CRONULLA looks set to host the finale of a three-stage NSW Cycling Grand Prix next year after the success of the just completed 2013 criterium series.
Either Parramatta or Bathurst will be added to the successful Cronulla-Wollongong formula of recent years, with the scenic race route between Elouera and Wanda beaches possibly staging a ‘‘golden mile’’ athletic event too.
Sports promoter Phill Bates and his organising team had less than two weeks notice of final state government funding approval, so close did the event come to not being staged this year.
Yet, they still managed to gather most of the best sprinters in the country to take part on Saturday and Sunday, and have Nine Network televise it live.
‘‘Next year we hope to expand it again, with Cronulla the final leg of the series,’’ Bates said yesterday after young Caleb Ewan was crowned overall champion.
‘‘The government realises there is big interest in exciting criterium racing, so I will have talks to include Parramatta or Bathurst in the series, with the finale at Cronulla.’’
Cronulla athletics coach Jock Campbell, head of the successful Jock Athletics team and supporter of Cronulla’s Commonwealth Games cycling champion Rochelle Gilmore, manager of the Wiggle Honda women’s team, is keen to include some of the best runners in the country competing over a mile — and televised.
‘‘There is the opportunity to stage a great run, possibly in between the women’s and men’s [cycling] events on this course,’’ Campbell said.
‘‘With the surf and beaches in the background, there are no better scenic race courses in the world.’’
NSW Sports Minister Gabrielle Upton was ‘‘highly impressed’’ by the course when she inspected the area for the first time last week.
Organisers will be hoping her department backs her enthusiasm with funding for the 2014 series.
PIPPED AT THE FINISH
Saturday’s main race, the men’s criterium, provided dramatic action where two-time race winner, Team Sky professional Chris Sutton of Miranda, was pipped on the finish line by the small-framed Caleb Ewan.
‘‘CJ’’ and fellow Australian pro, Mark Renshaw (Belkin Pro Cycling), moved up from the middle of the pack with a few laps to go and made their dash in the long sprint against the wind from Wanda to Elouera.
Sutton, son of the great St George champion Gary Sutton, looked the winner when he hit the lead 50 metres out but little NSW Institute of Sport rider Caleb Ewan flew down the outside to win by half a wheel at the Elouera Beach finish-line, with big Drapac pro Thomas Palmer third.
Earlier in the women’s event, also televised live, Gilmore’s Wiggle Honda team finished 1,2,3 when Lauren Kitchen broke away with a few laps to go to beat team-mates, Charlotte Becker and New Zealander, Emily Collins.
On Sunday, Jack Beckinsale, 20, of Grays Point backed up his fourth place on Saturday to edge out Ewan, after Sutton and Renshaw had worked hard to bring back a breakway group. Beckinsale finished second overall and Sutton, who had delayed a flight to Europe for a Team Sky training camp, fourth overall.
In the women’s event, the Wiggle Honda team again prevailed, with German world champion Charlotte Becker recovering from a fall to again provide the big sprint which allowed team-mate Peta Mullens to come over the top for the victory.
The fast-finishing New Zealander Sophie Williamson was third, but the champ from Berlin was a worthy outright winner.
What did you think of the races?
