2012 AUSTRALIA ROAD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS U23 ROAD RACE

Media Release via Cycling Australia

In the under 23 men’s action South Australia’s Rohan Dennis claimed his first Australian road race crown today with victory in the under 23 men’s event at the Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships in Buninyong.

Dennis, who is a member of Australia’s 2011 world champion pursuit team, covered the 122.4 kilometres in 3.04:41 to claim the green and gold champion’s jersey ahead of Victoria’s Eric Sheppard after the pair broke away from the field with two laps remaining.

Dennis’ Jayco-AIS teammate Calvin Watson crossed the line one minute and three seconds later to claim the bronze medal from a Jay McCarthy, also Jayco-AIS, who placed fourth.

“I have been working for this for a few years now and it is the first national road race I have ever won,” said 21 year old Dennis. “I can’t really put it in words right now – I am just overwhelmed really.”

The pace was on from the first of twelve laps of the 10.2km course, with Queensland’s Brian McLeod, Victoria’s Rhys Gillett and Canberra’s Tim Cameron breaking away at the top of the first climb.

The trio held their lead for over half the race, stretching their lead over the main bunch to almost two minutes.

On the seventh lap they were absorbed by a determined peloton being driven by Team Jayco-AIS, with Pat Lane leading the charge despite showing visible affects of a crash in last week’s Jayco Bay Cycling Classic series.

With the race shedding riders on each climb of the notorious Mt Buninyong, Dennis, Sheppard and Watson went clear at the start of the third last lap.

Watson was dropped on the penultimate climb, leaving Dennis and Sheppard who were both suffering the affects o cramping, to fight it out over the final twenty kilometres.

“I would say this win is right up there,” said Dennis who claimed second overall in the 2011 Tour de l’Avenir in France.

“I have never actually been on the podium at a national road race so it is a great feeling to have my first time on the podium in first place,” he added. “With about five laps to go I was feeling a little bit sore, but I started to feel a little better as our gap increased along the last couple of laps.

“Eric and myself were both cramping a little in the final stages, but I ended up pulling it off.

Dennis was also quick to praise the work of his teammates after the race.

“It was a beautiful team effort, especially Pat and Calvin, Pat probably did the most work out of anyone,” said Dennis. “We couldn’t have done it without him, he was on the front from the word go.

“When it got away with Calvin, he was working really well and with two laps to go, he did a lot on the hill, I definitely couldn’t have done it without him,” Dennis said.

Dennis now turns his focus to Tuesday’s 27.1km time trial around Learmonth before heading to South Australia for the Santos Tour Down Under where he will ride as part of the Uni SA-Australia outfit.

“Next week is Tour down Under and from then on, it is all track based leading into London,” explained Dennis. “It was one of my goals this year, to win this road race, but the track is the main goal for the rest of the year.

Victoria’s Eric Sheppard, who burst on to the international scene in 2011 when he won the Tour of Indonesia, was ecstatic with his silver medal performance.

“It was a hard race out there, but this is probably my best result ever,” said the Victorian Institute of Sport cyclist. “From three or four to go, I noticed there were splits in the bunch and so I knew it was a perfect time to go.

“In the final few laps, Rohan and I were both cramping up and thinking the same thing, that is hoping the other guy didn’t hit, didn’t take off.

“But I gave it my all and full credit to Rohan,” added Sheppard.

Watson was also pleased with his and his team’s performance.

“I am over the moon, I didn’t really expect to be in this situation and being in the medals at all, it’s just amazing,” said Watson.

“We knew that we would have to assert ourselves in the race and that our strength in numbers would help us.

“We really took the race by the head but the team rode really strongly, particularly Pat Lane who was tremendous on the front for about seven laps” said Watson.

Date: Sat, 7th January 2012

Distance: 122.4km

1. 289 Rohan DENNIS (SA) 3h04:41
2. 307 Eric SHEPPARD (VIC) +2
3. 298 Calvin WATSON (VIC) +1:03
4. 286 Jay MCCARTHY (QLD) +1:03
5. 364 Ben GRENDA (TAS) +1:12
6. 333 Blake HOSE (VIC) +1:12
7. 366 Stephen HALL (WA) +1:12
8. 297 Samuel DAVIS (WA) +1:12
9. 361 Luke FETCH (VIC) +1:12
10. 398 Stuart SMITH (VIC) +1:12
11. 291 Mitchell LOVELOCK-FAY (ACT) +1:12
12. 323 Matthew CLARK (VIC) +1:12
13. 327 Oliver KENT-SPARK (VIC) +1:12
14. 290 Lachlan MORTON (NSW) +1:12
15. 352 Michael CROSBIE (VIC) +1:12
16. 302 Alex CLEMENTS (TAS) +1:15
17. 388 Thomas PALMER (ACT) +1:45
18. 317 Phillip MUNDY (SA) +2:25
19. 385 Stuart MULHERN (QLD) +2:25
20. 296 Campbell FLAKEMORE (TAS) +2:25
21. 305 Kevin HAWES (NSW) +2:25
22. 314 Alex WOHLER (QLD) +5:30
23. 384 James MOWATT (VIC) +6:19
24. 381 Sam MCCALLUM (VIC) +6:19
25. 354 Trenton DAY (NSW) +6:19
26. 300 Scott MCPHEE (SA) +7:34
27. 383 Trent MOREY (VIC) +7:34
28. 402 James SZOLLOSI (QLD) +7:34
29. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) +7:34
30. 365 Jack HAIG (VIC) +7:34
31. 326 Nathan ELLIOTT (VIC) +7:34
32. 322 Damien WRIGHT (QLD) +7:34
33. 369 Robbie HUCKER (VIC) +7:37
34. 316 Craig HUTTON (NSW) +10:09
35. 256 Lachlan DOAK (VIC) +10:44
36. 391 Danny PULBROOK (TAS) +10:44
37. 313 Nicholas WOODS (NSW) +10:44
38. 470 Luke OCKERBY (TAS) +10:47
39. 309 Justin VANSTONE (QLD) +10:47
40. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) +10:47
41. 375 Jamie LACEY (QLD) +10:49
42. 372 Brendan JOHNSTON (NSW) +10:49
43. 353 Jordan DAVIES (NSW) +14:49
44. 331 Merlin SPRANZ (SA) +19:25
45. 359 Aaron EYNAUD (VIC) +20:28
46. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) +20:31
47. 310 Stephen BOMBALL (ACT) +22:54
dnf 287 Damien HOWSON (SA)
dnf 288 Nick AITKEN (VIC)
dnf 292 Aaron DONNELLY (NSW)
dnf 293 Jordan KERBY (QLD)
dnf 294 Patrick LANE (VIC)
dnf 303 Benjamin HILL (NSW)
dnf 306 Brenton JONES (VIC)
dnf 308 Jared TRIGGS (NSW)
dnf 311 Lachlan AMBROSE (SA)
dnf 312 James BOAL (VIC)
dnf 315 Shaun O’CALLAGHAN (VIC)
dnf 320 Andrew MARTIN (WA)
dnf 325 Darcy WOOLLEY (VIC)
dnf 328 Mitchell COOPER (VIC)
dnf 329 Douglas FREEBURN (QLD)
dnf 332 Harry CARPENTER (SA)
dnf 335 Joshua APOLONY (NSW)
dnf 336 Cameron BAYLY (SA)
dnf 337 Samuel BEVERIDGE (VIC)
dnf 338 Joshua BLAKE (SA)
dnf 339 Aaron BLOMELEY (VIC)
dnf 341 Peter BRAUNSTEINS (VIC)
dnf 342 James BUTLER (VIC)
dnf 344 Trent CARMAN (QLD)
dnf 345 Alex CARVER (NSW)
dnf 346 Timothy CHADWICK (VIC)
dnf 347 Taylor CHARLTON (QLD)
dnf 348 Andrew CHRISTIE (VIC)
dnf 349 Luke COLLYER (NSW)
dnf 350 Alistair CRAMERI (VIC)
dnf 351 Sam CROME (VIC)
dnf 355 Steven DEL GALLO (VIC)
dnf 357 Pat DRAPAC (VIC)
dnf 358 Jay DUTTON (NSW)
dnf 360 Callum FAGG (TAS)
dnf 362 Luca GIACOMIN (VIC)
dnf 367 Julian HAMILL (NSW)
dnf 370 Billy HUTTON (NSW)
dnf 371 Cameron IVORY (NSW)
dnf 373 Jarryd JONES (VIC)
dnf 374 Robert KELL (NSW)
dnf 376 Matthew LANE (VIC)
dnf 378 Scott LAW (NSW)
dnf 379 Alastair LOUTIT (NSW)
dnf 382 Daniel MCDONALD (NSW)
dnf 386 Macauley MULHULL (NSW)
dnf 387 Conor MURTAGH (VIC)
dnf 389 David PARSONS (SA)
dnf 390 Joshua PRETE (QLD)
dnf 392 James RENDALL (NSW)
dnf 395 David SCHILG (NSW)
dnf 396 Todd SCHINTLER (VIC)
dnf 397 Clive SILCOCK (VIC)
dnf 399 Nicholas SMITH (VIC)
dnf 400 Joel STEARNES (TAS)
dnf 401 Fergus SULLY (VIC)
dnf 403 George TANSLEY (SA)
dnf 404 Josh TAYLOR (NSW)
dnf 405 Angus TOBIN (NSW)
dnf 407 Alex WONG (NSW)
dnf 408 Peter WOOD (VIC)
dnf 410 Adam ALLEN (QLD)
dnf 412 Luke DAVISON (NSW)
dns 295 David EDWARDS (QLD)
dns 299 Jack BECKINSALE (NSW)
dns 301 Samuel SPOKES (NSW)
dns 304 Mitchell CODNER (NSW)
dns 318 Daniel O’KEEFE (NSW)
dns 319 Ivan MICHELIN-BEARD (ACT)
dns 321 Liam DOVE (VIC)
dns 330 Stefan IMBERGER (VIC)
dns 334 Nicholas DOUGALL (QLD)
dns 340 Blaise BOURKE (VIC)
dns 368 Ben HILLEARD (VIC)
dns 377 Jackson LAW (NSW)
dns 380 Jack MATTHEWS (TAS)
dns 393 Ian RICHARDS (QLD)
dns 409 Chris ZUCCHET (VIC)
dns 411 Jarrod COVENEY (NSW)
dns 414 Ryan MACANALLY (QLD)
Average speed of the winner: 39.77 km/h
Number of starters: 110
Riders abandoning the race: 63
Intermediate Sprints

Lap 2 Sprint
1. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 3 pt
2. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 2
3. 301 Samuel SPOKES (NSW) 1

Lap 3 Sprint
1. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 3 pt
2. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 2
3. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 1

Lap 4 Sprint
1. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 3 pt
2. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 2
3. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 1

Lap 5 Sprint
1. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 3 pt
2. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 6 Sprint
1. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 3 pt
2. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 7 Sprint
1. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 3 pt
2. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 8 Sprint
1. 470 Luke OCKERBY (TAS) 3 pt
2. 334 Nicholas DOUGALL (QLD) 2
3. 288 Nick AITKEN (VIC) 1

Lap 9 Sprint
1. 287 Damien HOWSON (SA) 3 pt
2. 288 Nick AITKEN (VIC) 2
3. 298 Calvin WATSON (VIC) 1

Lap 10 Sprint
1. 298 Calvin WATSON (VIC) 3 pt
2. 289 Rohan DENNIS (SA) 2
3. 307 Eric SHEPPARD (VIC) 1

Lap 11 Sprint
1. 307 Eric SHEPPARD (VIC) 3 pt
2. 289 Rohan DENNIS (SA) 2
3. 286 Jay MCCARTHY (QLD) 1

Intermediate Hill Climbs

Lap 2 Climb
1. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 3 pt
2. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 3 Climb
1. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 3 pt
2. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 4 Climb
1. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 3 pt
2. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 5 Climb
1. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 3 pt
2. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 6 Climb
1. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 3 pt
2. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 7 Climb
1. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 3 pt
2. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 2
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 1

Lap 8 Climb
1. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 3 pt
2. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 2
3. 294 Patrick LANE (VIC) 1

Lap 9 Climb
1. 289 Rohan DENNIS (SA) 3 pt
2. 288 Nick AITKEN (VIC) 2
3. 286 Jay MCCARTHY (QLD) 1

Lap 10 Climb
1. 298 Calvin WATSON (VIC) 3 pt
2. 289 Rohan DENNIS (SA) 2
3. 286 Jay MCCARTHY (QLD) 1

Lap 11 Climb
1. 289 Rohan DENNIS (SA) 3 pt
2. 307 Eric SHEPPARD (VIC) 2
3. 298 Calvin WATSON (VIC) 1
Sprint Competition

1. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 15 pt
2. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 13
3. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 7
4. 307 Eric SHEPPARD (VIC) 4
5. 298 Calvin WATSON (VIC) 4
6. 289 Rohan DENNIS (SA) 4
7. 470 Luke OCKERBY (TAS) 3
8. 334 Nicholas DOUGALL (QLD) 2
9. 286 Jay MCCARTHY (QLD) 1
10. 301 Samuel SPOKES (NSW) 1
dnf 287 Damien HOWSON (SA) 3
dnf 288 Nick AITKEN (VIC) 3
Hill Climb Competition

1. 415 Brian MCLEOD (QLD) 18 pt
2. 363 Rhys GILLETT (VIC) 17
3. 289 Rohan DENNIS (SA) 8
4. 343 Timothy CAMERON (ACT) 6
5. 298 Calvin WATSON (VIC) 4
6. 307 Eric SHEPPARD (VIC) 2
7. 286 Jay MCCARTHY (QLD) 2
dnf 288 Nick AITKEN (VIC) 2
dnf 294 Patrick LANE (VIC) 1
Decisions of the Commissaires Panel

* 337 Samuel BEVERIDGE (VIC) fined $50: Start without signature check.
* 350 Alistair CRAMERI (VIC) fined $50: Start without signature check.
* 386 Macauley MULHULL (NSW) fined $50: Start without signature check.
* 407 Alex WONG (NSW) fined $50: Start without signature check.
* 365 365 Jack HAIG (VIC) fined $50: Start without signature check.