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Fishers IGA Tour Of The Murray River: (Round 3 Of The 2007 Timbercorp National Cycling Series)

Reluctant "Macca" Moves Into Yellow

By ROD MORRIS - 27th August 2007 - Back to News

When Sydney rider Peter McDonald won last week’s road race at the Australian Cycling Grand Prix at Ballarat, he had full intentions of having a spell from the bike.

With the eight day Fishers IGA Tour of the Murray River looming, McDonald didn’t think he had much of a chance.

"The Murray River tour is all pretty flat and I’m more of a hill climber, so I didn’t intend to race," McDonald said.

At the end of the opening day of the tour, McDonald finds himself the holder of the coveted leader’s yellow jersey.

Racing in the best form of his career, McDonald won the afternoon’s second stage from Moama to Barham, eight seconds ahead of David Pell (Vic) and a further 13 seconds to Geelong teenager Leigh Howard.

It is the first time in his career, McDonald has led a multi-stage tour, but he is making no bold predictions.

"This is only day one, there’s a lot of racing to go yet and you can bet everyone will be attacking me now," he said.

"Its going to be very hard to defend this for the next seven days, but I’ll give it a good shot."

STAGE 1

Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Brett Aitken turned back the hands of time to display his daunting sprinting skills in the opening stage of the tour by winning the Echuca Criterium.

Aitken (36) won the Madison gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was a member of the winning pursuit team and won the points score race at the 1994 New Zealand Commonwealth Games.

On top of that the popular South Australian has also won Olympic gold and silver medal and silver at Commonwealth level.

His Echuca win emulated his 2006 Tour of the Murray River start, but he belied any chance of winning General Classification honours.

"I’m nowhere near fit enough or well enough to worry about that," he said.

"I’ve been really crook lately, so to win the opening race is a real bonus for me."

"I won’t be aiming for the GC, but if I can pick up a few stage wins and sprint bonuses along the way that’ll be good for me."

Aitken kept himself in a handy position out of harm’s way but showed his true colours at the business end of the race.

He was quick to praise the work of his Savings and Loans teammates, David Pell, Will Dickeson and Tom Middleton.

"They all did a power of work throughout the race and it made my job a lot easier at the end," Aitken said.

STAGE 2

The afternoon’s second stage provided the longest race of the tour, 112.9 km from Moama to Barham along flat, hot and dusty country roads.

But with the race venturing into NSW, Sydney rider Peter McDonald took full opportunity to win on home soil.

Part of a strong breakaway group of a dozen riders, McDonald took the initiative 6 km from the finish when he and Victorian David Pell forged further ahead.

Then in the last km, McDonald hit out again, escaping from Pell and cruising to what looked like a comfortable win, eight seconds ahead of Pell.

The chasing bunch was led home by exciting Geelong 17-year-old Leigh Howard, who has just returned from winning a gold medal at the World Junior Track Championships.

Next in line was tour veteran Robert McLachlan (Canberra), with Patrick Shaw (Vic) fifth.

McDonald had dual reason to celebrate as he also forced his way into the prized leader’s jersey, 12 seconds clear of Pell and a further 13 seconds to Shaw.

Queenslander Grant Irwin, who led after the opening stage, finished 10^th in the afternoon’s race, 23 seconds adrift of McDonald and coupled with bonuses, dropped to fourth place overall, 29 seconds shy of the New South Welshman.

The tour continues on Monday with another double stage day.

The morning’s action will see a 33 km criterium in Kerang and then the afternoon will include a 74.7 km road race from Kerang to Cohuna.

Brief results –

STAGE 1 – ECHUCA CRITERIUM, 25.5 KM

1. Brett Aitken (SA), 34.54 minutes

2. Grant Irwin (Qld), same time

3. Nicholas Sanderson (Vic), same time

4. Russell Gill (SA), same time

5. Patrick Shaw (Vic), same time

6. Robert McLachlan (ACT), same time

7. Darcy Rosenlund (Qld), same time

8. Peter Dawson (WA), same time

9. Tom Middleton (SA), same time

10. Will Dickeson (SA), same time

STAGE 2 – MOAMA to BARHAM, 112.9 km

1. Peter McDonald (NSW), 2 hours 54.46 minutes

2. David Pell (Vic), +8 seconds

3. Leigh Howard (Vic), +21 seconds

4. Robert McLachlan (ACT), same time

5. Patrick Shaw (Vic), +22 seconds

6. Benjamin King (WA), same time

7. Tom Middleton (SA), +23 seconds

8. John Ebeling (NSW), same time

9. David Kemp (Qld), same time

10. Grant Irwin (Qld), same time

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION (after Stage 2)

1. Peter McDonald (NSW), 3 hours 29.20 minutes

2. David Pell (Vic), +12 seconds

3. Patrick Shaw (Vic), +25 seconds

4. Grant Irwin (Qld), +29 seconds

5. Leigh Howard (Vic), +36 seconds

6. Robert McLachlan (ACT), +37 seconds

7. Tom Middleton (SA), +43 seconds

8. John Ebeling (NSW), +43 seconds

9. Benjamin King (WA), +46 seconds

10. David Kemp (Qld), same time

Road Safe Mildura Sprint Championship: Miles Watson (NSW)

WHK Thomsons Criterium Championship: Brett Aitken (SA)

MADEC Most Aggressive Rider Award: Robert McLachlan (ACT)

To come –

Stage 3 – Kerang Criterium, 33 km, Monday, August 27

Stage 4 – Kerang to Cohuna, 74.7 km, Monday, August 27

Stage 5 – Euston Criterium, 52 km, Tuesday, August 28

Stage 6 – Merbein Criterium, 33 km, Wednesday, August 29

Stage 7 – Merbein to Wentworth, 80.4 km, Wednesday, August 29

Stage 8 – Mildura Kermesse, 66 km, Thursday, August 30

Stage 9 – Ouyen Criterium, 36 km, Friday, August 31

Stage 10 – Ouyen – Patchewollock – Ouyen, 86.5 km, Friday, August 31

Stage 11 – Loxton Criterium, 42 km, Saturday, September 1

Stage 12 – Loxton Kermesse, 70 km, Saturday, September 1

Stage 13 – Waikerie Kermesse, 44 km, Sunday, September 2

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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