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Timbercorp Tour of Gippsland

Tasmanian Star Boosts Start List

By Rod Morris - 31st July 2007 - Back to News

Top Tasmanian cyclist Sid Taberlay is the latest big name entry for the Timbercorp Tour of Gippsland, which starts in Mallacoota this Wednesday.

Taberlay represented Australia at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens in mountain bikes and is a past stage winner of the Tattersall’s Cup, which the Timbercorp series has evolved from.

Taberlay takes the entry number to 64 riders to contest the opening event of the national series, which will also include the Australian Grand Prix (August 17-19), Tour of the Murray River (August 26 – September 2) and Tour of Tasmania (October 2-7).

Defending champion, Wes Sulzberger of Tasmania is currently overseas with his southaustralia.com team, but expected to return to Australia for later rounds of the Timbercorp series.

All Australian states, as well as England will be represented in the Tour of Gippsland, which will include more than 600 km of hard racing over eight stages, finishing in Bairnsdale next Sunday.

Taberlay, although a mountain bike specialist is no slouch on the road, having claimed the Scottsdale to Lilydale stage in the 2005 Tour of Tasmania and winning the King of the Mountain Championship.

His inclusion takes to six the Tasmanian entry, with Commonwealth Games medalist Mark Jamieson, the drawcard rider.

Although primarily an individual race, domestic Australian teams will be out to prove their worth.

Joining Jamieson in the southaustralia.com team will be Zak Dempster, Sean Finning, Nic Sanderson, William Ford and the highly rated West Australian Cameron Meyer.

Finning won two stages of last year’s series, the opening criterium in the Tour of Gippsland and a criterium in the Tour of Tasmania.

Out to match strength, speed and wits with them will be the FRF Couriers team of Luke Cridland, Peter McDonald, Peter Herzig, Robbie Cater, Tony Mann, Chris Jory and evergreen Peter Milostic.

Some members of the FRF team have just returned from the Tour of China (July 14-22) but are recovering from altitude sickness.

Team manager Andy Portess said racing at heights varying between 2500 m and 4000 m took its toll of the FRF riders.

"A lot of the boys became very dehydrated and illness crept in," Portess said.

"As a result, not all of the team will be in the Tour of Gippsland, but the team that we do put on the start line will be very competitive……very competitive indeed."

"I’m tipping Chris Jory and Robbie Cater to do very well," Portess said.

"They have both have good form and the Tour of Gippsland course should suit them."

The Timbercorp series was created in 1996 and has been the breeding ground for many talented Australian cyclists.

Previous cup winners include -

2006 Wesley Sulzberger TAS

2005 Robert McLachlan ACT

2004 William Walker VIC

2003 Robert McLachlan ACT

2002 Leigh Egan VIC

2001 David McKenzie VIC

2000 Robert Tighello VIC

1999 Eddie Salas NSW

1998 Ben Brooks NSW

1997 Robert Tighello VIC

1996 Chris White VIC

Total prizemoney is $122,000 and an accumulative points system will operate on each event to produce an overall Timbercorp Cup winner in Tasmania.

The Timbercorp Cup Series is multi-sponsored and is supported by 20 municipalities across four states.

Tourism Victoria is a principal sponsor of the Tours of Gippsland and Murray River

Further Information -

03 5224 2466 John Craven Director- Caribou Publications

Madeleine Brialey Co-ordinator – Caribou Publications

0428 151 204 Mike Quist East Gippsland Shire Council

0407 684 765 Matt Trewin Timbercorp

0401-760-912 Rod Morris Media Liaison


Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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