With Darren Hill away in Japan, the national sprint crown was up for grabs from what was still a
class field and whoever took a place in the Friday night final and won would certainly be a worthy
champion. In the 200mtr sprint Sean Eadie came close to the national record of 10.323 with a scorching
10.368(69.44kph) after Jobie Dajka had earlier set a benchmark of 10.577(68.07kph). Enter Neiwand,
the only rider with a chance and for the first 120mtr he looked on target to grab the gold but that was
as far as he went and the title rested with Eadie. Neiwand was in a relaxed mood after sporting flashy
blue toe nail polish and making every moment a part of having fun, but deep down its crunch time
for the veteran of the australian sprint scene. Eadie on the other hand is focused on continuing
to ride to form and isn't intimidated easily. Having already made the qualifying mark at the Sydney Cup
in February he would naturally like to add the national crown to his resume. Speaking to "the gazette Eadie"
made no bones about his attitude.
"I'm taking a bit more of a relaxed attitude into them(the finals), its a bike race, I've done hundreds of
them and I'll do hundreds more. "Naturally I want to win, and I want to win the whole series convincingly,
the Olympic sprint & the keiren I want a good showing in but ultimately its a bike race. If I continue the
form I've had all season then I think I'll give it a good shake."
RENSHAW BLINDER GRABS GOLD
New South Wales uner 19 rider Mark Renshaw, riding off last, pulled out all stops to take the "kilo" after
Ryan Bayley(W.A), set the fastest time in a lack lustre field. Renshaws time of 1.05:98 was just 1scec off the
senior mens time and augurs well for our future cycling stock.
MENS 20K SCRATCH
South Aussies Luke Roberts & Brett Aitken set a hard pace for the field in the first 28 laps of 80 in the medal
chase for gold in the 20K Mens Scratch race. No sooner had the last attacker Roberts been caught than it was the
turn of another south australian in Gene Bates to hammer the field, but at the 48 lap mark the field were just
settling down when Nathan Clark of Tasmania put in a big one which forced the pace. At 42 laps Graham Brown(NSW)
had a big dig and once again the field was hammered till at lap 37 things settled down, that was until Aitken & Roberts
combined with Brown and stretched the field out for six guelling laps. But opportunity favours the brave in a scratch race
and as the field got back together Scott Suckling & Darryl Young made a break. Working hard they kept the field at bay until
at 22 laps to go they were joined by tasmanian David Clark. The three worked well together staying away till lap 12. Then Paul
Dobson took the lead and held it till lap seven. Then the big guns came out as Luke Roberts(S.A) & Graham Brown(NSW)
jumped the bunch and the pace went up a huge notch. The final six laps were heart stopping as the south aussies worked to
control the race and get a rider up. It was a hectic last three laps as Gene Bates gained a small break.
In a huge finish it was Brett Aitken flying off the front in the last turn as he held out Stephen Pate and Graham Brown.
For Aitken it was great chance to put himself right under the selectors eyes and he still has his heart set on the Madison and
the Team Pursuit. The talented rider has worked hard, since crashing last year in Berlin, to regain his form and go out on
a high note with a win at the Sydney Olympics. He was quick to point out here though he had the support of a good team(reduced to
three per state this championship) who all worked well together to secure a victory and that their tactics had paid off in the best
way possible.
Speaking exclusively to "the gazette" after the race he made mention of his team mates. "In the end we were the smarter team and thats
what really mattered, there was a lotta teams, soughta out there having a go but in the end we just had to play the cards we had you
know and we played them really well. It worked to a charm."
On Olympic selection he had this to say. "At the Olympics I'm still aiming for the Team Pursuit and the Madison event. I think the
Madison event is a race I honestly believe I can win on a good day, at the best form and with the right partner."
FERRIS TOO GOOD
Michelle Ferris is back on top after a two zip win over fellow Victorian Lyndelle Higginson in tonights sprint final. The victorian
was under a lot of pressure and at the press interview spoke of how she was very nervous going in to the final and that this was
one of the toughest sprint events she had contested.
