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Broken ribs and team tactics failed to stop champion cyclist, Robbie Williams of the Drapac Porsche Team from winning his first and the 139th running of the Goulburn to Citi Cycle Classic in Camden today. At 7:40am in ideal conditions, 120 of Australia’s strongest elite cyclists representing the Nation’s top thirteen teams eagerly raced off north to Camden from Goulburn. The first attack occurred 10km into the race with five riders Ben Mathers ( Praties, Tas), Richie Porte ( Praties, Tas), Peter Herzig (NSWIS, NSW), Angus Morton (Drapac Porsche, Vic) and Darcy Roselund (Ord Minnett) getting a 4 minute advantage over the peleton by Berrima where the team of the breakaway riders successfully suppressed any serious attempts to close the gap.
At the 83 kilometre mark, Ben Mather took the first intermediate King of the Mountain sprint at Bendooley Hill in the Southern Highlands, then on the descent fellow team mate, Riche Porte fell leaving four riders to defend the lead. At this point the peleton started to fracture with riders breaking away into small workable chasing groups. The Bargo intermediate sprint was won by Peter Herzig, Tahmoor sprint was won by Angus Morton. As the riders descended further to Picton a group of five riders Robbie Williams (Drapac Porsche, Vic), Will Ford (SA.Com, SA), Gil Gutowski (Ord Minnett, Qld), Nash Kent (Equity IT, NSW) and Joshua Wilson (Praties, Tas) had closed the gap to one minute from the leaders and caught the breakaway on Razorback which saw Wilson first over the summit. During the second climb of Razorback the nine riders were reduced to three with Wilson again over the Summit first to claim the King of the Mountain title. Higgerson and Pearson along with Wilson had a four hundred metre lead over Robbie Williams who then recaptured the three riders with just three kilometres to go. Wilson who had just returned from Japan last Wednesday where he sustained two broken ribs in a fall, was a man possessed. As the four leaders started to play cat and mouse with two kilometre to go, Williams launched an aggressive attack which saw the others wondering who was going to bridge the gap which gave Williams a two hundred metre advantage. Punching the air as he crossed the finish line and the TV helicopter hovering over the town, Williams rode into the history books of Australia’s greatest one day classic. Results can be seen at: http://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/eventresult.aspx?ResultId=406 A full race description is available on www.cyclingnews.com For more information contact Paul Hillbrick on 02 9820 4011 or 0412 842 730 |
