Video footage

Here is some footage of the team in the ANZAC 25 race and the Foodworks Teams series - Round 2, courtesy of SBS - Cycling Central. Please follow the links:

http://vimeo.com/22914412

http://player.sbs.com.au/cycling#/cycling_08/race_highlights/race_highlights/playlist/FoodWorks-road-team-series/

ANZAC 25

To pay tribute to the ANZAC’s, the Hamilton club puts on the annual ANZAC 25 race around the Lakeside circuit. This is a popular and difficult race, with the list of winners being compiled of many of the great riders from the SEQ area.

With the rain around and the wet roads, the first part of the race was spent in a state of caution, with no real breaks being let go. After the second prime, the race started to become more animated, with Sam getting into a small break. But the field didn’t want to let anything go and brought his group back.
Matt anticipated the counter attack and managed to get into a small break of three just before the third prime. This small group gained a gap and it looked like Matt and the others in the break would contest the prime. As they approached the climb that punctuates the course, Matt sensed the others in the break were weakening and attacked hard over the climb and got a significant gap. Matt was solo coming into the straight, but ran out of legs close to the line, with one rider bridging across then coming past him to take the prime.

From this point on many groups tried to get away, with Matt and Sam making sure they were in any group that got off the front. However, no groups were to be let go and a bunch sprint was to ensue, where Jono Cantwell once again took a good win, with Sam placing in the top ten.

Round 2 Foodworks Teams Series

The second round of the teams series was set to show which teams were versatile enough to be both a good TT team but also a good road racing unit. The course was very difficult, as it included a tough 1.5km climb that was very steep, with sections close to 20% in gradient. This climb had to be done twice, so we knew the second time over the climb would be crucial. The race was to be 133km in length.

The team was eager to move up in the overall standings and were set to ensure we had three good finishers to register a good aggregate time. The race started very quickly, with the first 30km done averaging 50km per hour. No real breaks were let go, and the field hit the climb for the first time together. Many people were caught out by just how hard this climb was, with many having to walk up the climb. This first climb already ensured many would lose contact early, with many groups splintering over the climb. On the decent, some groups reformed with a peleton of about 50 left.

After 45km, the break of the day finally formed, with about 10-12 riders gaining about one and a half minutes on the main chase group. Sam was able to get himself into this group, while the rest of the team were able to sit back in the main peleton and allow the other teams to chase.

We knew the second time over the climb would be important. As the break hit the climb for the second time, the chasing peleton caught the break, except for two riders – Reuben Donati and Michael Cupitt. They would continue to ride hard over the climb, as the main peleton exploded across the road with a lead chasing pack forming.

Matt Murray was strong enough to make it into the front chasing group and sat in, with plans to attack in the finale. Meanwhile, Cupitt and Donati continued to forge ahead of the chase.

With 10km to go, it was evident that the front two would not be caught, and as such, Matt was now looking to try and get 3rd place. With 7km to go, the group started attacking each other, and Matt put in his first big attack. The group let him go for several kilometres, but then brought him back. Matt sat in for a kilometre and then attacked hard again. This attack was countered by Kristian Juel, which the group let go. Matt attacked again to try and bridge across to Juel, but again, the group didn’t want to let him go, and so Matt sat in for a sprint.

Matt got himself into the top 15, while Donati took the win ahead of Cupitt and Juel. Tom Szollosi finished in the second chase group, while Brendon Beavon (guest rider) finished several minutes down to complete our 3 riders.

This should mean we move up in the team standings. It was a great day for the team and means we will now look to move up again next round at Miles and Chinchilla.

Round 1 - Foodworks Teams Series

The first round of the teams series was an Individual Time Trial and a Team Time Trial. With Sam's triathlon background and strength in TT's, the team was hoping for a good result from Sam in the ITT. Unfortunately Sam punctured in the first 3km of the itt and his race was over. All of the other boys put in reasonable performances considering TT's are not their strong points and waited for the TTT.

TTT's can be for some, the hardest race they'll ever do. The pace is always fast and sometimes it becomes too much for some to hold. With some illness and inexperience in the team, the TTT was not what the team hoped for. The team also had to contend with some bad ran conditions, which other teams didn't, which really slowed the boys up. Unfortunately the time was several minutes down on the top teams.

What good came of this race was however the realisation of who the stronger riders in the team are and now we can focus on supporting these riders for the future races, which are likely to suit the team much better.

Round 2 of the series is next week at Beaudesert, and should be a great race.

Mt Cotton Kermis

With wet weather greeting the team at the start line, it was likely today’s race was to be one to be at the front. The Mt Cotton course is a great circuit in the dry, but in the wet, there are several corners that make things very dangerous. As the rain continued to fall at the start line, thoughts of self preservation crossed the riders mind.

From the gun, Matt attacked and broke clear of the group, hoping to form a breakaway. A few riders bridged across to Matt, but the small group was shut down. The attacks continued to occur, with Sam and Taylor covering these early moves. Meanwhile, the rain continued and the puddles and water across the road got worse.
The pace never let up and the corners were getting taken faster and faster. Many people were being tailed off and with Matt’s back wheel sliding all over road and Taylor being caught behind crashes, it was left to Tom and Sam to stay in the front group.
About a third of the way into the race a three man group formed off the front that included Darren Rolfe, Hayden Brookes (Fly V) and Rueben Donati (Data 3). This trio worked well together and formed a good break. Sam back in the group was getting nervous and drove the chase group hard to try and close things down, but suffered a puncture not long into the second third of the race.
Tom was left to fend for himself and was looking very comfortable in the chasing group. Unfortunately the leading three had extended their lead to two minutes and looked to have the race won.

As such, Tom rode a smart race to try and get into the top 5, but was caught behind a crash on the last corner and had to settle for a minor placing. Still, it was a great ride and show’s that Tom is coming into some good form.

Darren Rolfe and Hayden Brookes got the one-two, while Donati came in for third.

Final Crestmead

On Sunday afternoon the depleted team contested the final Crestmead Crit. Unfortunately due to Callum's broken collar bone and Taylor's toe problems, they were unable to race. What they missed was a wet and dangerous race, which the team was glad to have finished alive.

Matt was able to win one of the mid race sprints, but other than that, it was just a matter of staying upright and getting to the finish, which all of the boys did.

The team is now very motivated to start the road races and show our real colours. Mt Cotton next week should be good.

Taylor 3rd at Lakeside Kermis

A few of the team were out at Lakeside today to have a hit out before the last crestmead crit tomorrow. Lakeside is always a hard race with the two small climbs on the 2.3km circuit. With the first half of the race being pretty sedate, it wasn't until the prime that things started to heat up. Taylor had been in a break leading into the prime, but was caught on the final straight, however Matt was well placed to go for the sprint, but wasn't able to come round Matt Ryan and Nick Schultz, and took third in the prime.

After the prime there were plenty of attacks and Matt got into a small group, but was brought back soon after. With only 15 minutes to go, Taylor got into a group of 6 riders who worked hard and built a good gap. The rest of the team were able to make sure no moves got across the the front group.
Taylor worked well in the group and they stayed away to contest the finish. In the sprint Taylor was able to take 3rd place.


Matt broke away from the peleton on the last climb to take 7th.

Well done Taylor.

Round 2 – Sizzling Summer Series

With the wind being as strong as we’ve seen in recent races, the team was very certain there would be no bunch sprint today. A race of attrition was what unfolded.

Tom and Sam were very active in the first part of the race and were able to work themselves into small groups trying to get away. Not longer into the race, Sam was able to get himself into a good group who stayed away to contest the first Prime of the day. Sam was strong enough to beat the likes of Hayden Brookes (Fly V pro) to the first Prime. The wind was relentless and was quickly weeding out the weaker riders. The team was super strong today and we maintained a good presence at the front of the race, knowing this was the best place to be. Half way through the race Ruben Donati attacked hard and was away solo. Matt and Hayden Brookes set off in pursuit and spent several laps off the front of the race trying to bridge to Donati. This move caused a big split in the race with only the strongest (or smartest) riders left in the front group. With ten minutes to go Matt and Sam were left in the small front group of twelve riders, saving energy for a last minute attack late in the race. With one lap to go Matt was caught behind a weaker rider who couldn’t hold the wheel and had to leave Sam in the front group to fend for himself with 1km to go. Coming into the final sprint it was going to be hard for Sam to beat the likes of Malcolm Rudolf, Darren Rolfe, Peter Thompson and Bevan Mason in a sprint, but Sam did really well to hold on for a top ten finish. Today was one of the hardest crits contested recently, which was evident of the quality riders left in the small group at the finish.

The team is very proud of their efforts today and we know that once we start doing some of the longer harder races which are more suited to our riding style, we’ll have some great success.