Ian Butler wrote:
How did this get untracked?
Only noticed it now, sorry!

TheManxMissile wrote:


Is this your standard phrase now?

ITT, 37km, Hilly

Road Race, 140km, Hilly


The Australian road season continues this week with Canberra to host some of the world’s best cyclists for the 2014 Oceania Road Championships.

Tuesday’s time trial courses will be held along an undulating courses in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, with the road races to feature a challenging course around the picturesque area, with the final laps of a 9.2km loop set to create an interesting finish to each event.

The terrain will ensure all riders are tested throughout, and mixed with the expected warm temperatures and quality field taking part, a true Oceania Champion will certainly be found in all categories.

Cameron Meyer (Orica) - current Australian Road Champion - completed a successful return from surgery last year, holding on throughout an exciting race to secure the Elite Men’s Road title at the Oceania Championships 2013. He won't be at the start this year, though.

Ian Butler wrote:
I'm betting on Van Der Ploeg here! On both events

It's time for the Oceania Road Championships ITT and this first of two events may show us, who's going to be the strongest against the clock in Australia this year.

The hilly parcour may suit the puncheurs though, so the top-favorites like defending Oceania ITT-champion Paul Odlin (NZL) or Sam Horgan (Budget) will have to fight hard!

We will focus on the second split of this 37km-timetrial:


Joe Cooper (Huon) is expected to be one of the very best in timetrials this year and he's doing well on the first 30kms, setting a new BT, 8" ahead of his teammate Haig and 12" on Budget's duo Williams/Horgan!


Paul Odlin (New Zealand) is yet another Kiwi, who should be amongst today's strongest: the defending champion struggles on the quite hilly terrain though: 16" behind Cooper, he needs to put up a super-strong final 8km!


The biggest surprise so far is Jack Anderson (Budget)! Known as a decent TTler, the Melbourne to Warrnambool champion and 4th in the Australian NC earlier this year, leads the race after the second split by 2" on Cooper!

Split #2 - Provisional Ranking

1.	Jack Anderson	Budget	42'33
2.	Joe Cooper	Huon Genesys	+ 02"
3.	Jack Haig	Huon Genesys	+ 10"
4.	Marc Williams	Budget	+ 14"
5.	Samuel Horgan	Budget	+ 14"
6.	Paul Odlin	New Zealand	+ 18"
7.	Miles Scotson	Euride	+ 22"
8.	Michael Freiberg	Bianchi Lotto	+ 22"

Young gun Haig fights to defend his podium - at least! He's once again proving his great allround skills and finishes this ITT with the new provisional BT: 58'42"!


Top-favorite Horgan won't win this title, that he was aiming for: he finishes the day behind Haig and also teammate Williams as new 3rd, but the best are yet to come.


Joe Cooper faced a 2"-gap on Anderson 8km before finish, so we're looking forward to a very close decision! The Kiwi delivers, setting a new BT: 15" ahead of Haig!


So will Anderson defend his narrow lead?

He does! But it couldn't have been closer! He wins the timetrial by the smallest margin, less than a second ahead of Cooper! Anderson definitely knew how to take advantage of his climbing skills today!


Jack Anderson takes out yet another prestigious victory after his late-season success in one of the toughest one day races - the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic 2013.