Drapac Professional Cycling takes on the UCI 2.1 Herald Sun Tour next week motivated to claim a so-far elusive overall victory at what is the team’s home race. The event runs February 5 – 9 throughout Victoria, Australia.
In 2011, Drapac’s Rhys Pollock rode in the yellow leader’s jersey until the queen stage on Arthurs Seat, eventually finishing sixth overall and in 2013 when the race returned Will Walker was the best-placed rider also in sixth overall.
Drapac Directeur Sportif Agostino Giramondo admits that there is a certain pressure on the team to perform in Victoria but is optimistic for the team’s chances in 2014.
“We’ve always performed well at the Sun Tour but we’re yet to win one,” he said. “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.”
Taking to the start house for Drapac when the five-day event gets underway with a Prologue through the Melbourne CBD will be Jack Anderson, Jonathan Cantwell, Will Clarke, Jordan Kerby, Darren Lapthorne and Lachie Norris. Kerby took out the 2013 Prologue in Williamstown, before going on to claim the Australian Under-23 Road Championship. One year on, he has the Australian Under-23 Time Trial Championship under his belt and is hopeful of another solid result.
“I’m in pretty good shape coming off the nationals,” Kerby said. “I kicked back a little bit afterwards and then ramped up the training again. 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 exciting for the crowds.”
Giramondo believes that the aggressive style of racing that has so far been on show from Drapac this season, starting with the Nationals and Tour Down Under, will once again be a feature at the Herald Sun Tour.
“It’s a very attacking team,” he said.
Will Clarke, who earned the Most Competitive rider jersey three days out of six at the Tour Down Under is hopeful of continuing his form in what will be only his second appearance at the Herald Sun Tour, having first raced it in 2009.
“With a week of rest I will freshen up and be ready to go again at the Sun Tour next Wednesday night,” the 28-year-old explained. “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.”
While the faster, stronger men are likely to have a say in proceedings in the front half of the Herald Sun Tour, that’s likely to change by Stage 2 into Bendigo. Giramondo believes this is when the first selection for the General Classification will be made.
“It will be a very demanding day,” he explained. “It hasn’t got big hills with the exception of Mount Alexander towards the end but I think by that stage the race will have taken a bit of form and shape and Mount Alexander will be just the icing on the cake.”
As in 2013, the Herald Sun Tour will wrap up with three ascents of Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula.
“You could still have maybe 10 or 15 riders within a minute at Arthurs Seat and I think it will still be an open race up until then,” he concluded.