GENESYS Wealth Advisers has claimed the first scalp of the 2012 Caterpillar Underground Mining Tour of Tasmania, grabbing honours in the team time trial to grant Ben Dyball his first leader’s jersey of the tour.
After a grand parade through the streets of Hobart, the 21 teams completed a tough 18.1km time trial to the top of Mount Wellington, with the Orange Army reaching the summit in a blistering 47 minutes and 32 seconds.
The team was almost two minutes quicker than second-placed Team Budget Forklifts (49:16), while third was Jayco/Apollo/VIS (49:28).
Hobart-based Genesys boss Andrew Christie-Johnson gave Dyball the green light to be the first Genesys rider to clock in.
“I didn’t know I was going to cross the line first until one kilometre to go, when Andrew told us,” the 23- year-old said.
“It was pretty windy but we’ve done the climb a few times before, so we knew what to expect.
“Everyone rode really consistently.
“It was a good team effort.”
Dyball has returned to Australia after a stint in Italy, which he believes will hold him in good stead for the rest of the tour, particularly because of the large field.
“Last year I was with the AIS and spent about half the year in Italy,” he said.
“This year it was only three months, I got back at the end of July.
“I just got more experience riding in bigger bunches and the racing’s a lot more professional and it’s harder.
“Over here you have bunches of 100 but over there, bunches are more like 220.
“I’m definitely used to riding in bigger bunches, so it won’t be as much as a surprise (this week).
“I know what to do and how to move around the bunch.”
Having Dyball, who lives in Western Sydney, in the Caterpillar Underground Mining leader’s jersey is an ideal start to the six-day tour for Genesys.
The 2011 under 23 national road champion hopes his team can hang onto the coveted yellow. “We just want to have someone from our team in the leader’s jersey on the last day,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who it is, as long as someone from the team has it.
“The top four of us have all got a good chance.”
The Tour of Tasmania is the final chapter of the 2012 SCODY Cup. It is showcasing seven municipalities – Hobart City, Derwent Valley, Meander Valley, Central Highlands, Central Coast, Burnie City and Devonport City.
Tomorrow riders will be tested by a picturesque 123.5km road race from New Norfolk to Lake Pedder, which will include four sprints and six hill climbs.
Devonport will host the finale, a waterfront road race, on Sunday, October 7.
Race Results
Tour of Tasmania (2012) - Stage 1 (TTT)
1. Genesys Wealth Advisers Professional Cycling Team 47:32.1
2. Team Budget Forklifts 49:16.1 +1:44
3. Jayco / Apollo / VIS 49:28.2 +1:56
4. Felt NZ 49:54.0 +2:22
5. Drapac Professional Cycling 50:06.1 +2:34
6. Team Polygon Australia 50:43.5 +3:11
7. SASI 50:51.6 +3:19
8. GPM Wilson Racing 51:17.1 +3:45
9. PureBlack Racing 51:51.8 +4:19
10. Data#3 Cisco Racing Team 52:07.2 +4:35
11. Search2Retain 52:09.0 +4:37
12. John West Cycling 52:12.8 +4:40
13. Plan B Racing 52:20.6 +4:48
14. Suzuki / Trek 52:34.3 +5:02
15. Team Downunder 52:34.9 +5:02
16. Erdinger Alkoholfrei – Downer EDi Mining 52:40.1 +5:08
17. TasVend/Lawsons Cycling Team 54:48.5 +7:16
18. St George Skoda 56:58.3 +9:26
19. Central Coast Council 57:42.4 +10:10
20. Charter Mason / Drapac Development Team 57:53.6 +10:21
21. African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team 58:32.6 +11:00
Average speed of the winner: 22.8 km/h
Number of starters: 135
General Classification after Stage 1
1. Ben DYBALL (GEN) 47:32
2. Jai CRAWFORD (GEN) +0
3. Nathan EARLE (GEN) +0
4. Campbell FLAKEMORE (GEN) +0
5. Jonathan LOVELOCK (GEN) +49
6. Blair WINDSOR (BFL) +1:44
7. Mark O’BRIEN (BFL) +1:44
8. Peter HERZIG (BFL) +1:44
9. Jason SPENCER (BFL) +1:44
10. Calvin WATSON (VIS) +1:56
