SKILLED BAY CYCLING CLASSIC 2001 JANUARY 3RD - 7TH 2001
CROWN CASINO
HENDERSONS STAGE - ROBBIE CELEBRATES Greg henderson from New Zealand may have won the final stage of the Skilled Bay Cycling Classic but it was Robbie McEwen who was doing all the celebrating. Racing was tough when Robert Tighello started pushing the pace in a small breakaway. Robbie meantime was just staying safe and getting plenty of protection from team mates anxious to see the their rider stay upright. After three in a row it was just a formallity for McEwen to win the series but he didn't want to risk anything for in a just a few hours he was off back to europe. Today though the race was attacked early as riders sensed that this was their last chance at a stage victory. Robert Tighello of Team Peugeot was one of those trying to get to the front of the breakaway, doing his fair share of the work as for once success looked assured. McEwen didn't need to do much, just stay up and be there at the end and that meant he wouldn't be expending any energy other than to keep in the main bunch. So the breakaway succeeded on two counts. First they stayed away and second, the New Zealanders finally got a traditional victory over their aussie rivals. It had been a tough, hard fought campaign for the riders but one which achieved a great result for all the sponsors, the riders themselves and the spectators who attended the racing. Congratulations to John trevorrow, Skilled, Flying Start Cycling, the sponsors, the officials, the sound crew, the caterers, the morning breakfast staff, the setup crew, Phil Liggett, Rob Gaylard, Phil Anderson, the Skilled Girls, Samantha and the crew, Success Motor Imports and all the local councils. If I have missed anyone then just take it that yes you are as appreciated for your support as every other contributor. download the mens race finish click here WOMENS EVENT ANNA'S 4TH BAY SERIES Champions are not born champions nor are they made by the hands of others, no true champions are made by ones self, drawing on all the powers that lay within our own spirit and that's why Anna Wilson has won her fourth Skilled Bay Cycling Classic in a huge breakaway at the final stage in front of the Crown Casino Complex and a crowd that cheered both her and Queenslands Sara Carrigan on lap after lap. The final round had to be a gamble and where better to play your hand than under the awespicious eye of Crown Casino. Maybe it was an omen that others should have taken notice of and didn't but I personally think that most of the field were beaten before they started. You see I'm also a great believer in fate and there was no doubt in my mind when I saw Anna and Sarah working together like possessed souls, driven by true desperation, that they would rather have nothing if it meant surrendering to the chasers, it was then I knew fate had dealt them a good hand. Before the start I had mixed feelings. I wanted Bridget Evans to win and I also had hopes that Rochelle Gilmore could for once show some strength and then part of me had an empithy for Anna. Hell she is a champion, always says hullo, never complains if you want a photo, can't do enough for her team and the sport. But prior to the start of the race as I peered through the camera lens, I saw a look in Gilmores eyes that spelt doom for the youngster and when it came to the crunch neither her or Bridget made desperate attempts to correct a big wrong. No on the final day, even though I have lots of respect for Rochelle and Bridget, they were first beaten by a rider who like all champions in sports of all kinds, knew fate had decreed this was her day and she went with the call that roused her spirit and took the victory. The second reason was simlpe, they didn't work together to place themselves in a position where they had a chance at winning. For Bridget the day was made worse by a puncture within the last five laps, just as Gilmore had the previous year, that may have cost her a stage podium place but her efforts over the whole series were rewarded with third overall in a hard fought womensevent. For Gilmore the result will not satisfy her drive for success in cycling, but that doesn't mean that in the future she can't be successful. You also have to be hungry for success and that drives people to become champions too. On the other hand I am pleased that someone fresh and as enthusiastic as Katie Mctier was up there in green, well done Katie. To all the women, well done for supporting the event and busting your guts out each day in a gruelling five days of bloody hard competition which showed everyone just how entertaining womens racing can be.

RACE RESULTS MEN 1 Greg Henderson 2 Matt Wilson 3 Peter Dawson 4 Robert Tighello 5 Hilton McMurdo 6 Paul Redanbach 7 Peter Milostic 8 Andrew Torney 9 Kristjan Snorrason 10 Allan Davis WOMEN 1 Anna Wilson 2 Sara Carrigan 3 Rochelle Gilmore 4 Joanne Kiesanowski 5 Naomi Williams 6 Liz Tadich 7 Katrina Purcell 8 Katie Mactier 9 Teresa Cliff 10 Margaret Hemmsley SUPPORT RACE 1 Joshua Fleming 2 Klayten Smith 3 Jeff Hopkins 4 David Betts 5 Joel Leonard 6 Roberto Salvedeo 7 David Pell 8 Nash kent 9 Kevin Poulton 10 Mark Godfrey FULL RESULTS ... here

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