Press Release: Jonathan Cantwell takes stage one with Richard Lang claiming stage 2 in a sprint finish of the Tour of Geelong.
Stage 1 Review
Queenslander Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) took full advantage of Leigh Howard’s absence to claim victory in the first stage of the GMHBA Tour of Geelong, held at North Shore this morning.
Cantwell, who has just returned from a successful series in the USA, displayed his dominance in the sprint laps early in race, accumulating 11 points, 2 first, 2 second and one third, and finishing in a time of 01:04:12, in the 30 lap crtierium.
” I love coming back to Australia although the weather is proving a little difficult, with 18 wins this season under my belt I am feeling in good form”, the 27 year old Cantwell stated on the podium after his win.
127 riders lapped the North Shore Sports League, with top teams Fly V Australia, Budget Team Forklifts, Savings and Loans and Praties pushing hard to claim prime position on the leaders board.
Warrigul’s Joel Pearson (Savings and Loans), winner of stage 5 in the Tour of Gippsland, and Dale Scarfe (Mace-McDonagh Blake) crossed the line 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The GMHBA Tour of Geelong runs from the 12th – 16th of August and incorporates the Victorian Open Road Cycling Championships.
Teams from Australia, New Zealand, USA and New Caledonia have pushed the entries for this year’s event up to an astronomical 599 riders.
Stage 2 Review
20 year old Richard Lang (Titans-Race) managed to hold off Queenslander Cameron Jennings (Budget Forklifts) and race favourite David Kemp (Fly V Australia) in a tight sprint to the finish, to claim stage 2 of the GMHBA Tour of Geelong.
The 79.6 kilometre Road Race from Lara to the You Yangs began in perfect conditions, riders remaining tightly packed for the largest part of the race. David Kemp placed first in the first sprint of the race before rain swept over the peloton making the final climb (a category 3) to the You Yangs a soggy affair.
Gippsland’s Charles Howlett (Cycle City) laid the foundations for a great tour with placing’s in 4 of the 5 sprint legs, earning him the Most Aggressive Rider Jersey, while Richard Lang, a student at Sydney University, claimed the King of The Mountain Jersey and Jonathon Cantwell the Sprint Jersey.
“I tried to get a break in the final 20 kilometres of the race but the peloton drag me back in, I’ve been training all year and I was hoping to secure a stage win”, Lang said after stepping up to top position on the dais this afternoon.
Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) remains the tour leader with a time of 2:54:42 Richard Lang (Titans-Race) is second, 10 seconds behind the pace, David Kemp (Fly V Australia) hot on his heels, only 11 seconds behind the tour leader and 1 behind Lang.
Winner of the final stage of the Tour of Elk Grove, Jonathon Cantwell has been making huge waves in the USA, helping team Fly V Australia claim 60 wins so far this year. The GMHBA Tour of Geelong may add another feather in the hat of one of Australia’s leading riders, especially heading into the time trials on Friday.
Riders will line up again tomorrow for stage 3, 3 laps of a 47.7 kilometre circuit around the town of Anakie made up of 11 sprint stages and 12 category 3 & 4 hill climbs.
General Classification Standings after Stage 2:
1 CANTWELL, Jonathan Fly V Australia 02:54:42.00
2 LANG, Richard Titans – Race +00:10
3 KEMP, David Fly V Australia +00:11
4 JENNINGS, Cameron Budget Forklifts +00:15
5 SCARFE, Dale Mace – Mcdonagh Blake +00:16
6 ENGLAND, Michael Budget Forklifts +00:24
7 PELL, David Savings & Loans +00:26
8 GRENDA, Ben Praties +00:26
9 BROOKS, Hayden Fly V Australia +00:27
10 ROLFE, Darren Fly V Australia +00:29
