News

Friday 17th August - With the wounds still fresh on their bodies, PureBlack Racing fought through another two stages of day two of the Tour of the Great South Coast.

Despite the injuries and discomfort the team was feeling, PureBlack Racing made it through the 36km criterium and 94.2km road race unscathed.

“It was a really hard day for everyone, the boys are really feeling the crashes from yesterday [Thursday],” said Director Sportif, John “Harry” Harris, “Taylor [Gunman] is red raw like he has been fighting with a cheese grater, and Roman [van Uden] can barely hold onto his handle bars because of injuries to his hands.”

“It was just hard to ride today with the injuries we have,” said Roman.

The weather did not do much to help either, Victoria has thrown the cyclists everything including sun, rain and cross winds firing in off the Bass Straight.

“It was pouring with rain today and very windy, just tough conditions,” said Harry.

The 36km criterium was a tight square shaped 1.1km circuit through Heywood. Following his criterium win in Stage One, Brenton Jones from Genesys Wealth Advisors won the stage in a sprint finish.

“Jimmy [James Williamson] rode really well today, he was out in the breaks during the criterium,” said Harry.

“Jimmy was out there and really tried to push in the criterium,” said Roman, “but the breakaways were always brought back into the peloton.”

Being the only rider to have avoided crashing the previous day, Jimmy also had a good ride in the 94.2km road race from Heywood to Casterton.

“Jimmy and Joe [Cooper] rode pretty well today,” said Roman, “there were some big climbs in extreme cross winds making it a difficult day.”

In total the fourth stage had eight KOM premes and five sprint premes. Darren Lapthorne from Drapac Cycling won the stage, with the PureBlack Racing team finishing not far behind in the peloton.

Today the Tour of the Great South Coast starts with a 50km criterium around Port Fairy at 10.30am (12.30pm NZT) followed by a short 60km road race from Port Fairy to Hawkesdale at 1pm (3pm NZT). The road race features two KOM premes and three sprint premes.

Harry is hoping the bodies have recovered and the boys are ready to fight for results over the next three days. “We would have had a podium on Thursday if we hadn’t crashed, I am expecting the boys to unload the gasoline for the final days of the tour.”