Event News: Drapac set for Sun Tour

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Aussie pro team Drapac set to challenge WorldTour rivals again at Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia

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Drapac’s aggressive style of racing is expected to continue next week when they line up for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour from Wednesday, 5 February. Upgrading to Pro Continental level for 2014, the Melbourne-based outfit have featured heavily amongst all of the action this summer playing a pivotal role in shaping stages and breakaways at the national championships and Tour Down Under over the past month.

They return to their home Tour with a versatile team more than capable of continuing their characteristic style of racing. Drapac have a trio of riders who will look to feature at the pointy end of Wednesday’s KordaMentha Prologue – a 2.5km individual time trial in the heart of Melbourne – and will start as one of the favourites to take the leaders jersey into the first road stage.

None more so than last year’s prologue winner and current under-23 national time trial champion Jordan Kerby whose 2013 Jayco Herald Sun Tour result put him on the cycling map. “I’m in pretty good shape coming off the nationals. I kicked back a little bit afterwards and then ramped up the training again,” Kerby said.

“The Sun Tour starts with a 2.5km prologue in Melbourne. I’m excited for that because it’s what I like to do. It’s nice and technical so it should be pretty exciting. I’d like to do a good stage there.”

Joining 21-year-old Kerby with their sights set on the opening evening of racing is 2013 Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic winner Jack Anderson (former Endura Racing) and 2012 Tour Down Under stage winner Will Clarke.

Clarke is proving quite the breakaway specialist, representing the team in the breakaway on three stages of the Tour Down Under and the main break at the national championships. But the 28-year-old also has his sights set on the race against the clock.

“I felt pretty strong at the national championships and at the Tour Down Under. For a few stages there I was going pretty well. With a week of rest I will freshen up and be ready to go again at the Sun Tour next Wednesday night,” Clarke said.

“I’m looking forward to the Prologue and seeing what I can do; it’s not often you get to do a 2.5km stage. It will only probably be a three-minute effort so it will be full gas and hopefully I can do alright.”

As the race hits the road stages, Drapac will look to experienced speedster Jonathan Cantwell in the sprint finishes and Victorian Lachlan Norris (team Raleigh in 2013) and 2007 national champion Darren Lapthorne (former Tour Series winner) for the challenging final stage up Arthurs Seat.

Team Director Agostino Giramondo expects big things from his team after a strong start to the season. “It’s a very attacking team,” Giramondo said. “We’ve got some very good hill climbers to cater for Arthurs Seat on the final day and a few Prologue riders in Jordan Kerby, Jack Anderson and Will Clarke.

“We’ve always performed well at the Sun Tour but we’re yet to win one. In 2011 we had Rhys Pollock yellow right up until Arthurs Seat. Last year we had Will Walker finish second in the stage to Healesville.

“Hopefully this year with a better roster and a better training block leading into the three Australian events – Nationals, Tour Down Under and the Sun Tour – we can hopefully perform at the level needed to be in contention for the overall win.”

Drapac Professional Cycling – 2014 Jayco Herald Sun Tour

Jonathan CANTWELL AUS 32
Former Saxo-Tinkoff rider and Australian criterium champion. Finished 2nd at the 2013 World Ports Classic and had a top ten (6th) stage finish at the 2012 Tour de France. Won a stage and finished third overall at the 2009 Jayco Herald Sun Tour

Jack ANDERSON AUS 26
Former Endura Racing rider and, winner 2013 Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic and a stage at the Tour of Perth. In 2009 won the ITT at the Oceania championships and represented Australia at the world championships. In 2010, Anderson finished second in the ITT at the Australian national championships and in 2012 finished tenth.

2011_JackAnderson_EnduraRacing

Jordan KERBY AUS 21
2014 Australian under 23 time trial champion, 2013 national under 23 road race champion and winner of the 2013 Jayco Herald Sun Tour opening prologue. In 2010 was part of the Australian team pursuit which won gold at the Junior World Track Championships, and individually he won the points race.

Lachlan NORRIS AUS 27
A Raleigh rider in 2013, Norris had top three finishes at the 2011 Tour of Wellington and a top five finish in the same year at the ‘Sun Tour’ on stage four to eventually finish 12th overall.

2013_RaleighLaunch_01_Norris

Darren LAPTHORNE AUS 30
Turned pro in 2006, it was a year later that Lapthorne made his mark on Australian cycling winning the national road race championships. The 29-year-old is a stage winner at the Tour de Korea, Tour of Gippsland and overall winner of the De Bortoli Tour in 2007. In 2012 Lapthorne finished second at the Tour of Wellington and the Tour of the Great South Coast. Darren was also a very popular rider on the British scene when riding for Rapha

2012_Langkawi_Photosport_Lapthorne03

William CLARKE AUS 28
Returns to Australia following overseas stints with Argos-Shimano, Champion System and Leopard Trek. 2012 Tour Down Under stage winner, 5th 2014 national time trial championship.

Victoria’s oldest and most prestigious stage race, the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, has been re-elevated to UCI international 2.1 level in 2014. The exciting five-day race promises to bring cycling to the people with a 2.5km twilight prologue in the heart of Melbourne on Wednesday, 5 February before travelling to major regional towns Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Nagambie before finishing on challenging Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula.

Jayco Herald Sun Tour
What: 61st edition of Victoria’s oldest stage race
When: Wednesday, 5 to Sunday, 9 February 2014

Course:
Prologue – Wednesday, 5 February – Southbank, Melbourne ITT
Stage 1 – Thursday, 6 February – Geelong to Ballarat
Stage 2 – Friday, 7 February – Ballarat to Bendigo
Stage 3 – Saturday, 8 February – Mitchelton Winery to Nagambie
Stage 4 – Sunday, 9 February – Arthurs Seat, Mornington Peninsula

Website: www.heraldsuntour.com.au

 

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