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Timbercorp Australian Cycling Grand Prix

Teenage Star Clinches Toughest Win Yet

By Rod Morris - 21st August 2007 - Back to News

Riding with a fractured rib since early August, did not stop exciting Victorian youngster William Ford from winning the final leg of the Australian Cycling Grand Prix, the 153 km road race around the grueling Buninyong circuit near Ballarat.

Ford (19) timed his ride perfectly, reeling in early breakaways, Mitch Docker and Steven Robb and then sprinting away from them to win by 31 seconds from Docker’s Drapac Porsche teammate Stuart Shaw.

In the women’s race over 91.8 km, newly crowed ACGP Time Trial champion, Bridie O’Donnell from Melbourne, capped off a successful weekend with a stunning 3 minute victory.

O’Donnell rode almost half the race distance on her own as she spreadeagled the field to win from Jenny MacPherson and tough Tasmanian Grace Sulzberger.

MacPherson had her revenge however in the ACGP points series with an accumulative tally of 21 points from all three events over the weekend, edging out O’Donnell on 20. O’Donnell however did not ride in Saturday’s street race criterium and that decision almost certainly cost her overall victory.

Ford fractured a rib in the opening lap of the opening race of the Tour of Gippsland, which kick started this year’s Timbercorp Cup national series.

"I fell on the first lap at Mallacoota earlier this month and have been in a bit of pain ever since," Ford said.

"It only hurts when I laugh and there was nothing to laugh about at Buninyong."

Docker and Robb broke away from the peloton about 70 km into the test and for six laps shared points and prize bonuses in the intermediate sprints and King of the Mountain championships.

"We had a little pact going once we were away, in that I would win the sprint points and Steve (Robb) would take the KOM points," Docker said.

"At about five to go I told him I was going to attack on the next climb and he decided to go too, it worked for a while before the chasers got to us."

"Unfortunately they didn’t stop although we were able to stay with them after a little while," he said.

Stuart Shaw held a small lead at the bell lap, but the train of Ford, Docker and Robb were keeping him honest.

Ford made his winning move up the final hill on Geelong Rd and then attacked even further on the last KOM, giving him enough leeway down the descents back into Buninyong.

"This feels great, I have worked hard and our team – southaustralia.com – have enjoyed a good series so far," Ford said.

"I wasn’t too worried about the fractured rib today, as this course is more about looking after your legs."

"The last hill climb certainly worked in my favour and it was excting with a big crowd cheering up the home straight."

An horrific crash 37 km into the race saw at least seven riders hit the deck.

Most were able to recover almost immediately, although Damien Turner, Evan Corry, Scott Kilmartin and Stuart Grimsey weren’t so lucky.

Turner suffered a possible broken leg, Corry, a broken collarbone and Kilmartin and Grimsey were sporting extensive cuts and bruises and none were able to finish the race.

The accident happened on the Fisken Rd descent, causing havoc for the peloton when they came around over the next three laps.

Turner was in obvious pain, but the assistance of a local paramedic, Ian Cabby, intensive nurse Thelma McKurdy and race medic Bobby Hall, made things slightly easier until an ambulance crew arrived.

Queensland’s Carly Hibberd established an early pattern in the women’s race, picking up the first four KOM points, whilst Amber Jenkins clinched the sprint title with a solid early ride.

But once the field settled down, Bridie O’Donnell made her presence felt.

She very quickly put time and distance between herself and the peloton and the small chasing group were showing the strain.

A three minute margin showed Australian selectors are the right tram with confidence in O’Donnell for events overseason, including next month’s Trophee European in France.

MacPherson led the bunch home for second spot, which clinched the ACGP title, with Sulzberger showing her liking for the course with a gutsy third.

Fellow Tasmanians Rowena Fry and Kate Warren also finished in the top 10.

The Timbercorp Cup lead was handed to Peter McDonald after his solid weekend of racing, which included a third in Friday’s individual time trial and victory in Saturday’s criterium and 26^th in the road race.

The series continues next week with the eight day Fishers IGA Tour of the Murray River from August 26 to September 2 and will climax with the Tour of Tasmania from October 2-7.

Brief results –

MEN – 153 km

1. William Ford (Vic), 4 hours 10.18 minutes

2. Stuart Shaw (ACT), +31 seconds

3. Mitch Docker (Vic), +58 seconds

4. Steven Robb (Vic), +59 seconds

5. Daniel Braunsteins +1.45 minutes

6. Tom Middleton (SA), same time

7. Robert Williams (NSW), same time

8. Jonathon Cantwell (Qld), +1.49 minutes

9. Darcy Rosenlund (Qld), same time

10. John Ebeling (NSW), same time

Sprint Championship: Mitch Docker (Vic)

King of the Mountain Championship: Steven Robb (Vic)

Australian Cycling Grand Prix: Mitch Docker (Vic)

Timbercorp Cup leader: Peter McDonald (NSW)

WOMEN – 91.8 km

1. Bridie O’Donnell (Vic), 2 hours 54.15 minutes

2. Jenny MacPherson (Vic), +3 minutes

3. Grace Sulzberger (Tas), same time

4. Carly Hibberd (Qld), same time

5. Roena Fry (Tas), same time

6. Jemma O’Brien (NSW), same time

7. Helen Griffiths (Qld), same time

8. Kate Warren (Tas), same time

9. Simone Spykers (Vic), same time

10. Leila Bunnett (Vic), +3.02 minutes

Sprint Championship: Amber Jenkins (NSW)

Queen of the Mountain Championship: Carly Hibberd (Qld)

Australian Cycling Grand Prix: Jenny MacPherson (Vic)

Tour of the Murray River – August 26 to September 2

Tour of Tasmania – October 2-7

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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