SuperCrit Round 1 Report & Results

Matthews continues strong form with dominant SuperCrit Victory

Photos: Greg Long

ACT Academy of Sport rider Michael Matthews won the first ever SuperCrit Thursday in an exciting display of racing versatility.
Held while hundreds of Scott 24 hour mountain bike race competitors were working around the course setting up camping equipment, the 18 year old Matthews stormed home to an arms aloft victory in a close sprint finish.
Matthews sprint finish was all the more impressive after being up the road in the major breakaway of the race.

How it unfolded
31 riders signed on to tackle the remarkably different course that was set amidst the corporate and administrative marquees of the Scott 24 hour event.

The inaugural SuperCrit raced away to a quick start under the steam of Nathan Haas and Jeremy Ross who forced the pace early.
A flurry of individual attacks marked the race early as Sam Genge, Marc Williams and the ever present Ross tried to escape the clutches of the peleton.
David Rae was one of the aggressors who found himself with a small lead for a lap during the first half of the race.
By the 25 minute mark the continual aggression had many riders feeling the pinch when Williams and Matthews managed steal a lead on the bunch.
For the next ten minutes the lead duo built their advantage together up to 20 seconds, aided by the line of sight obscuring marquees.

Just when the break looked like sticking, Velo Canberra's Allan Sieper called his men to the fore to peg the gap back.
Sieper traded big turns of pace with team mate Mick Tolhurst to halve the gap of Matthews and Williams.
Up front Matthews off loaded Williams and committed himself to holding off the bunch solo.
As Williams returned to the fold of the strung out peleton, Jeremy Ross delivered a bunch shattering lap long turn in the wind to reel in the lonely Matthews.
With the daylight fading over Stromlo Forest Park, the gasping main pack received 3 laps to go. A few late attacks tried to prevent a bunch gallop from occurring, however no moves stuck.
On the last lap, Vikings racer John Forrest launched hard out of the final corner into the long finish straight. Matthews picked his wheel well and stepped hard over Forrest 200 metres from the line in his successful bid for victory. Joel Stewart finished close in 2nd placing with Velo Canberra's Simon Christopher 3rd.

Top 8 Results Round 1 (45mins + 3 laps) 31 Starters

1st Michael Matthews

2nd Joel Stewart

3rd Simon Christopher

4th John Forrest

5th Allan Sieper

6th Sam Genge

7th Mark Harris

8th Mitch Lovelock-Fay

All photos courtesy of Greg Long
www.greglong.photoeventplus.com