October 10, 2006 – After an early breakaway comprising six riders all already out of contention on general classification it was easy to predict that Stage 3 – Bendigo to Nagambie, 158.5 kms — at the 2006 Jayco Herald Sun Tour would provide a dull day’s racing, despite the almost perfect cloudless conditions over central Victoria.

But the six engaged in such an enthralling battle over the last 10 kilometres into Nagambie, that the day will be recalled in quite a different way.

It was just superb — a cameo fifteen minutes of racing that will be remembered for years to come.

For much of the 115 kilometres that the six were together, having joined up at the end of the descent from Mount Alexander, Jayco Australia’s Trent Wilson looked the least comfortable. But again the pundits, and it seems even Wilson himself, were wrong.

He was the first to attack amongst the leaders, opening up a gap of around 100 metres before Matt Lloyd (South Australia.com) reeled him in, with Darren Lapthorne (Drapac Porsche), Hossein Askari (Giant Asia Racing), Scott Peoples (Australia Under 23) and Maint Berkenbosch (Netherlands) also quickly tacking back on.

From that moment the cat and mouse tactics were more like those of a sprint contest on the track, as each of the six toyed with the others and waited for the moment to make the decisive break.

The big Dutchman, and then rising star Lapthorne had their chances but with a little over two kilometres to ride, it was again Wilson, with Lloyd in pursuit, who succeeded.

In the end Wilson prevailed by less than a bike length as the two raced towards the line outside the Nagambie Entertainment Centre, with Lapthorne leading the other four home in a group finish for third.

For local boy Scott Peoples, at 19 the youngest of the sextet by three years, it was mini triumph. The emerging talent who cut his cycling teeth on the track at nearby Shepparton produced the ride of his career to contend for stage honours in a class field in his own back yard.

But it was Wilson’s day. Although less credentialed than others on the crack Australian national team, he had been urged by team mate Robbie McEwen to stand up and go for today’s victory,

“Seven years I have ridden this race and I’ve come close. I really wanted (the stage win) today. I didn’t think I had the legs, I was cramping and stuff but 20km to go I came good and thought, I’m a chance here.

“I can’t believe it — its great.”

Lloyd overcame a disappointing first two days of the Tour to again display the talent that had caused him to be tipped by some as a real dark horse to win this year’s event.

After crashing on day one and failing to latch on to yesterday’s top notch breakaway group, he showed why he will embark on his first full international pro year in 2007.

He was clearly the most aggressive of the front six, initiating the bigger breakaway from which their smaller group formed on Mount Alexander.

Overall, HealthNet’s Karl Menzies retains his five second lead on general classification over the jovial German Tobias Erler (Griant Asia Racing). The man in yellow made sure of his status by leading the main bunch across the line just under five minutes behind the stage winner.

The big Tasmanian has been in almost everything during the Tour’s first three days, prompting the post race interviewer to ask why he had bothered to sprint home again today,

“I was just trying to stay out of trouble and when I saw I was in front of the bunch near the line, I decided to stay there.”

He credited his team mates for ensuring he kept the yellow jersey for another night, “My team took a lot of responsibility today to keep the group in check. They rode awesome for me to keep the leaders within five minutes.”

But he also expressed some frustration at not being able to go for more stage wins, “It’s not that great “˜cos you’re not that aggressive. You just sit in all day, which isn’t that exciting. But that’s the way we’re going to play it and we’ll see what happens up Lake Mountain.”

Menzies reserved special praise for one particular team mate, Doug Ollerenshaw, who turned up for team duty this morning despite leaving a significant amount of his rear end on the streets of Bendigo during Monday’s stage finish,

“He’s a rock star these days — he had a radio interview this morning – second back page of the Herald Sun — he loves the publicity and rode like ten men today.”

Erler keeps his lead in the race for the green jersey presented to the Tour’s leading sprinter, despite failing to earn even a single point during today’s racing.

But he ceded the king of the mountains lead to Lloyd who led the field to the top of the category two climb over Mount Alexander, picking up 12 points, plus another two for taking third in an earlier less taxing category three ascent.

Lloyd was clear about his intentions for the rest of the week, “Whilst there are limited opportunities for points on the road for climbs, if given the chance I’ll defend this jersey all the way to Melbourne.”

If today was any indication of his return to form, he could well be the man to beat on the much anticipated climb up Lake Mountain during Thursday’s fifth stage.

The Jayco Australia national team maintains its lead in the teams competition, whilst the joint winner of this year’s Australian madison championship, Simon Clarke (South Australia.com) became the leading under 23 rider, earning the right to wear the white jersey that accompanies that honour.

Tomorrow’s 178.4km stage covers rising terrain from the delightful start setting at Mitchelton Winery through Seymour and Violet Town to the finish outside the Town Library in Benalla.

Results

1 Trent Wilson (Aus) Australian National Team 4.14.05
2 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Southaustralia.com-AIS
3 Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Porsche 0.23
4 Hossein Askari (IRI) Giant Asia Racing Team
5 Scott Peoples (Aus) Australian National U23 Team
6 Maint Berkenbosch (Ned) Dutch National Team
7 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 2.56
8 Peter Mcdonald (Aus) FRF Couriers-Caravello
9 Russell Van Hout (Aus) Savings & Loans Cycling Team 3.01
10 Nariyuki Masuda (Jpn) Japanese National Team 4.09

22 Dominique Rollin (Can) Canadian National Team 4.39
30 Brandon Crichton (Can) Canadian National Team
34 Ryan Mackenzie (Can) Canadian National Team
37 Eric Wolhberg (Can) Canadian National Team
65 Bruno Langlois (Can) Canadian National Team
69 Derek Mcmaster (Can) Canadian National Team
90 Dustin Macburnie (Can) Canadian National Team


GC after Stage 3

1 Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 9.41.01
2 Tobias Erler (Ger) Giant Asia Racing Team 0.05
3 Dominique Rollin (Can) Canadian National Team 0.15
4 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Australian National Team 0.22
5 David Mccann (Irl) Giant Asia Racing Team 0.26
6 Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Savings & Loans Cycling Team 0.27
7 Kirk O’bee (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
8 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
9 Robert Mclachlan (Aus) Drapac Porsche
10 Simon Clarke (Aus) Southaustralia.com-AIS 1.13

21 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 28.07
32 Eric Wolhberg (Can) Canadian National Team 29.50
47 Bruno Langlois (Can) Canadian National Team 30.25
68 Brandon Crichton (Can) Canadian National Team 33.23
69 Derek Mcmaster (Can) Canadian National Team
76 Ryan Mackenzie (Can) Canadian National Team 33.58
78 Dustin Macburnie (Can) Canadian National Team