firstoffthebike.com - Races

Bay Crits live up to the hype

If the Jayco Bay Cycling Classics are any indication of the drama that will unfold in the 2010 cycling season, then clip in your pedals and zip up your jerseys because it’s going to be one exciting season.

The 2010 edition of the annual criterium series proved to be the most controversial in the history of the competition, with a number of drama-filled incidents creating headlines in the major press outlets nationwide.

Unfortunately for Cronulla-based Graeme Brown, the controversy seemed to follow him like a bad smell, as the Rabobank rider was caught up in a number of altercations with several big names, including Robbie McEwen, Baden Cooke and in today’s final stage Matthew Hayman.
 

• Stage 1 (Geelong)
  Brown and McEwen exchanged words, with Brown expressing his delight at beating McEwen (3rd) for the stage win, and Robbie returned serve claiming, “Over the last years Brownie tended to leave his best form in Australia in January.”
   
• Stage 2 (Geelong)
  A more straightforward affair with New Zealand’s Greg Henderson taking the spoils in a two-man duel with Chris Sutton and Melbourne rider Daniel Braunsteins in third.
  
  The Graeme Brown show continued on it’s journey, this time, however, it was the new Saxo Bank rider Baden Cooke claiming Brown tried to run him “into the barriers” in response to Cooke deliberately slowing the chasing peloton down during the final 2 laps. Brown described Cooke’s tactics during the final laps of the race as, “just not cricket.”
   
• Stage 3 (Ritchie Boulevard hotdog circuit, Geelong foreshore)
  The race was claimed controversially by New Zealand whiz kid Tom Scully, after a series of crashes caused confusion in the main field, and forced chief commissaire Doug Armstrong to eliminate the main peloton from the circuit after the three-man breakaway including Jack Bobridge and Johnnie Walker lapped the field after the race was neutralised.
  
  Armstrong then issued an angry Brown with a $250 fine for deliberately riding towards the head judge whilst Armstrong was pulling the peloton from the circuit.
  
  Brown was alleged to have been angry at Armstong’s decision to pull the peloton from the race, which effectively ended his chances at claiming the series overall.
   
• Stage 4 (Williamstown)
  This stage was no less dramatic, with Baden Cooke winning the stage in a 5-man breakaway, which included race leader Chris Sutton and Stage 2 winner Greg Henderson. Graeme Brown was nowhere to be seen after an alleged incident with a rider that Brown refused to name, but is believed to be former Rabobank teammate Matthew Hayman, after Chief Commissaire Doug Armstrong confirmed post-race that a discussion had taken place with himself and Hayman post race about the incident, but no complaint from either party had been formerly put forward.

Who’s Hot

• Chris Sutton was consistently strong over the four days of racing, enabling him to win the series despite not winning a race.
• Baden Cooke showed the gritty form during the fourth race in Williamstown that won him the Green jersey at the 2003 Tour de France, perhaps a return to the ProTour with Saxo Bank in 2010 has ignited his winning spirit again.
• Graeme Brown is a walking headline and should be commended for the excitement that he brings to Australian cycling. Brown is under pressure to perform from employer Rabobank and his first stage victory of the season in Geelong during Race 1 will help in his fight for a new contract in 2011.

Who’s Not

• Robbie McEwen was competitive, but still is far from his best after fracturing his shinbone during the Tour of Belgium in May last year, which effectively ended his 2009 ambitions. McEwen showed promising signs but may not be a force until later in the season, don’t expect too much at the Tour Down Under.
• Kirsty Broun dominated last years Bay Series Criterium Classics but was no match for Gilmore this time round. This rivalry between the two Australian superstars will come to a head on Thursday at the National Criterium Championship in Ballarat.
  
  Article by Tim Bradley.