Preston Mountain Classic

The Preston Mountain Classic ain't as tough as the VRS' season opener at Mt Baw Baw, but we are looking forward to a thrilling day anyway. The final climb is rather short, but features slopes up to 12%, so stronger climbers do stand a chance to prove their skills or shape.

Speaking of shape: Mt Baw Baw-winner Nathan Earle (Huon) decided to use this classic as a preparation for the soon to be held North West Tour! Great news for the Victorian Road Series, especially as also Karl Evans (Budget) may feature the startlist here.. Matthew Clarke (Charter Mason) has not raced a single event this year, but his team hopes to be ready for a start. It ain't confimed though.

Blogging rider(s)/

Rhys Gillett (African Wildlife)

Ian Butler wrote:
Really a big fan of Earle here

Do you know Earle stands for Early? He always has time to drink a coffee to wait for N° 2 at the finish

Preston Mountain Classic

3 riders went clear early in the race - Butler (Target), Johnson (Champion System), O'Sullivan (Data#3) - joined by Michael Freiberg (Bianchi) later in the race. The group's lead peaked at 4 minutes, slowly decreasing with the final 10km nearing..

..there it's Johnson with a late try to go solo! The chasing bunch is still down by a minute, but already within sight.


We're already entering the final km of the short (2.5km) but steep finishing climb! The bunch managed to close the gap right in time, but the escapees still hold on to a small gap, with Freiberg (Bianchi) reaching the kite as first!


And young gun Freiberg looks really strong here! He dropped his breakaway companions easily (with only O'Sullivan trying to hang on), and the bunch - led by a group of favorites like Earle, Elliott, Evans - has to fight hard!


Nathan Earle (Huon) appears to be the strongest of the top-favorites! With only a few hundret metres left, he accelerates and overtakes O'Sullivan..

..anyway, Freiberg still has a decent gap for this brutal final metres!


Earle narrows the gap though: will the very top-favorite be able to fight for the win? With 300metres to go, he's 15" in arrears and another group with Elliott (Target) is 10" behind him..


It's going to be a close one between Freiberg and Earle!


Oh well! Bad luck for Michael Freiberg! Nathan Earle attacked right in time, taking out this classic with a small advantage! A nice preparation for his next NRS-event, the North West Tour.

Also a great 2nd for Freiberg, as Elliott (+ 0.23) led the group of other favorites like Wurf to complete the podium. Our blogger Rhys Gillett (African) missed the points-rankings as 13th..

sutty68 wrote:
(wouldn't surprise me if Team Sky are looking at him )

miggi133 wrote:
Good to know! That gives me some more time for the (still) missing jersey...

Jesleyh wrote:
Nice win for Earle

Kenyan Riders set to make Australian debut in Narrabri

This week’s Santos North West Tour will host the first all-African cycling team to contest a Subaru National Road Series event when the four-day Tour begins in Narrabri on Wednesday.

Inspired by the success of Kenyan long distance runners, the cycling team was founded in Iten, Kenya, a small town that produces the majority of the world’s marathon runners.

The six-member Kenyan Riders team arrived in Australia earlier this month and will be headlined by Paul Ngasike Agorir, who is known as a good climber.


Head Coach and Australian born Rob Higley will bring the team to Australia for the first time.

“We realise there are some pretty good cyclists competing (in the NRS) and we want to measure ourselves up against them and prepare ourselves to lift to their level as the years go by,� said the former running coach.

Following the Santos North West Tour, the team will immerse themselves in the local Murwillumbah cycling scene ahead of August’s Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland and the Tour of the Great South Coast for which they hope they (qualify).

The team/

Ayub KATHURIMA
Benjamin KIPCHUMBA
Samwel EKIRU
Joseph GICHORA
Denis WAGANA
Paul Ngasike AGORIR

North West Tour (Category 3)

Regional New South Wales will get a taste of international cycling when the Subaru Cycling Australia National Road Series (NRS) hits town with the Santos North West Tour from June 19 – 22.

The second edition of the five-stage Tour will take in the rural towns of Narrabri, Coonabarabran and Gunnedah.

“I'm confident and looking to do well at the Santos North West Tour,� said Earle, 25, who claimed the Victorian Road Series' Preston Mountain Classic a few days ago. “Hilltop finishes are my favourite and I think stage four (to the summit of Siding Springs Observatory) will be the decisive stage in the tour."

It's actually a mountaintop finish and therefore one of the toughest stages in the NRS.. so the climbers, like last year's winner Mark O'Brien, will aim for the victory here. Stay tuned for a preview of those favorites. Also check the previous post: a Kenyan team will give it's debut in Australia's elite series!

Blogging rider(s)/

Jack Haig (Huon Salmon-Genesys)

sutty68 wrote:
Wonder how well the Kenyan riders will do