Battle on the Border Preview

Back on the NRS schedule after not being held since 2012, the Battle on the Border definitely makes for one of the toughest stage races on the calendar. Rather long and challenging stages in general, the tour kicks off with a frightening stage featuring a brutal climb up Mt Warning. Certainly the key stage here, pure climbers will enjoy this unique chance to go for glory.

But also those following days probably can do some damage in the pack and of course the 11km timetrial will be another key to any GC-success here.

Patrick Bevin	Keagan Girdlestone	Brodie Talbot
Joseph Cooper	Ben Hill	Adam Bull
Matthew Clark	Nick Katsonis	Michael Cupitt

With NRS leader Jack Bobridge not at the start (he's preparing for Team Budget's first US trip), it's the big opportunity for Patrick Bevin and Joe Cooper to make up some ground in the individual's rankings. The premium stage racers should be amongst the best in both the mountain stage and the timetrial.

Charter Mason brings a similar strong lineup though: Girdlestone, Hill and Katsonis are amongst the very best climbers in Australia and we may expect a huge fight between them and Avanti in particular.

But also Team Budget can hope for some GC-results: Brodie Talbot, Michael Torckler or Jack Anderson certainly know how to climb and sprinter Luke Davison may hope to be in the mix for the less challenging flat stage.

Battle on the Border Stages 1-2

Keagan Girdlestone (Charter Mason) leads the Battle on the Border after two from five stages. Thanks to an impressive victory in the opening stage up Mt Warning, the Kiwi held on to a narrow 3-seconds-advantage on Pat Bevin (Avanti), while Joe Cooper (Avanti) sits on 3rd. Avanti and Charter Mason crushed the peloton on this tough opening day.

The other teams already suffered from a brutal pace about 37km before finish, where Avanti broke clear with four riders once the early break got caught! Charter Mason fought back impressively though, as Girdlestone kept it cool to make his way to a solo-leading Bevin. He dropped his compatriot close to the finish and went for a 25-seconds-gap then. Cooper and Adam Bull (Subaru Albion) made it four Kiwis in the Top-4, while Brodie Talbot was Budget's best as 12th on the day. Huge gaps already.

The team bounced back on second day though: Jack Anderson and Matt Zaranski (Cobra9) built the break of the day, where Anderson moved up to 2nd in the KoM classification. The break again got caught and a challenging profile plus some notable crosswinds made for a highly selective stage: only 20 riders would remain in the leading group, where guys like Cooper, Bull, Cupitt and also Michael Torckler (Budget) tried to escape late into the stage.

Empty-handed attempts, as Pat Bevin was too strong: he almost took the race lead when he stormed to the stage-win ahead of Michael Cupitt (Data#3). A next 8-men-group with Talbot finished 17 seconds off, which was enough for Girdlestone to defend a narrow lead. Talbot moved up to 7th thanks to his efforts and a next group already finishing a minute later.

Charter Mason pacing in order to bridge across group Bevin..

Girdlestone and Bevin launching an attack with still 9km to go!

The leading five alread pretty exhausted with the finish approaching..

..but Girdlestone had something left in the tank: victory!

Anderson and Zaranski building the break of the day in stage two..

Bevin countering a late attack by Torckler with less than 5km left..

..for his first stage-win in the NRS this year!

Will Girdlestone defend his 3 seconds on Bevin til the end?

Battle on the Border Stages 3-4-5

Avanti Racing gave the perfect answer on Jack Bobridge's victory in Toowoomba: Joe Cooper and Pat Bevin went past former race-leader Keagan Girdlestone to complete an 1-2 in the final GC! A thrilling battle for yellow saw Bevin move up to 1st after the timetrial and then Cooper soloing to a victory in the concluding criterium through Murwillumbah - for the overall win!

Michael Schweizer (African Wildlife) took out stage three - the only flat rated stage - ahead of an again strong Andrew Williams (Navitas). While Team Budget's Luke Davison came in 4th on the day, the team had one reason to celebrate anyway: Jack Anderson once again managed to escape from the pack and collect enough points to take and win the KoM competition! A nice effort after some tough days GC-wise.

The ITT on next day was Avanti again though: Top-5 all blue and orange, as Cooper took his first of two stage-wins, missing out on yellow by 11 seconds on third-placed Pat Bevin! Keagan Girdlestone dropped to 3rd, Brodie Talbot to 9th. Only Jacob Kauffmann (7th) did well for Budget in the timetrial.

Things went much better in the final crit then: Anderson tried again, but it was Talbot, who actually needed to attack, as he was just a few seconds off the Top-8 in the GC. His attack from 11km outside the finish was strong and only countered by Cooper, who went to win the stage solo - 40 seconds ahead of the bunch! Also Talbot managed to gain back a few seconds and moved up to 8th in the final GC!

Anderson securing his polka dot on stage three!

Davison in the mix for the bunch sprint in Murwillumbah..

..but he has to settle for 4th as Schweizer takes the stage!

All Avanti in the TT: Bevin 3rd, but slipping into yellow!

Talbot attacking in the final crit, Cooper jumping behind..

..and the Kiwi beats Talbot by 25 seconds eventually..

Anderson's aggressive racing is rewarded with the KoM-win!

Cooper with two stage-wins and a stunning overall victory!

Tour of the Great South Coast Preview

The Tour of the Great South Coast (Victoria) is the longest stage race in the NRS with 8 stages to be held. A few short criteriums and some road races - all flat rated this year, but with some tricky profiles and of course the crosswinds, that can turn this race into a battle between the strongmen. It's the only "real" sprinters stage race in the NRS this year though.

In the past three years, the race used to produce rather surprising winners - including two breakaway victories for the "home team" Jayco - Victorian Institute of Sports. This year, there ain't the concluding (and key) hilly stage around Campertown though:

2015 | Oscar Stevenson (Jayco - VIS)
2014 | Thomas Hamilton (Jayco - Honey Shotz)
2013 | Bradley Hall (Satalyst Giant)


+ 4 Criteriums (all flat rated)

Patrick Bevin	Scott Sunderland	Raphael Freienstein
Scott Law	Michael Schweizer	Angus Tobin
Patrick Shaw	Sam Witmitz	Jackson Law

Patrick Bevin is not only a climber, but also a strong sprinter. Moving up to 2nd in the NRS rankings most recently, this is a huge opportunity to take over the lead from Jack Bobridge. Avanti with also Scott Law or Pat Shaw as possible threats here.

Freienstein (winner of a similar profiled Tour of Gippsland last year), Schweizer, Tobin or Jackson Law could be amongst the best sprinters and in case the GC won't go to roleurs or stage racers, that's the most promising names.

Of course there's also Scott Sunderland for Team Budget. With most of our team being on an US trip (racing some UCI races), we're lining up with a small squad. But it's a squad packed with talents for sprints, as also Witmitz and former NRS-champion Davison already proved their speed.

Tour of the Great South Coast Stages 1-2-3

Scott Sunderland (Team Budget) leads the Tour of the Great South Coast after 3 of 8 stages! The premium sprinter scored three stage podiums and his first stage-win on third day, too. He leads the race ahead of Raphael Freienstein (Charter Mason) and young gun Jackson Law (Subaru NSWIS), while also Patrick Bevin (Avanti) sits inside the Top-10 despite missing out on notable stage results so far.

The opening criterium in Mount Gambier saw a thrilling sprint between Russell Gill (Wormall CCS), Scott "Sundo" Sunderland and Harrison Bailey (GPM): a photo finish had to decide over the winner, but it was Gill who raised his arms for good reasons. A promising opener for Sundo nevertheless - he finished 2nd.

The more challenging Mount Gambier Road Race around Blue Lake would then already see some crucial splits in the pack: a tough pace by Charter Mason would cause some good damage with a group of just 12 riders going clear close to the finish! While Raphael Freienstein crowned this teamwork with a stage-win, Team Budget had Sunderland (3rd on the stage) and Mitchell Mulhern inside this group, which went for a 48-seconds-gap on the pack! Key seconds gained here. Tough luck for one of the favorites: Michael Schweizer (African Wildlife) went down in a crash, already losing more than four minutes!

A wind effected road race to Port MacDonnell on next day would again see Charter Mason (and Team Budget) causing major splits with a bunch of just 45 riders battling for line honours: a perfectley timed sprint from Sunderland (who picked Freienstein's wheel earlier on) made him take the stage and grow the GC-lead, that he already took the day before.

Sundo, Bailey and Gill going past Jackson Law..

..and Gill goes and takes the opening stage in a thriller!

Charter Mason opening up a crucial gap on the Blue Lake loop..

Freienstein finishes it off with a stage-win then!

A reduced bunch entering the final kilometres on stage three..

Fitter trying to hold off a nearing Sunderland..

..who had the perfect timing for the win in Port MacDonnell!

Sundo leading the GC, but it's still a way to go here!

Tour of the Great South Coast Stages 4-5-6

Scott Sunderland (Team Budget) still leads the tour thanks to his second stage-win in the Heywood to Casterton Road Race on fifth day. A strong Jackson Law (Subaru NSWIS) moved up to 2nd in the GC, as he took the Portland Criterium and added another podium the day after. Raphael Freienstein (Charter) on 3rd with still four more Charter Mason guys inside the Top-10.

Sunderland missed the podium for the first time here, when Jackson Law sprinted to his first NRS victory in a challenging fast Portland Criterium. Sundo had to settle for a 4th place, but also Freienstein missed out on bonifications that day.

Budget's premium sprinter bounced back in style, as he went for line honours on the most challenging stage here: going past an again strong Jackson Law close to the line, Sunderland took the primes in Casterton.

When Sean Whitfield (Scody Downunder) then sprinted to an impressive win in the Koroit Criterium, Sunderland had his worst day as 6th on the day. He leads the GC by 11 seconds on Law and 15 seconds on Freienstein. Patrick Bevin (Avanti) still struggles to be a factor in those bunch sprints. There's two more chances to score points though.

Schweizer kicking off the bunch sprint in the Portland Crit..

..but Jackson Law takes it ahead of Gill and Bailey!

Sunderland storming towards the front in Casterton..

..for a narrow victory ahead of Jackson Law!

Another bunch sprint decision in the Koroit criterium..

Whitfield, Gill and Freienstein holding off Sunderland..

Whitfield takes the stage ahead of Gill! Sundo 6th on the day..

..but still enjoying his days in the black leader shirt here!

clamel wrote:
Soon off for the King Valley I think.
Wish the young South African Keagan will get back in good form. He has proven himself a good climber with great future.

Hm South African, remind you of something tsmoha ??