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David McCann today held on to his excellent third place overall in the Herald Sun Tour, finishing on the podium at the end of the 2.1 ranked Australian event. He placed a fine tenth on the final stage, taking what was his fourth top-ten stage placing of the race.
The 2.1 ranked tour ended with a criterium held on the streets of Melbourne, McCann coming home seven seconds after Australians Hilton Clarke Junior (VIS Jayco) and Matthew Goss (Australia) sprinted it out for the stage win. Chris Jonegewaard (Savings and Loans), who had been clear for much of the stage with Clarke and Goss, just held on for third place.
Ireland riders Paul Healion, Eugene Moriarty, Andrew Roche and Tommy Evans all finished the race. They, along with Conor Murphy and Andrew McQuaid, went into the final stage intent on protecting McCann’s third place overall. He had jumped up to that position on the back of his excellent time trial win yesterday.
McCann’s high finish in the race comes towards the end of what has been a fine season racing with the Giant Asia professional team. Most recently, he won the prologue and the overall classification of the 2.2 ranked Milad du Noor race in Iran.
He will continue to compete for a few more weeks. A strong finish to the season could see McCann win the overall classification in the Asian continental Tour. Giant Asia – with whom Irishman Paul Griffin also competes - have already made sure of the team title.
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Herald Sun Tour, Australia (2.1)
Stage 7, Lygon St, Melbourne criterium:
1, Hilton Clarke Jnr. (VIS Jayco) 56 mins 36 secs
2, Matthew Goss (Australia) same time
3, Chris Jongewaard (Savings and Loans) at 7 secs
4, Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux)
5, Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly - Pool Gel)
6, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance)
7, Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto)
8, Jarron Poad (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond)
9, Wesley Sulzberger (AG2r Prévoyance)
10, David Mc Cann (Ireland) all same time
Other Irish:
50, Paul Healion (Ireland) at 1 min 10 secs
60, Eugene Moriarty (Ireland) at 1 min 47 secs
77, Andrew Roche (Ireland) at 2 mins 30 secs
85, Tommy Evans (Ireland) at 28 secs
DNF: Conor Murphy (Ireland)
DNF: Andrew Mc Quaid (Ireland)
Final general classification:
1, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) 15 hours 52 mins 1 sec
2, Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) at 14 secs
3, David Mc Cann (Ireland) at 39 secs
4, David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) at 1 min 11 secs
5, Peter Hatton (Australia) at 1 min 13 secs
6, Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) at 1 min 35 secs
7, Matt Lloyd (VIS Jayco) at 1 min 45 secs
8, Mitchell Docker (AG2r Prévoyance) at 2 mins
9, Mark Renshaw (Française des Jeux) at 2 mins 20 secs
10, Nicolas Portal (AG2r Prévoyance) at 3 mins 4 secs
Other Irish :
78, Evans, at 33 mins 57 secs
86, Moriarty, at 36 mins 3 secs
92, Roche, at 36 mins 39 secs
102, Healion, at 54 mins 35 secs
Sprints classification :
1 Hilton Clarke Jnr., 20 pts
2, Cooke, 16
3 Goss, 10
Other:
18, Healion, 2
Teams classification:
1, AG2R Prevoyance, 47 hours 39 mins
2, HLP/Superstore, at 5 mins 15 secs
3, Française des Jeux, at 7 mins 14 secs
Other :
14, Ireland, at 1 hour 4 mins 11 secs
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14/10/05 MCCANN WINS STAGE 6 IN SUN TOUR, NOW 3RD OVERALL
Irish time trial champion David McCann took what was arguably his best win against the clock to date when he raced to an impressive victory today in stage 6 of the Herald Sun Tour in Australia.
The Belfast man covered the 11 kilometre uphill time trial from Monbulk to Mount Dandenong in a time of 21 minutes 35.38 seconds, 3.75 seconds quicker than Simon Gerrans (Ag2R Prévoyance) and a full 26.55 seconds faster than the third-placed rider, Glen Chadwick of the Cyclingnews.com-Fondriest team.
McCann’s excellent ride comes on the back of some fine performances recently, including a prologue win and overall victory in the Milad Noor in Iran. His efforts today see him jump from ninth to third overall in the Herald Sun Tour, and with just a short criterium race to come tomorrow, he looks almost certain to hold onto that podium place until the end of the 2.1 ranked event.
Gerrans leads the race heading into tomorrow’s one hour criterium in Melbourne. Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) is 14 seconds back in second place, with McCann a further 25 seconds down. The Irishman would actually be in second place overall had his group not have been sent the wrong way during yesterday’s road race stage.
The six other Irish riders in the race - Tommy Evans, Andrew Roche, Eugene Moriarty, Conor Murphy, Paul Healion and Andrew McQuaid - will have the task tomorrow of protecting McCann’s third place overall. Finishing on the podium will net more world-ranking points for Ireland, adding to a healthy total which has been taken this year. The country’s world ranking is vital as regards qualification for the world championships and Olympic Games.
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Herald Sun Tour, Australia (2.1)
Stage 6, Monbulk - Mt Dandenong ITT:
1, David Mc Cann (Ireland) 11 kilometres in 21 mins 35.38 secs (30.579km/h)
2, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) at 3.75 secs
3, Glen Chadwick (Cyclingnews.com-Fondriest) at 26.55 secs
4, Dainius Kairelis (Amore & Vita) at 34.08 secs
5, Fabrice Jeandesboz (Française des Jeux) at 39.26 secs
6, Shaun Higgerson (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond) at 40.63 secs
Other Irish:
46, Tommy Evans (Ireland) at 2 mins 1.06 secs
68, Andrew Roche (Ireland) at 2 mins 40.95 secs
73, Eugene Moriarty (Ireland) at 2 mins 48.24 secs
81, Conor Murphy (Ireland) at 2 mins 55.98 secs
105, Paul Healion (Ireland) at 3 mins 51.02 secs
115, Andrew Mc Quaid (Ireland) at 4 mins 56.16 secs
General classification after stage 6:
1, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) 14 hours 55.18 secs
2, Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) at 14 secs
3, David Mc Cann (Ireland) at 39 secs
4, David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) at 1 min 11 secs
5, Peter Hatton (Australia) at 1 min 13 secs
6, Nicolas Portal (AG2r Prévoyance) at 1 min 24 secs
Other :
95, Tommy Evans (Ireland) at 33 mins 36 secs
98, Andrew Roche (Ireland) at 34 mins 16 secs
100, Eugene Moriarty (Ireland) at 34 mins 23 secs
109, Conor Murphy (Ireland) at 38 mins 38 secs
114, Andrew Mc Quaid (Ireland) at 46 mins 21 secs
118, Paul Healion (Ireland) at 53 mins 32 secs
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13/10/05 MCCANN MOVES UP IN OVERALL STANDINGS AFTER STRONG RIDE
David McCann today raced to his second top ten finish in two days in the Herald Sun Tour in Australia, crossing the line in seventh and jumping up 14 places to ninth overall. The Belfast man reached the finish in Healesville as part of a 14 man chase group which finished 36 seconds behind the day’s winner, Baden Cooke. The Française des Jeux Australian outsprinted Canadian rival Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) to take his second stage win in two days.
While McCann will be pleased with his move up the general classification, he will however regret the marshalling error during the stage which send him and the rest of the chase group the wrong way. They lost almost a minute and thus missed out on the chance of overhauling Cooke and Perras, the new overall leader, before the line.
Today’s stage was seen as the hardest of the 2.1 ranked event, with two big climbs facing the riders during the 140.9 kilometre race distance. Cooke and Peras went clear of the rest of the break with 50 kilometres to go and received an unexpected boost when the chasers were misdirected.
McCann has another chance to shine tomorrow when the Herald Sun Tour competitors tackle an 11 kilometre uphill time trial from Monbulk to Mount Dandenong. Perras heads into the stage with a relatively solid 31 second lead over Joshua Collingwood (Savings and Loans). Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) is a further second back in third, while Cooke is now fifth.
Besides McCann, there are six other Irish riders in the race. Andrew Roche, Eugene Moriarty, Andrew McQuaid, Paul Healion, Conor Murphy and Tommy Evans all finished in the main bunch today. Moriarty is best placed of these overall in 95th.
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Herald Sun Tour, Australia (2.1)
Stage 5, Healesville – Healesville:
1 Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) 140.9 kilometres in 3 hours 34 mins 19 secs
2 Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) same time
3 David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) at 36 secs
4 Mark Renshaw (Française des Jeux)
5 Danny Pate (Jelly Belly - Pool Gel)
6 Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) all same time
Irish:
7, David Mc Cann (Ireland) same time
69, Andrew Roche (Ireland) at 22 mins 35 secs
83, Eugene Moriarty (Ireland)
85, Andrew Mc Quaid (Ireland)
89, Paul Healion (Ireland)
105, Conor Murphy (Ireland)
109, Tommy Evans (Ireland) all same time
Mountains:
Prime 1:
1, Matt Lloyd (VIS Jayco) 5 pts
2, Peter Hatton (Australia) 3
3, David Harrigan (Colnago – Caravello) 1
Prime 2:
1, Peter Hatton (Australia) 7 pts
2, Matt Lloyd (VIS Jayco) 5
3, Mitchell Docker (AG2r Prévoyance) 2
Prime 3:
1, Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) 7 pts
2, Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) 5
3, David Mc Cann (Ireland) 2
General Classification after Stage 5
1, Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) 14 hours 33 mins 7 secs
2, Joshua Collingwood (Savings and Loans) at 31 secs
3, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) at 32 secs
4, David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) at 36 secs
5, Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) at 39 secs
Irish :
9, McCann, at 1 min 15 secs
95, Moriarty, at 32 mins 11 secs
96, Roche
97, Evans, both same time
109, Murphy, at 36 mins 18 secs
113, McQuaid, at 42 mins 1 sec
118, Healion, at 50 mins 17 secs
Sprint Classification :
1, Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) 16 pts
2, Hilton Clarke Jnr. (VIS Jayco) 9
3, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) 6
Mountains Classification:
1, Peter Hatton (Australia) 15 pts
2, Matt Lloyd (VIS Jayco) 15
3, Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) 8
Irish :
10, David Mc Cann (Ireland) 2
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12/10/05 MCCANN FIFTH ON STAGE FOUR
Ireland rider David McCann rode to an excellent fifth place in the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia today, sprinting in towards the head of the field at the end of the 172.6 kilometre stage to Marysville. Compatriot Eugene Moriarty also finished well, placing 12th behind the day’s winner Baden Cooke of the Française des Jeux team.
Cooke had been relegated to last on yesterday’s stage after accusations of dangerous sprinting. He successfully appealed that time loss today, putting his anger to good use in taking his first stage win of the 2005 race on what is his 27th birthday. Artur Krsezowiec (Amore & Vita) and Karl Menzies (HLP/Superstore) were second and third.
Australian Sean Sullivan continues to lead overall, with McCann 44 seconds back in 25th place. He has two good opportunities to move up the overall standings before the 2.1 ranked race ends on Saturday. Tomorrow, the Ireland team leader will aim to climb well on the race’s toughest stage, a 140.9 kilometre race to Healesville, which includes two climbs over 450 metres. He will then try to capitalise on his strong time trial ability in the 11 kilometre uphill race against the clock from Monbulk to Mount Dandenong on Friday.
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Herald Sun Tour, Australia (2.1)
Stage 4 - October 12: Mitchelton Winery – Marysville:
1, Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) 172.6 kilometres in 4 hours 16 mins 4 secs
2, Artur Krsezowiec (Amore & Vita)
3, Karl Menzies (HLP/Superstore)
4, Simon Clarke (VIS Jayco)
5, David Mc Cann (Ireland)
6, Huub Duyn (Netherlands) all same time
Other Irish:
12, Eugene Moriarty (Ireland)
52, Conor Murphy (Ireland)
58, Tommy Evans (Ireland)
61, Andrew Roche (Ireland) all same time
116, Andrew Mc Quaid (Ireland) at 40 secs
129, Paul Healion (Ireland) at 10 mins 59 secs
Mountains:
KOM 1:
1, Russell Downing (Recycling.co.uk/Litespeed) 5 pts
2, Makoto Iilima (Japan presented by Latrobe City) 3
3, Stuart Shaw (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond) 1
KOM 2:
1, Makoto Iilima (Japan presented by Latrobe City) 5 pts
2, Koji Fukishima (Bridgestone Anchor) 3
3, Stuart Shaw (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond) 1
Sprints:
Sprint 1:
1, Hilton Clarke Jnr. (VIS Jayco) 3 pts
2, Stuart Shaw (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond) 2
3, Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly - Pool Gel) 1
Sprint 2:
1, Hilton Clarke Jnr. (VIS Jayco) 3 pts
2, Stuart Shaw (MG Xpower p/b Bigpond) 2
3, Koji Fukishima (Bridgestone Anchor) 1
Teams:
1, Savings and Loans, 12 hours 48 mins 12 secs
2, Amore and Vita
3, Australia, both same time
Other:
6, Ireland, same time
General classification after stage 4:
1, Sean Sullivan (Savings and Loans) 10 hours 58 mins 43 secs
2, Joshua Collingwood (Savings and Loans)
3, Russell Van Hout (Savings and Loans)
4, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) at 1 sec
5, David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) at 5 secs
6, Dominique Perras (HLP/Superstore) same time
Irish:
25, McCann, at 44 secs
95, Moriarty, at 9 mins 41 secs
96, Evans
97, Roche, both same time
115, Murphy, at 13 mins 48 secs
121, McQuaid, at 19 mins 31 secs
129, Healion, at 27 mins 47 secs
Mountains classification: 1, Makoto Iilima (Japan presented by Latrobe City) 8 pts
Sprint classification : 1, Hilton Clarke Jnr. (VIS Jayco) 9 pts
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11/10/05 MCCANN GOES ON ATTACK
Ireland team leader David McCann made a big bid to move up the overall classification in the Herald Sun Tour today, attacking with Miyataka Shimizu (Bridgestone Anchor) in the second half of the 153 kilometre stage and building a lead of 1 minute and 15 seconds over the main bunch. However the duo were hauled back, paving the way for the counterattack which was to settle the day’s top placings.
First to the line was Australian Simon Gerrans, the Ag2R Prevoyance rider jumping away inside the final kilometre and reaching the finish clear of compatriots Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) and Brett Lancaster (VIS Jayco). The latter was subsequently moved up to second on the stage after Cooke was relegated for dangerous sprinting, this declassification also elevating David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) to third.
Best of the Irish was Paul Healion, who finished 33rd, 33 seconds behind Gerrans. Conor Murphy and McCann were a further second back, the latter dropping from 18th to 24th overall. He is now 45 seconds behind race leader Sean Sullivan (Savings and Loans). However, McCann showed good aggression today and will surely try again before the 2.1 ranked race ends on Saturday.
The 2005 Jayco Herald Sun Tour continues tomorrow with the longest stage, a 172.km ride from Mitchelton Wiinery to Marysville.
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Herald Sun Tour, Australia (2.1)
Stage 3 - October 11: Bendigo – Shepparton:
1, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) 153 kilometres in 3 hours 16 mins 10 secs
2, Brett Lancaster (VIS Jayco) at 2 secs
3, David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore)
4, Sean Sullivan (Savings and Loans)
5, Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto)
6, Joshua Collingwood (Savings and Loans) all same time
Irish:
33, Paul Healion (Ireland) at 33 secs
44, Conor Murphy (Ireland) at 34 secs
45, David McCann (Ireland) same time
110, Andrew McQuaid (Ireland) at 2 mins 43 secs
112, Tommy Evans (Ireland) same time
113, Eugene Moriarty (Ireland) at 2 mins 44 secs
116, Andrew Roche (Ireland) same time
General classification after stage 3
1, Sean Sullivan (Savings and Loans) 6 hours 42 mins 39 secs
2, Joshua Collingwood (Savings and Loans)
3, Russell Van Hout (Savings and Loans) both same time
4, Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) at 1 sec
5, David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) at 7 secs
6, Jeremy Venell (Cyclingnews.com-Fondriest) at 10 secs
Irish:
24, McCann, at 45 secs
108, Evans, at 9 mins 48 secs
109, Roche, at 9 mins 49 secs
110, Moriarty, same time
122, Murphy, at 13 mins 49 secs
124, Healion, at 16 mins 48 secs
130, McQuaid, at 18 mins 58 secs
Points classification : Simon Gerrans (AG2r Prévoyance) 6 pts
Teams classification
1, Savings and Loans, 20 hours 7 mins 57 secs
2, HLP/Superstore, at 42 secs
3, Victorian Insitute of Sport Jayco, at 45 secs
4, AG2R Prevoyance, at 1 min 7 secs
5, Cyclingnews.com, at 1 min 53 secs
6, Davitamon-Lotto, at 2 mins 33 secs
Other:
18, Ireland, at 16 mins 2 secs
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10/11/05 MCCANN MOVES UP IN OVERALL STANDINGS
David McCann rode strongly on today’s second stage of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia, finishing just five seconds behind the day’s winner Dainius Kairelis of the Amore & Vita team. Matt Lloyd (VIS Jayco) and former Tour de France stage winner Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) were second and third.
Irish time trial champion McCann crossed the line in 15th place, having being one of sixty riders who gained over a minute over the rest of the field. He is eighteenth overall, 14 seconds behind overall leader Sean Sullivan of the Savings and Loan team.
McCann is now the clear leader of the Ireland squad, after Andrew Roche, Tommy Evans and Eugene Moriarty finished 6 minutes and 55 seconds down today. Conor Murphy, Andrew McQuaid and Paul Healion lost an additional 9 minutes and 10 seconds, while Padraig Marrey finished outside the time limit.
The 2.1 ranked event continues tomorrow with a 153 kilometre stage from Bendigo to Shepparton. The Ireland team will now concentrate all their energies in assisting McCann to challenge for the overall lead. The Giant Asia professional has been in fine form this season, most recently winning the 2.2-ranked Milad du Noor in Iran.
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Herald Sun Tour, Australia (2.1)
Stage 2 - October 10: Bendigo – Bendigo:
1, Dainius Kairelis (Amore & Vita) 150.9 kilometres in 3 hours 20 mins 55 secs
2, Matt Lloyd (VIS Jayco) at 1 sec
3, Baden Cooke (Française des Jeux) at 2 secs
4, David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) same time
5, Brett Lancaster (VIS Jayco) at 3 secs
6, Jeremy Venell (Cyclingnews.com-Fondriest) at 4 secs
Irish:
15, David Mc Cann (Ireland) at 5 secs
78, Andrew Roche (Ireland) at 6 mins 55 secs
105, Tommy Evans (Ireland)
107, Eugene Moriarty (Ireland)
128, Conor Murphy (Ireland) at 13 mins 5 secs
134, Andrew Mc Quaid (Ireland) at 16 mins 5 secs
136, Paul Healion (Ireland)
Outside time limit:
141, Padraig Marrey (Ireland), at 42 mins 5 secs
General classification after stage 2:
1, Sean Sullivan (Savings and Loans) 3 hours 26 mins 30 secs
2, Joshua Collingwood (Savings and Loans) at 1 sec
3, Nicolas Portal (AG2r Prévoyance) at 4 secs
4, David McKenzie (HLP/Superstore) at 5 secs
5, Christophe Oriol (AG2r Prévoyance) same time
6, Dainius Kairelis (Amore & Vita) at 6 secs
Irish:
18, McCann, at 14 secs
91, Roche, at 7 mins 4 secs
92, Moriarty
93, Evans, both same time
128, Murphy, at 13 mins 14 secs
133, McQuaid, at 16 mins 14 secs
134, Healion, same time
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9/10/05 IRELAND GET SUN TOUR CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY
The Ireland team began their Jayco Herald Sun Tour campaign today, finishing tenth out of eighteen squads in the 4 kilometre team time trial. Paul Healion, David McCann, Andrew Roche, Padraig Marrey, Conor Murphy, Tommy Evans, Andrew McQuaid and Eugene Moriarty finished 13 seconds behind the stage winner, the Savings and Loans squad, in Williamstown. Ag2R Prévoyance and HLP/Superstore were second and third.
The Australian race continues tomorrow with a 150.9 kilometre stage, starting and finishing in Bendigo.
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Herald Sun Tour, Australia (2.1)
Stage 1, Team time trial Williamstown:
1, Savings And Loans, 4 kilometres in 5 mins 31.91 secs
2, Ag2R Prevoyance, at 3.03 secs
3, HLP/Superstore, at 4.86 secs
4, Australia, at 5.66 secs
5, Cyclingnews.Com, at 6.86 secs
6, Jelly Belly-Pool Gel, at 8.26 secs
Other:
10, Ireland, at 13 secs
General classification after stage 1:
1, Peter Mueller (Savings and Loans) 5 mins 31 secs
2, Chris Jongewaard (Savings and Loans)
3, Russell Van Hout (Savings and Loans)
4, Adrian Laidler (Savings and Loans)
5, Sean Sullivan (Savings and Loans)
6, Steven Cunningham (Savings and Loans) all same time
Irish:
73, Paul Healion, at 13 secs
74, David McCann
75, Andrew Roche
76, Padraig Marrey
77, Conor Murphy
78, Tommy Evans
79, Andrew McQuaid
80, Eugene Moriarty
Jayco Herald Sun Tour
Stage 1, Sunday October 9th: TTT, Williamstown (9.6 km)
Stage 2, Monday October 10th: Bendigo – Bendigo (150.9 km)
Stage 3, Tuesday October 11th: Bendigo – Shepparton (153 km)
Stage 4, Wednesday October 12th: Mitchelton Winery – Marysville (172.6 km)
Stage 5, Thursday October 13th: Healesville – Healesville (140.9 km)
Stage 6, Friday October 14th: Monbulk – Mt Dandenong TT (11 km)
Stage 7, Saturday October 15th: Lygon St, Melbourne criterium (one hour)