Grafton to Inverell Rolling Coverage
#NRS18 #G2I @Cyrus_Monk and Potter and working to bridge the gap. They are only 1min behind the leading bunch of 4. 177/228km
— National Road Series #NRS18 (@Nat_Road_Series) May 12, 2018
Division three has gone through the Mount Mitchell feed zone and there is a break-away of three riders ahead of the main bunch, including David Bingley of Launceston City, Mark Joseph Jeffrey from Tamworth and Christopher Joustra of Latrobe City. The division one field now has a break-away of four, with a chase group of nine, and another 20 charging to catch up. The field is now split over 10-15 minutes. The first riders are expected to reach Inverell about 1.15pm.Not going to breaking a race record today. Really gusty, cold conditions with mostly a headwind blowing. Might be closer to a 7 hour time than 6. #G2I18 160/228kms
— BrakeDown Podcast (@BrakeDownPod) May 12, 2018
11.20AM The main group in division one is about 30km out of Glen Innes. The peloton split into two up the mountain, but came back together into one group of about 70. The weather is still a factor, at approximately nine degrees, with a lot of debris still on the road. There’s about 97km left in the race. According to Peter Sunderland, it’s still anybody’s race, with good numbers represented from all the teams. Riders are expected to make their major moves after Glen Innes.#G2I18 Race Situation at 150 km/228km: Elliot, Featonby, Cameron, Freienstein—2’15–》30-40 riders splitting up dramatically
— BrakeDown Podcast (@BrakeDownPod) May 12, 2018
11.10AM The group of four up the front have been identified as Jesse Featonby of Drapac EF Cycling Raphael Freienstein of Inform Make NRS, Nathan Elliott of Bennelong SwissWellness and Timothy Cameron of St George Continental. They have a gap of three minutes, 25 seconds to individual Penrith ride Peter Milostic and Rapha Sydney’s Darcy Ellerm-Norton, who are four minutes, 15 seconds to the main chasing group. 10.40AM Division one is 120 km into the 228 km race. There’s a break of four out the front with a 45 second gap, including Bennelong SwissWellness favourite Nathan Elliott. The main chase group has swelled to 30 as a group of 10 rejoins through the main feed zone.The wind is atrocious and we are still under the cover of the trees https://t.co/WA7vUg2Jr2
— Grafton to Inverell (@G2Irace) May 12, 2018
10.30AM The break-away group in division one is now down to 13 riders. Sam Crome, Conor Murtagh, Jack Sutton, Oliver Kent-Spark, Sascha Bondarenko-Edwards, Raphael Freienstein, Julian Thomson, Jake Marryat, Cameron Ivory, Cameron Roberts, Timothy Cameron, Ryan Cavanagh, Oliver Martin and Trevor Spencer are still riding tempo up the hills. 10.00AM Division three are climbing the range, getting ready for the cold winds. 9.50AM The gap to the break-away group temporarily stretched out to over six minutes, but is now down to around three minutes. Most teams have riders in the group, with the peloton chasing hard. The chilly weather and winds will be a challenge as the main group heads up the Gibraltar Range, with debris on the road. There’s about seven kilometres left on the climb.Aggressive in the front group with lots of riders trying to break away. St George and Bennelong with the strongest presence in this bunch #G2I18 107/228kms pic.twitter.com/mkwQMO1EMy
— BrakeDown Podcast (@BrakeDownPod) May 12, 2018
9.10AM The results are in for the Des Femmes sprint, with Anna Beck from the University of Queensland coming in first, with Jessica Pratt from Balmoral in second and Megan Scott from Giant, Sydney in third. In division three, the sprint winner is Latrobe City’s Christopher Joustra, followed by Scott Walcot from Coffs Harbour and Erron Hennessy of Murwillumbah. 8.45AM The break away group is 17 riders strong, and have managed to create a four minute gap from the main peloton.#G2I18 Both the break and peloton are on the Gibraltar climb. This climb should surely split the peloton apart further. Reports are that winds are blowing a hail at the top of the climb
— mobius BridgeLane (@mobiusBridgeLn) May 11, 2018
Division three are about 125km from Glen Innes, with two race leaders approaching a one minute lead. In the division two sprint, Cameron Judson of Harlequin came in first, followed by David Evans of Manly Warringah and Stuart Grieve of Northern Sydney.Some break names: Marryat, Cameron, Cavenagh, Crome, Kent-Sparke, Randall, Murtugh, Frienstein, Ivory, Bonello, Thompson, Booth, Walsh, Meyer, Freeman, Martin, Roberts #G2I18 #NRS18 #OLI
— Oliver’s Racing (@oliversracing) May 11, 2018
8.20AM
A bunch of 14-18 riders lead the pack by approximately 40 seconds about 25km in, including team members of Olivers Racing, GPM Stulz, Drapac EF Cycling, Bennelong Swiss Wellness, the Australian Cycling Academy, AMR Renault and solo entrant Dan Bonello. Oliver Kent Spark, Sam Crome, Ryan Cavanagh, Cam Ivory, and Jack Sutton are thought to be in the front bunch.The break working well together. #NRS18 @G2Irace it’s still anyones race but the peloton is driving hard https://t.co/VvregHazkE
— National Road Series #NRS18 (@Nat_Road_Series) May 11, 2018
8AM
There are 102 riders taking on the race in division two. They are sticking together early in the race, and preparing for the weather changes ahead, according to Rick Adams. Locals will be keeping an eye out for Inverell riders Alwyn Miller, Jason Sprang and Zak Sunderland. Two leaders, David Randall of Van dam Racing and William Barker Phoenix Cycling Collective have made a break for it in division 1. They have a 30 second lead but seem unlikely to hold it on. It’s 15 kilometres into the race, not far from the Cattle Creek climb, which could begin to split the peloton. The division three riders, including 30 women and 30 in the challenge, non-competitive category have taken off. 7.19AM …And they’re off! With record numbers in all three divisions, the first division sets off on the toughest one day cycle race in Australia. Inverell cycling fans will keep their fingers crossed for locals Ryan Thomas and Chris Hamilton.6.45AM The first names are going up as teams prepare for one of the toughest Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classics in recent years.The peloton rolls out of Grafton. 228km of racing underway! #G2I18 #NRS18 #OLI pic.twitter.com/bb8s8B5SSW
— Oliver’s Racing (@oliversracing) May 11, 2018
With headwinds of up to 45 kilometres an hour predicted for after the peak of the Gibraltar Range local and former Grafton to Inverell rider Peter Sunderland expects the race will stretch to six and a half hours this year. A broad smile on his face, local A Grade rider Ryan Thomas admitted the cold weather had come as “a bit of a shock” for many. Although he’d been unwell and unable to train hard in the past week, Thomas felt it could give him an advantage. “I usually race well on fresh legs,” he told the Grafton to Inverell committee. Nathan Elliott from Bennelong Swiss Wellness, who as a dual Melbourne to Warrnambool winner, is in the running for the top spot, said the headwind predictions should make the race “interesting”. “It’ll definitely make the race harder, but whether it splits (riders) up a bit, it’s hard to tell,” he said. National under 23 road race champion Cyrus Monk said he was feeling well, and said he was surprised by his recent success in Europe. The 2016 Grafton to Inverell winner Pat Lane said he’d love to win another one. With the headwinds, he said it would be really important to “ride a bit smarter a race”.Defending champions @BennelongSwissW signing on for the @G2Irace #NRS18
— National Road Series #NRS18 (@Nat_Road_Series) May 11, 2018