The Tour of the Murray, or the Tour de Crits as it is affectionately known, is the longest tour on the calendar. For a skinny little hill-climber, I was definitely out of my comfort zone when on some days I was confronted with more than 100km of criterium racing! The pancake flat terrain suited powerful riders such as Luke Davison (Budget Forklifts) and Malcolm Rudolph (Drapac-Porsche,) who took the prize for largest calf muscles in the peloton.
The Murray Tour is also well known for its serious crashes due to the tight racing, however a relatively small field of 80 odd riders made for cleaner racing and as the tour wore on a clear pecking order was established. Having said that, I think the turning point of the tour was when Genesys’ leader-on-the-road, Pat Shaw, crashed out of the race on stage 8. It was from this point that Budget Forklifts really stepped up and controlled the peloton to deliver Luke Davison his first NRS Tour win. Without Shaw there as the captain on the road for Genesys who were no longer an organised train, while the majority of Drapac were strained and managing sickness. Alex Wohler of Team Downunder raised eyebrows, taking 3 podiums, including a win. I was lucky enough to camp out with Team Downunder during the tour and the thrill of beating the big budget teams was not only felt within the team, but by the travelling caravan of the tour who were glad to see “someone other than the big three” succeed.
For all you nerds, check out my Strava page for all race stats.
Photo Gallery
courtesy of Mark Gunter
-
- Stage 1 started under sunny skies at lovely Yarrawonga.
-
- Giacoppo was looking strong early on.
-
- Campbell Flakemore out sprinting Harry Carpenter after the two broke away from the peleton and intern Flakemore rode into the Tour leaders jersey.
-
- The Mayor of Kerang was on hand for the podium presentations.
-
- The peleton race through pretty Kerang during stage 8.
-
- The peleton make their way through Gunbower.
-
- A typical rural scene during the Tour of the Murray River.
-
- Kiwi Gordon McCauley leads a forming break past a rolling field of canola.
-
- Luke Davison during the final stage in Swan Hill. Davison is only one win away from eaqualing the record for the most stage wins during the NRS season.
-
- Team Budget Forklifts on the front during the quick stage 13.
-
- During the 47.1km road stage between Tooleybuc and Manangatang the SASI boys tried to TTT it to the finish. A great idea but alas they were caught with 15km to go.
-
- Chief Scout, Pedro, ready for stage 11 to start.
-
- The Moama criterium was held in windy conditions making it a tough morning for all involved.
-
- Luke Davison was too strong in Moama taking the sprint ahead of Malcolm Rudolph.
-
- Balranald put on a great display of colour with wildflowers on the edge of every street.
-
- Liam Dove puts in a big attack during the Euston criterium.
-
- The bubbly post stage.
