Ballarat 17 - Peter Livingstone (BiciSport) and John Crouchley after the Under 23 Criterium
Ballarat 17 - Peter Livingstone (BiciSport) took 9th in the U23 Road Race and with John Crouchley after the finish.
CYCLING AUSTRALIA ELITE NATIONAL ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Fine weather greeted a well organised National Championships in Ballarat. The Criterium was in the centre of the Ballarat CBD, the ITT just near Bunninyong some 10k from Ballarat and the Road Race was around the Mt Helen circuit finishing in the Bunninyong main street. . There was much discussion about "where to" in 2018 (see story below).
Criterium Under 23 - Peter Livingstone (BiciSport) was in several moves early but settled for a comfortable bunch finish in anticipation for Sundays road race
Road Race Under 23 - The U23 RR started with 125 riders in super hot conditions. After 3 laps 5 riders attacked & stayed away until lap 7 (of 13). Then a break of 9 riders chased (including Peter Livingstone) and bridged across forming the front group. Sam Jenner then soloed off the front with a bunch sprint of 8 riders contesting the Silver medal. A super courageous effort by Peter who was slightly distanced on the last climb but fought his way back to contest the Silver medal bunch sprint. Just 24 riders finished a super tough 132k.
RACING THIS WEEK
* Jan 13 - St Ives Criterium (MW)
* Jan 14-15 - NSW Track Championships (DGV)
* Jan 14-17 - Womens Tour DownUnder (SA) - Katie Brown (BiciSport) as NSWIS Director Sportif
* Jan 15 - Ourimbah Criteriums (Central Coast), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)
BICISPORT TRAINING THIS WEEK
* Jan 9 - DGV Training with John Crouchley @ 3pm
* Jan 11 - DGV Training with John Crouchley @ 3pm
* Jan 12 - Distinguished Gentlemens Ride Centennial Park @ 10am
* Jan 14 - Meadowbank Bridge @ 7.30am, Piemonte Café (coffee only) @ 9.30am
Centennial Park Thursday 10am
Ballarat 17 - Commissaires Grupetto Ride headed for Lake Wendouree. Alex Simmons (BiciSport) far left & John Crouchley far right.
Ballarat 17 - Meeting of the wiser minds ... Ron Neiwand (father of Track legend Gary) meets John Crouchley (coach of Martin Vinnicombe) for the first time. This lively dinner discussion traversed the 1980's through numerous World Track Championships, Commonwealth & Olympic Games. Nobody else was game to stop these two chatting about all things track. Ron cradling the #1 seemed quite apt. It was a great dinner.
Ballarat 17 - The local newspaper lead story on the Saturday of the Under 23 Road Championships. The local journalists for some reason were fixated with headlining why we'd like to leave Ballarat instead of celebrating the current event itself.