Rio Olympic track cycling team aspirant Luke Davison captured a breakaway win on the penultimate stage of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
The 21-year-old from New South Wales, riding for the South Australian Institute of Sport, dashed clear of fellow escapee Will Walker (Drapac Cycling) in the final two kilometres to cruise through the finish line in Healesville unaware that he’d actually finished the stage.
“To be honest I thought there was another lap to go. I knew the peloton were breathing down our neck and to be honest GC (general classification) was on my mind,” an elated Davison said.
As the leaders entered the final kilometre, confusion reigned as they mixed with the stragglers who had a lap to go.
“From about 300m to go, everyone was saying ‘one to go, one to go’ and I came in and really didn’t rehearse the finish too much. I was really confused as to what was going on.”
Walker, who said he knew exactly where the finish line was but was so spent he was hallucinating in the final five kilometres struggled across the line in second, with Oliver Kent-Spark (Target-Trek) in third.
“I knew where the finish was but I was completely gone,” a dehydrated Walker said at the finish.
“I knew there was one lap, but I think I underestimated how much I’d had to drink and I was just absolutely gone, hallucinating on the last hill around the back. I actually thought it might be better to just fall of the bike.”
“Davo was super-strong. He was a motor on the descent, so he deserved the win anyway. What do you do, I could barely get out of the seat at the end.”
Tour leader Aaron Donnelly (Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers) survived and will carry a 14 second lead over Jayco VIS rider Calvin Watson, with a further 3 seconds to New Zealand’s Josh Atkins ahead of tomorrow’s punishing final day on Arthurs Seat in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
“I was feeling very every kilometre of yesterday. Early on the in the stage I was feeling very tired and very sore, but I got better as the day went on which is a good sign,” Donnelly said.
“People say my pain thresholds pretty high, my new coach Brad McGee is surprised with how much I can push myself so hopefully I can do it tomorrow.”
The 146.6km journey from Mitchelton Winery outside Nagambie to Healesville commenced in slightly friendlier conditions than yesterday’s scorcher, although the constant early attacks bellied the tired legs in the peloton.
A crash in Seymour 25km into the stage split the peloton and forced Brock Roberts (Target Trek), who was sitting fifth in the general classification, out of the race. A second crash shortly after saw an additional two riders abandon the race.
Reigning champion Nathan Haas was in the early break along with Davison and they were soon joined by Haas’ national teammates Simon Clarke and Jay McCarthy at the bottom on the first climb. Haas took the points to extend his Budget Forklifts King of the Mountains lead as the gap extended to just over a minute.
Yesterday’s struggle-fest was taking its toll and by 80km the break was caught by what was left of the peloton.
As the bunch rode through Yea, 60km from the finish, the final breakaway of the day formed. Started by a Joseph Lewis (GPM Data) and Stuart Smith (Search2Retain) attack, Walker and Davison followed along with Budget Forklifts duo Sam Horgan and Karl Evans.
With Davison 2mins 38secs behind Donnelley in the general classification, he became the virtual leader as the gap grew to over 2mins 40seconds. That forced Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers and the Jayco VIS to drive the chase in defence of their leaders.
As the gap began to dwindle Walker, put in one last effort to challenge for yellow attacking the breakaway with Davison as they headed into the Toolangi State Forest.
Walker and Davison ride for the same national series team in Drapac so were well aware of each other’s capabilities, forming a handy alliance over the final kilometres. With Rio on his mind Davison has been concentrating on securing a spot on the national track squad, meaning he was unable to confirm a spot on the Drapac squad so was grateful for the opportunity provided by SASI.
The peloton closed to a minute with a final 6km circuit of Healesville but Davison hung on to finish four seconds clear of Walker and 17 seconds ahead of the peloton.
“I think a lot of the top teams have underestimated the NRS (national road series riders) and I think the level of NRS has stepped up dramatically,” Davison said, who is within striking distance of the lead ahead of tomorrow’s finale.
“Ride my heart out,” was Davison’s response to what he needed to do tomorrow.
“Arthurs Seat is going to be a very testing time and it’s a matter of doing our best. Hopefully my legs will pull up ok.”
The star-studded Jayco Australian team has two riders poised to pounce in Simon Gerrans and Simon Clarke, both 2mins 45sec behind the lead.
Gerrans is not ruling out some final day heroics.
“It’s definitely going to be very difficult and the odds are probably stacked against us now, but it’s far from impossible. Tomorrow starting out down Boneo Road, that’s a really tough section of road and a couple of laps up Arthurs Seat will sort everybody out, so it’s still anyone’s race,” Gerrans said.
Race Results
Jayco Herald Sun Tour (2013) - Stage 2
STAGE 2 RESULTS (full results to follow)
1 Luke Davison (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness 3:46:50
2 Wil Walker (Aus) Drapac Cycling 0:00:04
3 Oliver Kent Spark (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team 0:00:15
4 Simon Yates (GBr) Great Britain National Team 0:00:17
5 Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers
6 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Cycling
7 Richard Lang (GBr) Great Britain National Team
8 Simon Clarke (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team
9 Jasper Ockeloen (Ned) Pro Team Down Under
10 Jordan Kerby (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager
11 Ben Grenda (Aus) Team Polygon Australia
12 Aaron Donnelly (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers
13 Robbie Hucker (Aus) Drapac Cycling
14 Patrick Lane (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo
15 Brendan Johnston (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager
16 Adam Phelan (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team
17 Nathan Earle (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers
18 Marc Williams (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
19 Tom Scully (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team
20 Bradley Linfield (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team
21 Josh Atkins (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team
22 Sam Rutherford (Aus) GPM Data #3
23 Calvin Watson (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo
24 Andrew Roe (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness
25 Alex Clements (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team
26 Jack Anderson (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
27 Alexander Malone (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team
28 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team
29 Mike Northey (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team
30 Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Cycling
31 Mark O’Brien (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness
32 Cal Britten (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au
33 Joseph Cooper (NZl) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers
34 James Oram (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team
35 Jay McCarthy (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team
36 Sam Witmitz (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness
37 Lachlan Norris (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo
38 Thomas Palmer (Aus) Drapac Cycling
39 Graham Briggs (GBr) Great Britain National Team
40 Jack Beckinsale (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team
41 Stuart Smith (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au
42 Jason Spencer (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing
43 Richard Handley (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT
44 Nathan Elliott (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team
45 Dan McConnell (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager
46 Chris Jory (Aus) GPM Data #3
47 Tom Leaper (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing
48 Mathew Marshall (NZl) Pro Team Down Under
49 Rico Rogers (NZl) Search2retain / health.com.au
50 Henry Morley (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team
51 Joseph Lewis (Aus) GPM Data #3
52 Nathan Haas (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team
52 Edward White (Aus) GPM Data #3
54 Michael Cuming (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT
55 Shaun McCarthy (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
56 Jai Crawford (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers
57 Edward Laverack (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT
58 Karl Evans (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 0:08:11
59 Michael Cupitt (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
60 Stuart Shaw (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager
61 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team
62 Alex Edmonson (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness
63 Sam McCallum (Aus) Team Polygon Australia
64 Jack Matthews (Aus) Team Polygon Australia
65 Thomas Hamilton (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo
66 Greg Henderson (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team
67 Jay Bourke (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team
68 Westley Gough (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team
69 Pat Shaw (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers 0:09:58
70 Cameron Bayly (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au 0:16:32
71 Campbell Flakemore (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team
72 Sam Horgan (NZl) Team Budget Forklifts 0:16:33
73 Michael Crosbie (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing 0:23:05
74 Nick Woods (Aus) Pro Team Down Under
75 Ryan MacAnally (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing
76 Rhys Pollock (Aus) Drapac Cycling 0:24:24
77 Jayden Copp (Aus) Pro Team Down Under
78 Jake McMahon (Aus) Team Polygon Australia
79 Shannon Johnson (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing
80 Sam Spokes (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo
81 Rowan Dever (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team
82 Julian Dean (NZl) Jayco VIS Apollo
83 Matthew Goss (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team
84 Alexander Smythe (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team
85 Peter Smith (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team 0:34:28
86 Neil Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au
87 Thomas Donald (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au
88 David Kelly (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing
DNF Alistair Slater (GBr) Great Britain National Team
DNF Samuel Lowe (GBr) Great Britain National Team
DNF Kristian House (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT
DNF Aaron Buggle (Irl) Rapha Condor JLT
DNF Luke Grivell-Mellor (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT
DNF Scott Law (Aus) GPM Data #3
DNF Josh Taylor (Aus) GPM Data #3
DNF Dylan Hately (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team
DNF Brock Roberts (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team
DNF Robert John McCartney (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness
DNF Ian Richards (Aus) Pro Team Down Under
DNF Oliver Martin (Aus) Team Polygon Australia
DNF Dean Windsor (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager
DNF Mitchell Lovelock-Fay (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager
DNF Geoff Straub (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team
DNF Damien Howson (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 2
1 Aaron Donnelly (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers 7:57:04
2 Calvin Watson (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo 0:00:14
3 Josh Atkins (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team 0:00:17
4 Luke Davison (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness 0:02:11
5 Bradley Linfield (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team 0:02:20
6 Wil Walker (Aus) Drapac Cycling 0:02:32
7 Alexander Malone (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team 0:02:38
8 Jordan Kerby (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager 0:02:39
9 Adam Phelan (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team 0:02:44
10 Simon Clarke (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team 0:02:45
11 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team
12 James Oram (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team 0:02:52
13 Nathan Earle (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers 0:02:53
14 Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Cycling 0:02:55
15 Jack Anderson (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 0:02:56
16 Lachlan Norris (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo 0:02:58
17 Oliver Kent Spark (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team 0:03:02
18 Jai Crawford (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers 0:03:04
19 Robbie Hucker (Aus) Drapac Cycling 0:03:05
20 Alex Clements (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team
21 Jason Spencer (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing 0:03:07
22 Richard Lang (GBr) Great Britain National Team 0:03:09
23 Mark O’Brien (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness 0:03:10
24 Cal Britten (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au 0:03:11
25 Patrick Lane (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo 0:03:16
26 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Cycling 0:03:17
27 Sam Rutherford (Aus) GPM Data #3
28 Jasper Ockeloen (Ned) Pro Team Down Under 0:03:19
29 Shaun McCarthy (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 0:03:24
30 Joseph Lewis (Aus) GPM Data #3 0:05:31
31 Richard Handley (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT 0:05:33
32 Nathan Elliott (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team 0:05:37
33 Mathew Marshall (NZl) Pro Team Down Under 0:05:48
34 Joseph Cooper (NZl) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers 0:06:20
35 Tom Scully (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team 0:06:42
36 Jack Beckinsale (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team 0:07:46
37 Chris Jory (Aus) GPM Data #3 0:08:10
38 Mike Northey (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team 0:08:52
39 Thomas Palmer (Aus) Drapac Cycling 0:08:53
40 Simon Yates (GBr) Great Britain National Team 0:09:01
41 Jay McCarthy (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team 0:09:05
42 Tom Leaper (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing 0:09:10
43 Marc Williams (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 0:09:12
44 Rico Rogers (NZl) Search2retain / health.com.au 0:09:35
45 Ben Grenda (Aus) Team Polygon Australia 0:11:04
46 Karl Evans (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 0:11:12
47 Nathan Haas (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team 0:11:43
48 Edward White (Aus) GPM Data #3 0:11:58
49 Sam Witmitz (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness 0:12:01
50 Stuart Smith (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au 0:12:12
51 Westley Gough (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team 0:13:15
52 Jay Bourke (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team 0:13:38
53 Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers 0:16:00
54 Michael Cupitt (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 0:16:18
55 Michael Cuming (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT 0:16:23
56 Edward Laverack (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT 0:16:34
57 Greg Henderson (NZl) Grays Online New Zealand National Team 0:16:47
58 Thomas Hamilton (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo 0:17:05
59 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team 0:19:51
60 Pat Shaw (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers 0:21:44
61 Brendan Johnston (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager 0:24:34
62 Andrew Roe (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness 0:24:36
63 Cameron Bayly (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au 0:25:25
64 Sam Horgan (NZl) Team Budget Forklifts 0:28:17
65 Campbell Flakemore (Aus) Degani Bakery Café World Tour Academy Team 0:32:20
66 Sam McCallum (Aus) Team Polygon Australia 0:32:44
67 Rhys Pollock (Aus) Drapac Cycling 0:33:16
68 Graham Briggs (GBr) Great Britain National Team 0:34:27
69 Henry Morley (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team 0:34:50
70 Michael Crosbie (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing 0:36:44
71 Dan McConnell (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager 0:38:04
72 Sam Spokes (Aus) Jayco VIS Apollo 0:40:28
73 Nick Woods (Aus) Pro Team Down Under 0:40:36
74 Julian Dean (NZl) Jayco VIS Apollo 0:40:37
75 Jayden Copp (Aus) Pro Team Down Under 0:40:45
76 Alex Edmonson (Aus) SASI Cycling / Feelgood Fitness 0:42:16
77 Stuart Shaw (Aus) Suzuki – Bontrager 0:42:34
78 Jack Matthews (Aus) Team Polygon Australia 0:42:50
79 Neil Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au 0:45:26
80 Jake McMahon (Aus) Team Polygon Australia 0:58:46
81 Alexander Smythe (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team
82 Matthew Goss (Aus) Jayco Australia National Team 0:58:53
83 Shannon Johnson (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing 0:58:58
84 Ryan MacAnally (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing 0:59:02
85 Rowan Dever (Aus) Target Trek Racing Team 0:59:06
86 David Kelly (Aus) Hyster / Rush Racing 0:01:33
87 Peter Smith (Aus) Satalyst Giant Racing Team 0:08:51
88 Thomas Donald (Aus) Search2retain / health.com.au 0:08:52
