Men's national road championship: simply world class!

When Simon Gerrans claimed his second national road race championship by out pointing fellow pros Cadel Evans and Richie Porte in a thrilling showdown at Buninyong yesterday, only two words were needed to sum up the event – world class.

In a national field that would be the envy of any other country in the world, Gerrans did what he does best, out sprinting the small group remaining to take the top step on the podium for the second time in three years.

And what a small group it was!

With just half a lap to go the leaders had been whittled down to an elite selection of four. Orica-GreenEDGE had the numbers with Gerrans and the versatile Cameron Meyer, while Richie Porte and Cadel Evans had to fend for themselves.

Meyer fired the first shot of the final battle to establish a small break, which allowed teammate Gerrans to sit back and draft behind Evans and Porte. But when his energy began to wane, it was left to the big three to fight it out for themselves as they swung onto Geelong road for the final time.

Porte was the first to try to get away, knowing that he would be out sprinted by the other two if things stayed together, but the wily Evans was quick to lead Gerrans back across to his wheel and the three would enter the final stanza of the race locked together.

Porte was the first to concede defeat, but only within 100 metres of the finish as Gerrans jumped out of the saddle and stomped on the pedals.

Evans was quick to follow, drafting momentarily, but perhaps for a second too long.

They approached the finish line, flickering in and out of the afternoon shadows, Evans swinging off Gerrans’ wheel and giving it his all. But the line came too quickly and Gerrans held off the surging veteran to take a much deserved and well played out victory.

It was an incredible finish to what had been an incredible race.

The consensus among the media contingent was that these were the best nationals yet, with Sunday’s road race being the jewel in Cycling Australia’s crown.

The proof, so to speak, was in the pudding!

Never has there been a podium in this country stacked with so much talent. On the top step stood Gerrans, conqueror of Milan Sanremo, yellow jersey wearer and stage winner of all three Grand Tours.

To his left stood Evans, Tour de France victor and world champion. And to their right stood Porte, winner of Paris-Nice and Evans’ heir-apparent as this country’s premier stage racer.

These men are the modern day giants of Australian cycling, to be spoken of in the same hushed tones as Opperman, Mockridge and Anderson. They are the heroes of our time, riders with an unbridled passion for bike riding and a pride in performance that drives them to excellence.

And the best thing of all?

They raced here, on our own shores, in front of adoring crowds who for the most part are starved of world class racing. And not only are the crowds adoring, they are knowledgeable.

Cadel Evans during the men’s national road race (Image: Sean Lee)

The stability of this event and its continual growth see the people coming back year after year. Their learning curve continues, but they know a good race when the see one, and that is exactly what they got yesterday.

Right from the starter’s gun, the people crowded the course. From the start/finish line and all the way up the climb to the King of the Mountain point, fans choked both sides of the road.

There was a break-away (there always is), and just like last year’s famous one, Luke Durbridge was a part of it. But despite a healthy representation of Orica-GreenEDGE and Drapac riders, this break could only establish a lead of about three minutes before it was gradually brought back to the field.

Along with Durbridge in the break was 41-year-old Allan Iacuone. This remarkable athlete won the national road title 20 years ago and managed to stay with the break-away until just before its disintegration.

With each passing lap looking likely to be his last with the leading group, he managed to hang on grimly, climbing out of the saddle with an ungainly rocking motion. The longer he hung on, the more the crowd cottoned onto what was happening, and they cheered and clapped as he survived lap after lap.

Allan Iacuone – number 127 (Image: Sean Lee)

But the day undoubtedly belonged to the stars of the show; gracious, humble stars who are at once personable and higher likeable.

Evans thanked the public, the crowd, the weather and the town. Porte declared that the atmosphere was incredible. “Up on the hill today was like a Tour stage,” he glowed. Gerrans reiterated how special it was to win in front of a home crowd.

We must remember that it is only the start of the season for these riders. They are at the beginning of a long list of goals and objectives that they will be hoping to achieve over the coming months.

For Gerrans his immediate challenge will be next week’s Tour Down Under in which he will be once again chasing the general classification. For Evans and Porte, the Giro d’Italia looms large on their list of priorities.

Porte will go into the race as leader of a Grand Tour team for the first time, while Evans may well be leading his last.

They may be poles a part with regards to career direction, but they had one thing in common yesterday – neither of them treated the nationals as a mere training ride.

And for that they deserve our greatest respect.

They truly are world class.