The 2013 Herald Sun Tour (HST) kicks off in Williamstown on Thursday, January 3rd with the 4.7km Individual Time Trial and culminates on Sunday January 6th at the top of Arthur’s Seat.
The four-day race is in its 60th year and will show case some of the best riders in Australia and some of the young up and coming future stars of the sport.
Leading up to the event I have been fortunate enough to get out on some training rides with Total Rush-Hyster riders David Kelly (rider no 176) and Michael Crosbie.
I spent the night with the lads on Jan 1st in Geelong watching the Bay Crits. Michael was kind enough to sit down and have a chat with The Roar about the HST.
He will also give us a daily update on how the race is unfolding.
Name: Michael Crosbie
Nickname: Bing
Team: Total Rush- Hyster Racing
Rider No: 172
Age: 20
Bike: Specialised Tarmac SL4 Pro
After two years racing in Europe , how are you feeling coming into your first HST?
Really excited. I am very keen to start the new year on a good note. I have been following the bay crits over the last few days and after racing in them last year it is nice to be on the other side of the fence. After a few days watching though my feet are getting itchy and I can’t wait to get out and race.
The HST is about continued development of the sport and allows young riders to race against some of the best riders in Australia and I am excited to be a part of that.
More importantly how are the legs feeling?
Legs are really good. I had a good hit out last night and I feel fresh and ready to rock and roll.
How was your race preparation?
The race prep has been good. I have been really consistent with little interruption.
I started the build up 10 weeks ago and raced in the Tour of Bright. I last raced at the St Kilda Melbourne Sprint Champs on the 23rd of November and with the temperature getting over 40 on the day it was a good race to finish the year on.
How is the mood among the Rush-Hyster team?
Everyone is very excited to get going and fulfil their roles in the team and looking to deliver some good placings.
The team has a good mix of youth and experience, are you looking forward to racing with Tom Leaper who has raced the Giro d’italia twice?
It will be an awesome experience having Tom filling that team leadership role. I am excited to be racing with all of the guys. The team has a good mix of riders. I am rooming with Ryan (Macanally) and we have raced together before so that should be fun.
A third of the field are under 23 so the fight for the White Jersey (best under 23 rider) will be intense. Who will you be keeping an eye on?
There are plenty of great young riders coming through. A few of the guys from Jayco VIS are carrying great form. Calvin Watson (rider no: 123) has good form leading into this race. Also Patty Lane (rider no 122) showed very strong form at the St Kilda Melbourne Sprint Champs.
Jay McCarthy (Jayco Australian National Team. Rider No: 5) is definitely someone to keep an eye on. He recently signed with Saxo Bank-Tinkoff for 2013/2014.
Looking at the stages, which one are you most excited about?
Arthur’s Seat for sure. Mt Macedon will be great if it is not too windy but I expect plenty of fireworks up (at) Arthur’s Seat on the final day. The crowds will be there and with a repeat of the climb you can expect plenty of attacks and excitement.
So Arthur’s Seat is the place to be on Sunday?
Definitely. SRAM and Rapha will host sites open to the public so hopefully plenty of people will come down and support the race.
Any race prep rituals/superstitions?
I normally don’t like to wear brand new gloves or sunglasses.
Aside from keeping perfect tan lines and appropriate sock height, do you have any tips for young riders looking at coming through?
Just keep the wheels rolling, work your way through the grades and most importantly have a bit of fun.
Bones506
Roar Guru
I have been training with Bing a bit this week but have not had the chance to sit down and grill him about the week between HSt and U23 Road race tomorrow. Will catch him Sunday and get a post up Monday.
Bones506
Roar Guru
I will interview Bing again tonight and get another article up on the HSt and also looking ahead to the Nationals.
Bones506
Roar Guru
We will try and catch Bing tonight after stage 2 and ahead of stage 3 which will be a very exciting finish.
Hollywood
Guest
Good interview Chris. Bing is a good guy. Thanks for the insight.
Bones506
Roar Guru
I had the chance to have a chat (at 9:15pm) up with Michael Crosbie after the second stage of the Herald Sun Tour before the guys bed down for the night in Bendigo. 1. Michael, thanks again for your time. A great start to the HST with David Kelly taking out 3rd in the Individual Time Trial Prologue just behind Jordan Kerby and Joseph Cooper? An awesome start to the tour for Dave and the Team. He was the first rider off the line and he rode a great prologue. He warmed up really well and he went out an executed. Given the quality of the field it was a brillinat effort. 2. Your game is more suited to climbing so how did you find the 4.8km ITT? The TT was good. I am not a time trial specialist so I went out and did the best I could do. My goal for the stage was to go sub 6 minutes and I was able to achieve that so I am happy with how I rode and my result. 3. Stage 1 (Sunbury to Bendigo) was brought forward by 2 hours to heklp limit the extreme temperatures. Did this impact the race prep. It was a late finish at the prologue and an early start so I am looking forward to a good nights sleep. 4. Stage 1 was always going to be a tough day in the saddle with 148km of racing and the big climb over Mt Macedon. With the temperatures soaring to 41 degress how is the body feeling now? Pretty good. Just trying to replace everything I burnt on the road and get the core body temperature down. Dave has a bit of heatstroke but given the huge effort he and Tom (Leaper) put in today for the team I am not surprised. He is ok now which is good. 5. Did the race plan for you and the team unfold as you hoped? We are happy with our effort. As a whole the team rode really well. Jason Spencer got a top 20 finish which is a great effort given the conditions and the calibre of riders. Today was a real sufferfest and was very much a day for the hard men. 6. What does the afternoon and evening entail for you and the team? Trying to get back to the hotel as quickly as possible and get rehydrated and try to restore as much fuel as possible. Also need to get the core temperature down. We had a team dinner and a team meeting to talk about the stage and also the plans for tomorrow. A few of us went to the pool to cool down and a few others stayed inside with ice packs on their legs. Off to bed for me after this. 7. Even though the temp is backing off tomorrow there will be no rest for the wicked as the pelton rides from Mitchelton Winery to Healesville? Flatter stage tomorrow so should be one for the sprinters so hopefully we can get Shannon and Ryan into good positions to have a crack. 8. Your tip for the stage tomorrow? Goss. 9. As far as the U23 riders who is looking the goods. Calvin Watson. He is in a great position to take the White Jersey and could take out the whole thing. Thanks again for your time Michael. We wish you all the best for tomorrow.