2005 Tattersalls Cup - Tour of Tasmania
by Luke McDonough
 

Wednesday August 17 to Sunday 21 August 2005

• Stage 1 – Wednesday August 17: Launceston Silverdome - Grindelwald, 49.8 km

• Stage 2 – Wednesday August 17: Grindelwald - Bridport, 93.9 km

• Stage 3 -  Thursday August 18: Scottsdale criterium,

• Stage 4  - Thursday August 18: Scottsdale - Lilydale, 41.2 km

• Stage 5 –  Friday August 19: Deloraine - Sheffield, 54.9 km

• Stage 6 -  Friday August 19: Sheffield kermesse,

• Stage 7 -  Saturday August 20: George Town criterium,

• Stage 8 -  Saturday August 20: George Town - Beauty Point, 47.5 km

• Stage 9 -  Sunday August 21: Launceston criterium, 34 km

Coburg Cycling Club sent a team of riders to the Jayco Tour of Tasmania last week.  Darren Lapthorne, Andrew Ward, Steve Pilson were joined by Steve Robb (Brunswick) and Ballarat riders Andrew Cochrane and Jason Heggert.  Despite Luke bogging the van on the local golf course on the opening night the Tour was a success for the Coburg riders.

The Tour consisted of short stages made up of road and criterium races over the five days.  Darren Lapthorne managed a third place on the Scottsdale to Lilydale stage.  He followed this up with a second place at the Sheffield Kermesse on the following day.  Darren managed to place 14^th overall loosing valuable time on the first and second stage, which cost him a top ten placing.  He is well placed on the overall series on 13^th place. The top 10 earning an all expenses paid trip to the Tour of Queensland.

Andrew Ward suffered with a cold and cramped on the longest stage of the tour to Bridport, but managed to complete the Tour.   Steve Pilson continues to improve with a 15th placing on Stage 8 earning him a free beer from Luke.  Steve was unlucky to finish with the lead bunch on the final day after crashing and finished the Tour in 44^th place.

Steve Pilson, Adrian Hanson and Darren Lapthorne will be contesting the Tour of the Murray River Wednesday 31 August to Sunday 4 September.  Darren will also be competing in the Tour of New Caledonia in September with the MG Bigpond team.

For full results of the tour visit www.cyclingnews.com

Copyright 2005 Coburg Cycling Club. All Rights Reserved