We're staying in Geelong for a rather tricky flat criterium through Eastern Park. A slightly ascending sector about 2km before finish will be quite challenging.
Will this parcours be too challenging for Drapac today? And how will stronger rated "climbers" like Scully, Saber, Von Hoff, Docker or Matthews perform? Or will we see a breakaway victory like last year, where Sisira from Sri Lankia took line honours?
The trio, that goes clear from the pack in the first quarter of the race, will certainly hope for the breakaway scenario:
Lane (Avanti), Ghani (Malaysia) and Anton Cooper (The Spark) build the break of the day!
They are still ahead by now just 45" with about 19km remaining, but the pace in the pack is up thanks to several riders trying to jump across the early break.
Manfred (Kenyan Riders Downunder) as one of the most active here, showing the team's colors for the first time!
Neither the early break nor those late attackers stand a chance against the peloton though. Teams like Malaysia and Japan looked in control and the escapees were all caught prior to the penultimate lap.
On the final short ascend, we see the sprint preparation and two strong trains being built:
Malaysia (Anuawar, Manan, Salleh) with also Saber (Jayco'z) and Drapac (Drapac) behind them..
Japan (Uchima, Itami) with Matthews (Compal) and Chen (China) following closely.. they open up a gap quickly!
Thwaites (GBR), Meyer's train (Subaru) and Simon Clarke try to hang on, but that's a notable gap already. It will surely come down to one of those in the leading group..
The group enters the finishing stretch and the lads are all going on their own now:
Salleh leaving his leadout's wheels, Saber, Drapac and Itami close behind them! Matthews/Chen with a slightly worse position..
..but they are both in the competition for line honours: while Salleh struggles to hold on to his leading position, Matthews/Chen move forward to attack the others!
Drapac with another impressive sprint to go into the leading position: Itami and Saber trying to go as fast as him..
Saber as the first to struggle, also Matthews won't be in the mix for the win: Drapac still in the lead, but Chen is now coming forward with some tremendous speed!
Salleh and Itami probably fighting for either the win or at least the final podium spot..
..another narrow decision..
..and another former Oz-rider taking line honours: not Drapac, but Libin Chen takes out this challenging parcours through Eastern Park! An impressive finishing kick from the Chinese, but Drapac secures himself a valuable 2nd place eventually.
Salleh with another podium as 3rd ahead of Itami, Saber and Matthews.. other top-favorites finish a few seconds later, just behind the leadout sprinters from Malaysia/Japan. Just one point for Simon Clarke as 10th, while others like Meyer, Wippert, Thwaites, Scully, Von Hoff (again a non-show today) end up scoreless.
Libin Chen
Damion Drapac
Mohamed Harrif Salleh
Kenji Itami
Lahcen Saber
Wouter Wippert
