MELBOURNE (CT) – Will Clarke (Drapac) has won the prologue time trial at the 2015 Jayco Herald Sun Tour, completing the technical 2.1km course in the heart of Melbourne with a time of 2:35.53 (48.8km/h average).
Clarke, who finished third on a similar course in last year’s Sun Tour prologue, was joined on the podium by Orica-GreenEdge rising star Caleb Ewan (2:36.42, second place) and Clarke’s teammate Brenton Jones (2:36.85, third place).
Jones spent much of the evening in the hot seat after beating the time of Orica-GreenEdge’s Sam Bewley, who made the early running with a time of 2:37.19 — fast enough for the New Zealander to finish fourth.
Jayco Herald Sun Tour defending champion Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge) was the last of the 93 starters to take to the course, finishing in seventh place two seconds behind his victorious namesake.
For Will Clarke, the improvement over last year came at least partially from a better start.
“Last year I nearly crashed in the first corner so that probably cost me half a second or so,” Clarke said. “But this year there weren’t too many errors — maybe one corner I maybe went in a little over-geared, but everything went pretty smooth.”
The 2.1km course, which began at Melbourne’s Federation Square and ended on Southbank after a number of tight corners, featured a different start to last year’s event. Clarke made sure to recon it carefully.
“The start’s a bit different so I probably went over it about four or five times, just to get [in my mind] how to take the corners.”
The win puts Clarke into the overall lead ahead of tomorrow’s stage 1, but the Tasmanian breakaway specialist doesn’t harbour ambitions of winning the race overall.
“I’m probably not the GC rider for Drapac but we’ve got some strong climbers and BJ (Brenton Jones) for the sprints,” Clarke said. “Hopefully I can help [Jones] out there in the sprint stages and maybe even look for a breakaway for myself.”
The 2015 Jayco Herald Sun Tour features five days of racing: this evening’s prologue time trial and four road stages. Tomorrow’s stage 1 takes the riders 156.9km from Mount Macedon to Bendigo with two categorised climbs along the way: Mount Macedon itself, and Mount Alexander.
Race results
Herald Sun Tour
Prologue
: Melbourne > Melbourne
Wednesday 4th February (2015)
Classification: 2.1
Category: Int. Men
Distance: 2.1km
Stage Result
| 1. |  |
CLARKE William
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
00:02:35 |
| 2. | |
EWAN Caleb
Orica GreenEDGE
|
0:01 |
| 3. | |
JONES Brenton
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 4. |  |
BEWLEY Sam
Orica GreenEDGE
|
0:02 |
| 5. | |
VAN DER PLOEG Neil
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 6. | |
HEPBURN Michael
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 7. | |
CLARKE Simon
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 8. | |
BEVIN Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 9. | |
VAN DER PLOEG Paul
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 10. | |
COOPER Joseph
Avanti Racing Team
|
0:03 |
| 11. | |
VON HOFF Steele
NFTO
|
- |
| 12. | |
MEYER Cameron
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 13. | |
WITMITZ Sam
Team Budget Forklifts
|
0:04 |
| 14. |  |
ENGLISH Felix
JLT Condor
|
0:05 |
| 15. |  |
FARRAR Tyler
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 16. | |
PHELAN Adam
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 17. |  |
HOUSE Kristian
JLT Condor
|
0:06 |
| 18. | |
BECKINSALE Jack
|
- |
| 19. | |
NORRIS Lachlan
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 20. | |
HOWSON Damien
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 21. | |
SPURRELL Tyler
Data#3 Symantec team
|
0:07 |
| 22. | |
NANKERVIS Tommy
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 23. | |
LAWLESS Christopher
|
- |
| 24. | |
MURPHY John
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 25. | |
EDWARDS David
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 26. | |
BRIGGS Graham
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 27. | |
SUMMERHILL Daniel
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 28. | |
MOWATT James
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 29. | |
CARPENTER Harry
|
0:08 |
| 30. | |
GOSS Matthew
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 31. | |
THOMAS Ryan
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 32. | |
BAYLY Cameron
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 33. | |
LYONS Angus
|
- |
| 34. |  |
DOUGALL Nicholas
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 35. | |
LOVELOCK-FAY Mitchell
Avanti Racing Team
|
0:09 |
| 36. | |
DONOHOE Alistair
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 37. | |
BRAMMEIER Matthew
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 38. |  |
DALL\'ANTONIA Tiziano
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 39. | |
MAWBY Jackson
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 40. | |
CUMING Michael
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 41. | |
WURF Cameron
|
0:10 |
| 42. | |
CAVANAGH Ryan
|
- |
| 43. | |
COPP Jayden
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 44. | |
PUTT Tanner
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 45. | |
SPOKES Samuel
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 46. | |
THOMAS Scott
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 47. | |
HANDLEY Richard
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 48. | |
CULLAIGH Gabriel
|
- |
| 49. | |
EVERS Craig
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 50. | |
HILL Benjamin
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 51. | |
MORTON Lachlan
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
|
- |
| 52. | |
MOSES Thomas
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 53. | |
WALKER Kane
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 54. | |
DAVIES Scott
|
0:11 |
| 55. | |
SMYTH Alexander
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 56. | |
COOPER Mitchell
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 57. | |
HEGYVARI Adrian
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 58. | |
MARTZ Alder
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 59. | |
KELLY Jake
|
- |
| 60. | |
KAUFFMANN Jacob
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 61. | |
GRAZIATO Massimo
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 62. | |
RICE Michael
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 63. | |
STRACHAN Joel
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 64. | |
HUCKER Robbie
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
0:12 |
| 65. | |
LAKE Sean
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 66. |  |
PAUWELS Serge
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 67. | |
POWER Robert
|
- |
| 68. | |
HAMILTON Chris
|
- |
| 69. | |
LANE Patrick
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 70. | |
NAPIER Grayson
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
0:13 |
| 71. | |
TORCKLER Michael
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 72. | |
FERGUSON Grant
|
- |
| 73. | |
PELLIZOTTI Franco
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 74. | |
SHAW Stuart
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 75. | |
SHAW Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 76. | |
MORTON Angus
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
|
- |
| 77. | |
TALBOT Brodie
Team Budget Forklifts
|
0:14 |
| 78. | |
KENT-SPARK Oliver
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 79. | |
JONES Chris
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 80. | |
CANTY Brendan
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 81. | |
CAMERON Jeremy
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 82. | |
SCHULTZ Nick
|
0:15 |
| 83. | |
EUSER Lucas
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 84. | |
ROGERS Rico
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
0:16 |
| 85. | |
ROBINSON Thomas
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 86. | |
JIM Songezo
MTN - Qhubeka
|
0:17 |
| 87. | |
O\' BRIEN Mark
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 88. | |
MELVILLE David
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 89. | |
EDMONDSON Joshua
|
0:18 |
| 90. | |
KATSONIS Nicholas
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 91. | |
NARDIN Alberto
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 92. | |
CLEMENTS Alex
|
0:19 |
| 93. | |
FRAPPORTI Marco
Androni Giocattoli
|
0:21 |
| DNS. | |
FITZGERALD Michael
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
General Classification
| 1. | |
CLARKE William
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
00:02:35 |
| 2. | |
EWAN Caleb
Orica GreenEDGE
|
0:01 |
| 3. | |
JONES Brenton
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 4. | |
BEWLEY Sam
Orica GreenEDGE
|
0:02 |
| 5. | |
VAN DER PLOEG Neil
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 6. | |
HEPBURN Michael
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 7. | |
CLARKE Simon
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 8. | |
BEVIN Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 9. | |
VAN DER PLOEG Paul
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 10. | |
COOPER Joseph
Avanti Racing Team
|
0:03 |
| 11. | |
VON HOFF Steele
NFTO
|
- |
| 12. | |
MEYER Cameron
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 13. | |
WITMITZ Sam
Team Budget Forklifts
|
0:04 |
| 14. | |
ENGLISH Felix
JLT Condor
|
0:05 |
| 15. | |
FARRAR Tyler
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 16. | |
PHELAN Adam
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 17. | |
HOUSE Kristian
JLT Condor
|
0:06 |
| 18. | |
BECKINSALE Jack
|
- |
| 19. | |
NORRIS Lachlan
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 20. | |
HOWSON Damien
Orica GreenEDGE
|
- |
| 21. | |
SPURRELL Tyler
Data#3 Symantec team
|
0:07 |
| 22. | |
NANKERVIS Tommy
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 23. | |
LAWLESS Christopher
|
- |
| 24. | |
MURPHY John
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 25. | |
EDWARDS David
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 26. | |
BRIGGS Graham
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 27. | |
SUMMERHILL Daniel
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 28. | |
MOWATT James
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 29. | |
CARPENTER Harry
|
0:08 |
| 30. | |
GOSS Matthew
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 31. | |
THOMAS Ryan
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 32. | |
BAYLY Cameron
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 33. | |
LYONS Angus
|
- |
| 34. | |
DOUGALL Nicholas
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 35. | |
LOVELOCK-FAY Mitchell
Avanti Racing Team
|
0:09 |
| 36. | |
DONOHOE Alistair
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 37. | |
BRAMMEIER Matthew
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 38. | |
DALL\'ANTONIA Tiziano
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 39. | |
MAWBY Jackson
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 40. | |
CUMING Michael
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 41. | |
WURF Cameron
|
0:10 |
| 42. | |
CAVANAGH Ryan
|
- |
| 43. | |
COPP Jayden
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 44. | |
PUTT Tanner
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 45. | |
SPOKES Samuel
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
- |
| 46. | |
THOMAS Scott
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 47. | |
HANDLEY Richard
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 48. | |
CULLAIGH Gabriel
|
- |
| 49. | |
EVERS Craig
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 50. | |
HILL Benjamin
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 51. | |
MORTON Lachlan
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
|
- |
| 52. | |
MOSES Thomas
JLT Condor
|
- |
| 53. | |
WALKER Kane
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 54. | |
DAVIES Scott
|
0:11 |
| 55. | |
SMYTH Alexander
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 56. | |
COOPER Mitchell
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 57. | |
HEGYVARI Adrian
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 58. | |
MARTZ Alder
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 59. | |
KELLY Jake
|
- |
| 60. | |
KAUFFMANN Jacob
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 61. | |
GRAZIATO Massimo
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 62. | |
RICE Michael
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 63. | |
STRACHAN Joel
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
- |
| 64. | |
HUCKER Robbie
Drapac Professional Cycling
|
0:12 |
| 65. | |
LAKE Sean
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 66. | |
PAUWELS Serge
MTN - Qhubeka
|
- |
| 67. | |
POWER Robert
|
- |
| 68. | |
HAMILTON Chris
|
- |
| 69. | |
LANE Patrick
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 70. | |
NAPIER Grayson
Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
0:13 |
| 71. | |
TORCKLER Michael
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 72. | |
FERGUSON Grant
|
- |
| 73. | |
PELLIZOTTI Franco
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 74. | |
SHAW Stuart
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 75. | |
SHAW Patrick
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 76. | |
MORTON Angus
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
|
- |
| 77. | |
TALBOT Brodie
Team Budget Forklifts
|
0:14 |
| 78. | |
KENT-SPARK Oliver
search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- |
| 79. | |
JONES Chris
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 80. | |
CANTY Brendan
Team Budget Forklifts
|
- |
| 81. | |
CAMERON Jeremy
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
- |
| 82. | |
SCHULTZ Nick
|
0:15 |
| 83. | |
EUSER Lucas
UnitedHealthcare
|
- |
| 84. | |
ROGERS Rico
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
0:16 |
| 85. | |
ROBINSON Thomas
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 86. | |
JIM Songezo
MTN - Qhubeka
|
0:17 |
| 87. | |
O\' BRIEN Mark
Avanti Racing Team
|
- |
| 88. | |
MELVILLE David
Data#3 Symantec team
|
- |
| 89. | |
EDMONDSON Joshua
|
0:18 |
| 90. | |
KATSONIS Nicholas
Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
- |
| 91. | |
NARDIN Alberto
Androni Giocattoli
|
- |
| 92. | |
CLEMENTS Alex
|
0:19 |
| 93. | |
FRAPPORTI Marco
Androni Giocattoli
|
0:21 |
Teams Classification
| 1. | Orica GreenEDGE
|
00:07:50 | |
| 2. | Drapac Professional Cycling
|
0:01 | |
| 3. | Avanti Racing Team
|
0:02 | |
| 4. | JLT Condor
|
0:13 | |
| 5. | Charter Mason Giant Racing Team
|
0:14 | |
| 6. | MTN - Qhubeka
|
0:16 | |
| 7. | KordaMentha Australian Team
|
0:17 | |
| 8. | Data#3 Symantec team
|
- | |
| 9. | Team Budget Forklifts
|
- | |
| 10. | KordaMentha Australian Team
|
0:18 | |
| 11. | UnitedHealthcare
|
0:19 | |
| 12. | Great Britain
|
0:23 | |
| 13. | search2retain-health.com.au Cycling Team
|
- | |
| 14. | Navitas Satalyst Racing team
|
0:25 | |
| 15. | African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
|
0:29 | |
| 16. | Androni Giocattoli
|
0:35 |