Starting this Sunday in Ballarat with the 2.2km preface, the Jayco Herald Sun Tour kicks off, Bradley Wiggens has high hopes. The triple Olympic Games gold medallist also has six senior world titles to his name and finished fourth at this year’s Tour de France making the 29-year-old arguably the best credentialed rider to participate in Australia’s oldest stage race.
“For my dad it was one of his last races as a professional bike rider and my second father (coach) Shane Sutton rode this race and won it,” said Wiggins of the Garmin-Slipstream team.
“It’s a long standing event and every year it produces, from Simon Gerrans to Baden Cooke and last year with Stuart O’Grady it’s always got a prestigious winner.
“It’s always decided on someone who is in form and has been racing well during the year.”
The 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour will host 15 teams of seven riders making up a 105 rider-field and will again provide a major opportunity for Australia’s professional teams to line up against the world’s best professional outfits, playing a major role in developing the next generation of Australian cycling stars.
Leading those taking the next step will be Geelong’s world track omnium champion, Leigh Howard who added to his rapidly growing list of credentials by winning August’s Tour of Gippsland.
Howard, who turns 20 the day after the Tour, is touted for big things sooner rather than later and will head up an impressive line-up of world junior champions in the Jayco-AIS Team.
Fly V Australia has targeted the Tour as the opportunity to confirm its position as the number one Australian outfit.
Team boss, Henk Vogels is confident he has a race of riders capable of winning, including last week’s Tour of Tasmania victor, Bernard Sulzberger, along with Phil Zajicek, Ben Day, and Jonathan Cantwell.
Ensuring they will not have the easiest of paths to the yellow jersey will be the likes of Irishman David McCann, riding for Prime Estate, British road champion Kristian House and former Australian champion Darren Lapthorne from the Rapha Condor team, and the strong Australian riders from the Jayco Australian National team, including the 2007 Tour winner, Matt Wilson, Richie Porte and Mitch Docker.
And with the eyes of the cycling world now firmly fixed on Victoria ahead of next year’s world championships, the full week of racing from Sunday’s Tour start in Ballarat is sure to draw plenty of attention.
Colac, Warrnambool, Apollo Bay, Anglesea, Barwon Heads and Geelong will all host this year’s Tour before it rolls into Melbourne for a twilight final-stage circuit race on Lygon Street on 17 October.
During the final three days, the Honda Civic Hybrid Women’s Tour will in conjunction to give Australia’s elite female cyclists the chance to compete.
ONE will broadcast half hour highlights packages each weekday evening – check your local guides for times – as well as showing the final stage of the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour live between 5:00pm and 7:00pm AEST on Saturday, 17 October.
2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour – Tour Route
– Sunday 11 October Preface – Ballarat – 2.2km circuit
– Monday 12 October Stage One – Ballarat to Ballarat – 149km
– Tuesday 13 October Stage Two – Colac to Warrnambool – 141km
– Wednesday 14 October Stage Three – Warrnambool to Apollo Bay – 164km
– Thursday 15 October Stage Four – Anglesea to Barwon Heads – 138km
– Friday 16 October Stage Five – Individual time trial, Geelong – 10km
– Saturday 17 October Stage Six – Circuit Race, Melbourne – 4.1km circuit
source: Jayco Hearld Sun Tour
