Australian Road Race Champ

by randie on Jan 11, 2009 7:56 AM EST

Sydney cyclist Peter McDonald won the Austrlian road race championships, beating Mick Rogers and Adam Hansen in a sprint finish. McDonald rides for the Drapac-Porshe team.

Wow, that was really only 27 words long? Life is hard.

It's almost Monday over here. HWMNBN arrived in Australia recently.

I don't like Vegemite. Take that stereotypes!

I still need 20 odd more words.

Happy New Years everyone? Anybody actually seen the movie Australia? It was a bit dodgey.

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The couriers in OZ are estcatic...

as the champ used to be a bike messenger and now works as a mechanic!

Gotta love it!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on Jan 11, 2009 10:34 AM EST reply actions

Australia

A movie named after a, what, 250 year old country the size of half of Europe? That smells like trouble. Up next: China, the movie!

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Jan 11, 2009 10:55 AM EST reply actions

China is here, Mr. Burton.

by swells on Jan 11, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

Sure, from McDonald’s perspective this is a dream come true, and don’t get me wrong, all the best to the man, I mean this is the quintessential Aussie story (little guy with no chance outdoes the big boys), it doesn’t get any better.

But as even he himself suggested in a post race interview, this should have gone to one of the two big studs.

Can anyone who watched this shed some light on how Hansen and Dodgers stuffed this up?

by muk on Jan 11, 2009 11:25 AM EST reply actions

It makes no sense

you have two guys who are PT powerhouses who happen to be on the same team! Not only that but they are extremely motivated to get out of those Columbia jerseys so they must have been craving that Aussie champ jersey. I’m guessing Hansen and Rogers forgot they were on the same team and both wanted the glory, therefore they didn’t work well enough together which allowed McDonald not to be overpowered…plus Hansen and Rogers aren’t exactly the two quickest sprinters in the world. All speculation I have no idea what actually happened.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Jan 11, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Too bad there isn't such a thing as video coverage of an important cycling race

like the Austarlian Championships. We’d know what happened for sure.

by ZoeRochelle on Jan 11, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

Agree there... I'm just checking if there is footage of the finish from one of the TV stations here

But i don’t think it was a mistake made between the two I think there was a bit of Team tatics that didn’t work.

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950

by CycleGirl on Jan 11, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

Those two can't sprint!

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jan 12, 2009 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

I found a story in an Australian newspaper

The Age and one at CyclingNews. I didn’t check the bylines but the stories are very similar to each other.

by ZoeRochelle on Jan 11, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions

OK Video footage found of the end...

Aust RR Video

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950

by CycleGirl on Jan 11, 2009 4:43 PM EST reply actions

I think we are looking at this the wrong way...

…the guy sprouted wings. There could be no better incentive than to not only get to ride in the Tour Down Under, but to be able to do it wearing the Australian Champs jersey in a team that already wears the Australian Team outfit more or less. There was a spot on offer in the UNI Sa/Australia team for the first Aussie across the line no already riding…which he would have still got if he lost the sprint anyway. So…the real challence is now, can he hack a week at that pace…..and will he have to fix his own bike??
Neither Rogers nor Hansen are renowned sprinters and I have a good understanding of that rule as I still languish in D grade despite being fit enough to keep up with the ‘Big Boys’
ONYA Pete Mac…..you can chose between Lance Armstrong and Hugh Jackman to play you in the Movie IMHO.
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!

errrr....am i supposed to sign this??

by Flatbagger on Jan 11, 2009 5:42 PM EST reply actions

He isn't going to the TdU

because he is committed to another event. As if he has a more important race to do, weird choice. The final spot on the team will go to Matthew Wilson.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Jan 11, 2009 5:47 PM EST up reply actions