Ian Butler wrote:
(we are close to the season end, are we not?)

Ian Butler wrote:
Grafton to Inverell: this will be Earle's high end I was talking about

sutty68 wrote:
25pts away from winning the Team Rankings

tsmoha wrote:


Yap, but also only 28 points up for grabs So Budget needs to win all team-classifications and Huon has to score less than three points.. Which is... Well... Unlikely, to say at least

Melbourne to Warrnambool

The Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic is an iconic Victorian sporting event being the second oldest one day cycling event in the world and the longest in the Southern hemisphere, having formerly being the longest single day race on the UCI calendar.

Being one of the most prestigious races in the NRS, this is definitely worth a visit! Be part of this tough 260km challenge.

And it's the length of this classics, which will make for a thrilling day: will a late attack survive, like Anderson did last year? Or will the sprinters take control?






Jack Anderson (Budget) took out the 2013 edition of this legendary classic: he attacked the bunch 35km before finish and managed to hold on to a decent gap on the chasing bunch to grab an epic solo-victory! The top-sprinters looked strong though, with Johnston (Suzuki), Jones (GPM) and Davison (Drapac) finishing a minute behind Anderson.. 2012-champion Goesinnen finished 9th, by the way.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Davison_zpsbb12ebee.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Luke Davison (Drapac)
Key stats/ FL 70, SPR 76, ACC 75
Davison is 10 points behind the podium in the individual's rankings and with three flat classics remaining, he wants to score big time. This is the toughest race.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Johnston_zps2df586e9.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Brendan Johnston (Suzuki Bontrager)
Key stats/ FL 69, STA 71, SPR 72, ACC 73
Johnston finished 2nd in the "Warry" last year and if the race comes down to a bunch sprint, he should be able to go for yet another great result like that.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Strachan_zps9ec823ee.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Joel Strachan (Target Trek)
Key stats/ FL 72, STA 73, SPR 72, ACC 72
Strachan is having his breakthrough year so far and scored 21 points in the flat stage races (18th in the NRS)! His skills should make him a real force here.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Horgan_zpsbcafc844.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Samuel Horgan (Budget Forklifts)
Key stats/ FL 75, STA 74, SPR 68
Of course it ain't only the sprinters aiming for the win - the race has often seen a late attack surviving: Horgan is a beast on the flat and one of the top-favorites!

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Wohler_zps411eaea9.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Alex Wohler (Budget Forklifts)
Key stats/ FL 75, STA 73, SPR 69
Same goes for teammate Wohler, who took out the Shipwreck Classic last year and who's aiming to repeat Anderson's victory from 2013 here for Budget..

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Donnelly_zps6dfc467e.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Aaron Donnelly (Huon Salmon - Genesys)
Key stats/ FL 74, STA 70, SPR 70
Another strong rider on the flat and over a long distance, Donnelly (14th in the NRS) will aim for at least another podium-spot after his runner-up here in 2012!

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Goesinnen_zps2c316310.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Floris Goesinnen (Drapac)
Key stats/ FL 74, STA 70, SPR 66
And here's the winner of the Warry back in 2012: the 31yo Dutchman missed the crucial move by Anderson last year (eventually finishing 9th). Better luck now?

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Jory_zps527b597d.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Chris Jory (GPM Data#3)
Key stats/ FL 73, STA 72, SPR 70
Also GPM may hope for a similar winning move like in the past two editions. Jory, who's having a quiet season though, may be the man to do so..

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Jamieson_zpsd13b6d6a.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Mark Jamieson (Target Trek)
Key stats/ FL 72, STA 71, SPR 70
And of course don't underestimate veteran Mark Jamieson, who's already shown some nice races this year (especially in TT's). A strong duo for Target Trek.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_NeilVanderPloeg_zps9f1165f0.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Neil Van der Ploeg (search2retain)
Key stats/ FL 67, STA 75, SPR 71
Defending NRS champion and last year's 5th here in Warrnambool, VdP hopes for some late season success now that he will lose his title for sure.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_OBrien_zpsd0ff84f7.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Mark O'Brien (Euride Racing)
"This is most probably my very last chance to stay in the contention for the NRS title. With 9 points behind Earle (and 7 points rewarded for the win in a classic), I have to score here and then win the Grafton to Inverell later on. Tough!"

Melbourne to Warrnambool (flat classic, 260km)

Time to kick off the second oldest one day cycling event in the world - time for the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic!

260km and crosswinds, some short climbs and a challenging uphill finish.. what else can you ask for? Will wee see a similar victory like in the past two years, where Goesinnen (Drapac) and Anderson (Budget) took out this race with "late" attacks 30-40km before finish? Or will the sprinters take out this flat classic?


An early breakaway attempt by six riders wasn't allowed to go clear and it took a while to get our break of the day, which is built by only 2 riders:

Dyball (Huon) and Butler (Target) are likely to face a long ride in the sun, we still have 180km to go (and already 80km completed)!


Of course the race settled down once those two were allowed to go for their attempt. Anyway, with now 95km to go, search2retain leads the chase, cutting the gap down to 5'20"..


Today's only real difficulty in Camperdown: the higher pace and crosswinds (40-45kmh) make for a tough race back in the peloton, that is already stretched with many riders suffering from the already 200km of racing now!


And with 38km remaining, we see the first serious attack: Troy (GPM) makes his move at almost the same point where defending race-winner Anderson went for his winning-move back in 2013!


He catches up to the leading duo 27km before finish, but both Butler and Dyball won't give up and attack once Tory closed the gap!

The peloton though is only 50" in arrears now and still pulls the strings very hard.


And so it's an empty-handed effort by both the early escapees and Troy, they were caught a few moments later.

In the meantime, Budget Forklifts took control of the race and pulls the bunch towards the finish with an impressive pace: only 68 riders manage to stay in the leading peloton. Most of the top-sprinters are still here - like last year's 2nd Johnston (Suzuki). Also 2012's winner Goesinnen (Drapac) and runner-up Donnelly (Huon)..


And here goes Donnelly! He gives it a very late try, it's just 5km to go!


Two riders try to follow immediately:

Hall (Satalyst, last year's 7th here) and Hucker (Drapac)! The latter has an impressive second half of the season and looks still in shape! And 36 years old veteran Hall may aim for a career-ending epic victory..

Anyway, they face a 18"-gap with 4km to go and the bunch ain't too far behind as well.


Donnelly increases his gap with the uphill-finish approaching! The chasing duo is 30" behind with Hall giving it another try.

And the peloton seems to be beaten, as it's another 30" in arrears.. obviously, strong teams like Huon and Drapac won't help Budget or search2retain pulling those escapees back.


He holds on to his gap: Aaron Donnelly (Huon) takes out the Melbourne to Warrnambool 2014! A great way of redemption for his 2012-result, where he escaped from the bunch together with Floris Goesinnen, who then was going to beat Donnelly in the sprint to the line.

So a huge result for Huon again: the fourth consecutive win for the team after Haig's Capital Tour and Earle's two wins in Tasmania!

Bradley Hall finishes 2nd 27" later, with Hucker completing the podium! Another great result for the latter, who now may even put some pressure on NRS' 2nd O'Brien (who might have hoped for a surprising points-score here and finished as a respectable 20th).

Budget's duo Horgan/Wohler completes the Top-5, ahead of today's best sprinter Johnston (runner-up in 2013)! Jory, Fetch, Jamieson and Gill round up the Top-10. Rather disappointing results for Goesinnen (14th), Davison (18th), Giacoppo (28th) and Neil Van der Ploeg (46th)!

baia wrote:
Damn late attacks.. .. Budget would have done what sutty wanted..
Thanks for your great report mate.

Shipwreck Coast Classic

The 115km Shipwreck Coast Classic starts in Warrnambool and takes in the Great Ocean Road to Port Campbell before swinging back inland and finishing at Allansford.

It's definitely a profile made for sprinters, as the short climbs probably won't make a big difference in the end. But heavy crosswinds can make for an unpredictable race. Like last year, where Alex Wohler (Bugdet) managed to win this race with a solo-attempt.






Budget Forklifts was on a run back in 2013: Alex Wohler took the third consecutive win for the team and just like one day before - with Anderson winning the Melbourne to Warrnambool - a late solo attempt 7km before finish was the winning move. The sprinting bunch came close, but Wohler held on to a small gap to grab his biggest win in his career til then.. top-sprinters like Davison (2nd) and Law (3rd) may hope for more this year. Same goes for Van der Ploeg (4th), who secured his NRS-title here last year!

Van der Ploeg lungs in for the title-securing 4th place!

Who will be the first in Allansford this year?