite Luke Davison (Drapac) and veteran Luke Pledger (Bianchi).

A sign of what to be seen in today's possible bunch-sprint? Still almost 20km to go.



Nothing happened til the 'One Tree Hill' 13km before finish..

..but two riders tried their luck with a late escape: our blogger Rhys Gillett (African) and Nathan Elliott (Target) attack the field!



And they established a 50"-gap quickly, as Elliott took out today's second and last KoM-sprint for 3 points.

A serious attempt it seemed!



No way. The two attackers were swallowed by the pack just as they entered Bendigo for the final 7km!

But the race continued to be thrilling, as three more riders attacked with 6km to go:

Alex Wohler (Budget)
Alex Smyth (Satalyst)
and always aggressive Josh Taylor (GPM)!

They entered the velodrome with a 24"-advantage on the hard chasing bunch.



The late escapees now fight hard to maintain their small lead, but Neil Van der Ploeg (search2) kicked off his sprint early, creating a gap on his own!



With 500meters to go Van der Ploeg looks still good, as the sprinting bunch closed up to group Wohler/Smyth!

The surprising thing: except of the Van der Ploeg-brothers, no one of the top-seeded sprinters Davison, Grenda or Beckinsale is to be seen here! It seems that last climb hurt their legs.



It's going to be a very close finish!

Neil Van der Ploeg holds on to his lead, while the late attackers Smyth and also Wohler managed to hold off the bunch!

Neil's brother Paul Van der Ploeg (Satalyst) is joining the mix, moving forward fast from behind!



But it's Neil, who takes out this first flat stage! He finishes ahead of a strong Alex Smyth and his teammate Paul Van der Ploeg.

Wohler 4th, ahead of some strong performing stage-racers like Lapthorne, Sulzberger, O'Brien or Earle.

Both Van der Ploegs lead the GC now, while Luke Davison used his 2 bonus-seconds from the intermediate to move onto 5th. Anyway, the sprinters need to do better tomorrow!

National Herald Sun Tour (Stage 3, Flat, 146km)

The second flat stage from Mitchelton Winery to Healesville is looking easier than yesterday's one. But we've again a short climb within final 5km. Will the sprinters like Davison or Grenda do better today? Or will allrounder and race-leader Neil Van der Ploeg strike again?


5 riders built the break of the day, establishing a 4'10"-gap quickly in the stage:

Michael Freiberg (Bianchi), Riley Maule (Data#3), Brad Hannaford (SUVelo), Trent Carman (Downer EDI) and Chris Harper (Veneziano).


Two categorized climbs would give the escapees a chance to overtake KoM-leader Lachlan Ambrose (5 points):

and Trent Carman took this honours today, collecting 6 points in total, ahead of Freiberg and Hannaford (both 5)!


Race-leader Neil Van den Ploeg saw his teammates work hard on the chase the whole day, supported by Oz Cycling Development Team.


Also Drapac and Huon-Genesys joined those teams, working for top-sprinters like Davison and Jack Beckinsale.

A tough one for the escapees, who couldn't hold on to their lead, getting reeled in by the bunch with still 23km to go!


Nothing more happened til the final 2km, where the sprinters find themselves in better position today:

Drapac's Tom Palmer leads out favorite Luke Davison, with Ben Grenda (Oz), Neil Van der Ploeg (search2), Brendan Johnston (Suzuki), Jesse Kerrison (Budget) and also Paul Van der Ploeg (Satalyst) behind.


But just like yesterday, top-favorite Davison once again suffered on the finishing stretch! It's his leadout Tom Palmer, who got a decent gap with the finish approaching!

Yesterday's 3rd Paul Van der Ploeg and young gun Kerrison look the strongest contenders, while Grenda and Johnston can't keep their pace.. race-leader Neil Van der Ploeg got some late support by teammate Rico Rogers!



And it's again Van der Ploeg with the stage-win.. but today it's Paul for Satalyst Giant Racing! He overtook a struggling Palmer (9th) easily and wins in style.

GC-leader Neil Van der Ploeg proves his great shape by finishing 2nd, ahead of teammate Rogers. Both Satalyst and search2retain deliver so far in this tour.

Joseph Lewis and promising Jesse Kerrison complete today's Top-5, while Grenda (12th) and Davison (27th) completely disappeared.

Paul VdP takes the yellow shirt by 2" ahead of Neil VdP.. GC's 3rd Cameron Bayly (search2) is already 11" behind. Tomorrow's final hilly stage is going to be interesting!


Riley Maule (Data#3) managed to win both intermediate sprints, taking the points-lead.


Trent Carman (Downer EDI) presents his KoM-shirt, which he has to defend tomorrow.

National Herald Sun Tour (Stage 4, Hill, 94km)

A short but tough stage featuring the Arthur's Seat twice and as hill-top-finish. With both Van der Ploegs leading the GC, it will be interesting to see, how the stronger puncheurs try to gain time on them. Both can climb rather well.

The question is, if NRS-leader will attack his teammate Paul Van der Ploeg, who took the race-lead yesterday. And will Nathan Earle (Genesys) or Mark O'Brien (Budget) attack?


10 riders tried their luck with a breakaway! A dangerous looking group with some notable names:

one of better climbers - Ben Dyball (Huon-Genesys)
our blogger fors this tour - Ethan Kimmine (Oz Cycling)
another good climber - Matthew Gassner (Veneziano)!


But as most of the escapees are dangerous for the GC, they had no real chance against the hard chasing bunch.

Just as the group reached the first climb up Arthur's Seat (18km to go), the gap is already closed. Ben Dyball attacked once again, taking the KoM-points and therefore claiming the KoM-lead on final day!


So let the "real" action begin! Several more riders tried to jump behind Dyball on that penultimate climb, including:

Nathan Elliott (Target)
Lachlan Norris (Jayco/VIS)
Eric Sheppard (search2retain)!


But teams like Satalyst Giant and Huon-Genesys were in control, not allowing this dangerous group to break clear that late in the race.

Now, with 4km remaining, it's a solo-attempt by Brodie Talbot (Racing Kangaroos)! The team gives it's NRS-debut in 2013 and does pretty well so far.


Talbot's attempt is empty-handed though.

2km to go and Eric Sheppard gives it another try, accompanied by veteran Sam Rutherford (GPM) and also Thomas Hamilton (Jayco) tries to follow!

A rather surprising group of attackers. With only 2km remaining, one might have expected the big favorites like Semple or Earle trying to attack.


Sheppard and Rutherford manage to create a gap, as Hamilton struggles to hang on!


And it's looking more and more like this leading two will battle for today's victory!

Anyway, Adam Semple (Satalyst) now jumps behind, trying to close up with only a few hundred meters to go!


But he tried too late: Sam Rutherford celebrates a very surprising victory at Arthur's Seat, beating Eric Sheppard and Semple in the sprint to the line!

Rutherford (+ 30" in GC), Sheppard (+ 23" GC) and Semple (+ 24" GC) all need a gap in addition to the taken bonus-seconds..


The three got a 14"-gap on the following group, where Mark O'Brien and teammate Michael Cupitt complete today's Top-5.

Also GC's 2nd Neil and race-leader Paul Van der Ploeg finish in same time as 6th and 7th: that's enough to defend the yellow! Nathan Earle, Lachlan Norris and Brodie Talbot complete the Top-10.


A great win for Paul Van der Ploeg and an awesome race for his team, with Semple finishing 4th in GC.


Young gun Riley Maule (Data#3) will be more than happy with taking the points-jersey.


Again no race-win for Huon-Genesys, but at least Ben Dyball grabbed the KoM-honours.