30 January 2017

News Shorts - 30 January ... Herald SunTour Edition

30 January 2017

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS & HERALD SUN TOUR (HST)

* Albury Criteriums on January 23 - Sue & Graham Tierney raced at the Barnawartha Driver Training Centre near Albury. Graham took second in C grade and Sue duly won D grade

* Ourimbah & Waratah Criteriums - Ian Grainger has been flying the BiciSport flag but the champagne remains elusive.

* HST 2017 - The 2017 edition of the HST has a real Alpine feel this year with a genuine mountain stage into Falls Creek (via Tawonga Gap) then followed by hilly stages to Beechworth & Kinglake. Alex Simmons (BiciSport) is the Chief Commissaire driver and Mike O'Reilly is the Race Director driver. Both Alex & Mike attended the UCI Convoy Drivers Course (as part of the UCI World Tour) in Geelong and gained their UCI driver accreditation. HST stages are -

* Feb 1 - Melbourne Individual Time Trial (Southbank Waterfront)

* Feb 2 - Wangaratta to Falls Creek (via Bright, Tawonga Gap)

* Feb 3 - Mt Beauty to Beechworth (via Eildon & the Stanley climb)

* Feb 4 - Benalla to Mitchelton Winery

* Feb 5 - Kinglake Loop

RACING THIS WEEK

* Feb 3 - St Ives (MW)

* Feb 4-5 - Victorian Track Championships (DISC)

* Feb 4 - Clarence Street Cup (DGV)

* Feb 5 - Calga ITT (ATTA), Eastern Creek (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

* Jan 30 - NSW School Term starts and the motor traffic gets heavier

* Jan 30 & Feb 1 - Track Training with John Crouchley & 3pm

* Feb 2 - Distinguished Gentlemens Ride Centennial Park @ 11am

* Feb 4 - Meadowbank Bridge @ 7.30am, Piemonte Café (coffee only) @ 9.30am

IMAGES from the Herald Sun Tour

**HST 2017 Prologue - Greg Nunn (Judge) & Alex Simmons (BiciSport) on the HST start podium**

**HST 2017 Prologue - Chris Froome in the marshalling tent before the start**

**HST 2017 Prologue - Alex Simmons (BiciSport) and Chris Froome on the start ramp**

**HST 2017 Stage 1 from Wangaratta to Falls Creek. Chris Froome at the start**

**HST 2017 Stage 1 at the Falls Creek finish**

**HST 2017 Stage 1 - Race Directors Subaru cockpit has 3 race radios (Convoy, Commissaires & Moto Scouts)**

**HST 2017 Stage 2 - The day started in Falls Creek with a spectacular view**

HST 2017 Stage 2 - The start line with Sue Tierney, Stuart O'Grady & Graham Tierney. Graham has joined the HST convoy driving team going forward & look forward to seeing him contributing into the future.

**HST 2017 Stage 2 - Simon Gerrans before the start**

**HST 2017 Stage 3 - Phil Liggett joined the local Benalla club at the start**

**HST 2017 Stage 3 - Esteban Chaves at Mitchelton Winery finish**

**HST Stage 3 - Damien Howson (HST Tour Leader) after the Mitchelton Winery finish**

HST 2017 Stage 4 - Before the Kinglake start with the Convoy driving team of Peter Barnes Comm 4, Alex Simmons Chief Comm & Mike O'Reilly Race Director. — **HST 2017 Stage 4 - Before the Kinglake start with the Convoy driving team of Peter Barnes Comm 4, Alex Simmons Chief Comm & Mike O'Reilly Race Director**.

Michael O'Reilly

22 January 2017

News Shorts - 23 January .. Race Melbourne & Cadel Weekend Edition

Michael O'Reilly

22 January 2017

Sue Tierney climbing Mt Buffalo in the Victorian Alps last week. Sue has won eight National Masters Road Championships be it Time Trials, Criteriums or Road Races. Plans for Sue in 2017 include the Nowra Team Time Trial for BiciSport and the fi… — **Sue Tierney climbing Mt Buffalo in the Victorian Alps last week. Sue has won eight National Masters Road Championships be it Time Trials, Criteriums or Road Races**. **Plans for Sue in 2017 include the Nowra Team Time Trial for BiciSport and the five race Victorian TT Series**.

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

* Womens Tour Down Under (14-17 January) - Congratulations to Katie Brown (BiciSport) on her first stint as NSWIS Sport Director

* Cadel Evans Road Race (28-29 January) - Both Alex Simmons & Mike O'Reilly will be Race Convoy drivers at both the Albert Park & Cadel Evans Road Races. Mike has been allocated Comm 2 and Alex allocated Comm 3. Both are also Convoy Drivers from the Herald SunTour in early February.

RACING THIS WEEK

* Jan 26 - Race Melbourne Albert Park Grand Prix (Melbourne, Vic)

* Jan 28 - Alpine Audax (Bright, Vic), Cadel Evans Cyclosportive (Geelong, Vic)

* Jan 28-29 - Cadel Evans Road Races

* Jan 29 - Ourimbah University Criteriums (Central Coast), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

Oakwood BiciSport Ride - Friday 27 January

* All BiciSport riders & friends are welcome to a special ride hosted by Brett Tarlington & Oakwood Lifestyle Advisers. Meet up in the Piemonte Café Terrey Hills carpark @ 7.45am for a 8.15am departure. The ride is via McCarrs Creek Rd, Akuna Bay then back to Piemonte Café for morning tea.

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK

* Jan 23 & 25 - DGV track training with John Crouchley @ 3pm

* Jan 26 - Distinguished Gentlemens Ride at Centennial Park @ 10am

* Jan 27 - Oakwood Ride (Piemonte Café @ 7.45am)

* Jan 28 - Meadowbank Bridge @ 7,30am, Piemonte Café (coffee only) @ 9.30am

IMAGES from Race Melbourne and the Cadel Evans Weekend

**Race Melbourne 2017 - Alex Simmons & Julian Dean**

**Race Melbourne 2017 - Alex Simmons (Comm #3 driver) & Mike O'Reilly (Comm #2 driver)**

**Cadel Evans 2017 - Convoy on the start line**

**Cadel Evans 2017 - Kenny Eissonde (Sky) before the start**

**Cadel Evans 2017 - Robbie McEwen interviews the winner Nikias Arndt**

Michael O'Reilly

15 January 2017

News Shorts - 16 January

Michael O'Reilly

15 January 2017

**Bright (Vic) - Brett Tarlington, Sue & Graham Tierney in the Buckland Valley near Bright**

**Bright (Vic) - Kylie & Ben Mildren outside the Ginger Baker Cafe**

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

* Conor Tarlington has gained selection to the Rausland Development Team (previously the Subaru Development Team) for the 2017 road season. Conor attended a team training camp in Bright.

* A seemingly endless peloton took to the climbs around Bright this week including BiciSport riders Brett & Conor Tarlington, Sue & Graham Tierney, Kylie & Ben Mildren, Mike O'Reilly, Len Groen and Roy Edwards

RACING THIS WEEK

* Jan 14-17 - Womens Tour Down Under

* Jan 18-22 - Mens Tour Down Under

* Jan 18 - National Junior Track Series (Adelaide)

* Jan 20 - BUPA Cyclosportive (Adelaide)

* Jan 20-22 - NSW Track Championships (DGV)

* Jan 22 - Ourimbah Criterium (Central Coast), Heffron Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING THIS WEEK

* Jan 16 & 18 - DGV Track training with John Crouchley @ 3pm

* Jan 19 - Distinguished Gentlemens Ride at Centennial Park @ 10am

* Jan 21 - Meadowbank Bridge @ 7.30am, Piemonte Café (coffee only) @ 9.30am

**Ourimbah Super Crit is on February 12 and organised by Central Coast CC**

Michelle Tarlington purchased a $5 raffle ticket in the Annual Bright Duck Race. Several thousand plastic ducks are dropped off the Morse Creek Bridge in central Bright with the first duck to cross the finish line earning $1,000 for one happy camper… — Michelle Tarlington purchased a $5 raffle ticket in the Annual Bright Duck Race. Several thousand plastic ducks are dropped off the Morse Creek Bridge in central Bright with the first duck to cross the finish line earning $1,000 for one happy camper ... Duck # 977 suitably took the sprint for one very happy camper ...

Despite persistent rumours of a Fine Cotton Affair or potential EPO abuse Duck # 977 (aka Colin the Duck) was taken into custody and suitably drug tested.  Michelle is racing Colin # 977 next week at the nearby Harrietville Duck Race. — **Despite persistent rumours of a Fine Cotton Affair or potential EPO abuse Duck # 977 (aka *Colin* the Duck) was taken into custody and suitably drug tested.** **Michelle is racing *Colin # 977* next week at the nearby Harrietville Duck Race.**

Michael O'Reilly

7 January 2017

News Shorts - 9 January ... Livingstone goes top 10

Michael O'Reilly

7 January 2017

**Ballarat 17 - Peter Livingstone (BiciSport) and John Crouchley after the Under 23 Criterium**

**Ballarat 17 - Peter Livingstone (BiciSport) took 9th in the U23 Road Race and with John Crouchley after the finish.**

CYCLING AUSTRALIA ELITE NATIONAL ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Fine weather greeted a well organised National Championships in Ballarat. The Criterium was in the centre of the Ballarat CBD, the ITT just near Bunninyong some 10k from Ballarat and the Road Race was around the Mt Helen circuit finishing in the Bunninyong main street. . There was much discussion about "where to" in 2018 (see story below).

Criterium Under 23 - Peter Livingstone (BiciSport) was in several moves early but settled for a comfortable bunch finish in anticipation for Sundays road race

Road Race Under 23 - The U23 RR started with 125 riders in super hot conditions. After 3 laps 5 riders attacked & stayed away until lap 7 (of 13). Then a break of 9 riders chased (including Peter Livingstone) and bridged across forming the front group. Sam Jenner then soloed off the front with a bunch sprint of 8 riders contesting the Silver medal. A super courageous effort by Peter who was slightly distanced on the last climb but fought his way back to contest the Silver medal bunch sprint. Just 24 riders finished a super tough 132k.

RACING THIS WEEK

* Jan 13 - St Ives Criterium (MW)

* Jan 14-15 - NSW Track Championships (DGV)

* Jan 14-17 - Womens Tour DownUnder (SA) - Katie Brown (BiciSport) as NSWIS Director Sportif

* Jan 15 - Ourimbah Criteriums (Central Coast), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING THIS WEEK

* Jan 9 - DGV Training with John Crouchley @ 3pm

* Jan 11 - DGV Training with John Crouchley @ 3pm

* Jan 12 - Distinguished Gentlemens Ride Centennial Park @ 10am

* Jan 14 - Meadowbank Bridge @ 7.30am, Piemonte Café (coffee only) @ 9.30am

**Ballarat 17 - Commissaires Grupetto Ride headed for Lake Wendouree. Alex Simmons (BiciSport) far left & John Crouchley far right.**

Ballarat 17 - Meeting of the wiser minds ... Ron Neiwand (father of Track legend Gary) meets John Crouchley (coach of Martin Vinnicombe) for the first time. This lively dinner discussion traversed the 1980's through numerous World Track Championship… — Ballarat 17 - Meeting of the wiser minds ... Ron Neiwand (father of Track legend Gary) meets John Crouchley (coach of Martin Vinnicombe) for the first time. This lively dinner discussion traversed the 1980's through numerous World Track Championships, Commonwealth & Olympic Games. Nobody else was game to stop these two chatting about all things track. Ron cradling the #1 seemed quite apt. It was a great dinner.

Ballarat 17 - The local newspaper lead story on the Saturday of the Under 23 Road Championships. The local journalists for some reason were fixated with headlining why we'd like to leave Ballarat instead of celebrating the current event itself.

Michael O'Reilly

1 January 2017

News Shorts - 2 January

Michael O'Reilly

1 January 2017

December 31 ... calmly driving two Belgian friends around Chowder Bay near Mosman chasing a good coffee .... hang on a minute ... isn't that Peter Sagan & Mick Rogers ! ? ... can't be ! ? ... double take ... yep, "Peter" on the knicks sort … — December 31 ... calmly driving two Belgian friends around Chowder Bay near Mosman chasing a good coffee .... hang on a minute ... isn't that Peter Sagan & Mick Rogers ! ? ... can't be ! ? ... double take ... yep, "Peter" on the knicks sort of gave it all away. Nobody is ever going to believe this ...

Mick Rogers & Peter Sagan (with a Sydney bus for company to just prove this all wasn't some crazy NYE wine infused dream) on the Col Del La Taronga Park Zoo climb. Rumour has it he was also spotted at Palm Beach the day before.

**Sydney Christmas Carnivals 2016 - Anthony Colantonio**

**Sydney Christmas Carnivals 2016 - Matt Karai**

**Sydney Christmas Carnivals 2016 - Lise Benjamin**

**Sydney Christmas Carnivals 2016 - David Browne**

**Cycling Australia Elite Road Championships hit Ballarat from January 4-8**

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

* National Road Championships Jan 4-8 (Ballarat) - Best wishes to Peter Livingstone (U23) at the Nationals. Both Alex Simmons & Mike O'Reilly will assist with Commissaire driving duties with John Crouchley.

* Sydney Christmas Carnivals Dec 27-30 - Good performances by Anthony Colantonio, Lise Benjamin, Matt Karai & David Browne.

BICISPORT TEAMS PURSUIT - NOMINATIONS OPEN

* Nominations for BiciSport Teams Pursuit teams are now open. Please email bicisport1@gmail.com

RACING THIS WEEK

* Jan 1-3 - Mitchleton Bay Classic Criteriums (Geelong & Melbourne)

* Jan 2 - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

* Jan 4 - National Criterium Championships (Ballarat)

* Jan 5 - National ITT Championships (Ballarat)

* Jan 6 - St Ives Criteriums (MW)

* Jan 7 - National Gran Fondo Championships (Ballarat), National U23 Road Race Championships (Ballarat), Goulburn Track Open

* Jan 8 - National Elite Road Race Championships (Ballarat), Ourimbah Criteriums (Central Coast), Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING THIS WEEK

* Jan 2 & 4 - No DGV Track Training

* Jan 5 - Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride Centennial Park @ 10am

* Jan 7 - Meadowbank Bridge @ 7.30am, Piemonte Café coffee only @ 9.30am

The best reason for going to bike races is the fantastic people you meet along the way. Belgium 2016 and whilst Conor Tarlington is circulating around the tiny Flemish village of Kalken in a 70k criterium ... Mike O'Reilly strikes up a conversation … — The best reason for going to bike races is the fantastic people you meet along the way. Belgium 2016 and whilst Conor Tarlington is circulating around the tiny Flemish village of Kalken in a 70k criterium ... Mike O'Reilly strikes up a conversation with the local Belgian Police (as you do) who were protecting the bike race. Six months later and what a pleasure it is to see Belgium meeting the NSW Police with smiles all round.

**A stunning picture taken by Sue Tierney from the top of Mount Hotham (Vic) on December 30.**