After Tokyo Olympic track sprinter Kaarle McCulloch's retirement it didn't take long for the strong St. George Cycling team to get back in the headlines after one of its riders Cameron Ivory won the 2022 AusCycling Criterium National Championship last week in Ballarat.
The St. George Continental Cycling Team is one of the first of its kind and was developed with the staff and members of St. George Cycling Club, to provide young promising athletes with the opportunity to compete at the highest level, with aims to make the upper echelons of the sport.
Normally known as a mountain bike champion, Cameron Ivory claimed the elite men's Australian criterium title with a bold solo attack at the bell.
Ivory, who has been competing on the road between winning cross-country national titles on the dirt, last claimed the Australian marathon championship in 2021.
With the peloton strung out at the start of the last lap, the 29-year-old set off on his own, taking a handful of seconds that he was able to hold to the finish before throwing his hands in the air.
Ivory's win followed an attack-filled race of 44km that was highlighted by several promising moves, including an early six-man breakaway featuring former World Tour rider James Whelan (Team BridgeLane) and Ivory's sole teammate Tasman Nankervis.
Ivory said in the St George Continental Team, it was only Tasman Nankervis and him.
"We're used to riding together in a two-man team. A few years ago riding at GPM-Stulz we had quite a campaign in the US, just the two of us. Tas did such an amazing job tonight, so much work chasing the moves, and gave me the opportunity to sit back in the bunch and save my legs."
The longest-surviving move was a breakaway of Jean-Pierre van der Merwe (Team BridgeLane) and Ben Carman (Nero Continental).The race had come back together with three laps to go, thanks in large part to the work of Conor Leahy (Inform TMX MAKE), working for sprinter Brenton Jones.
The race had come back together with three laps to go, but only Ivory was able to make a clean break.
Cameron said that this was by the far the biggest 'skinny tyre' race he has won.
"I've had a couple of wins and podiums in the National Road Series and fourth place in this race in previous years and I've always wanted to get on the podium here, so to get to on the top step, I'm so stoked about." he said
"I couldn't believe it was happening until 20 metres to go when I could actually sit up and throw my hands in the air.
"I was looking over my shoulder with half a lap to go, waiting for that bunch to come but just can't believe I held onto it."
John Veage
Thirty five year photographer for Fairfax -former NSW Chief Photographer for FCN and now Photo Journalist for the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader in southern Sydney.Official photographer for Cycling Australia (20 years) Official photographer for Surf Life Saving Australia (30 years) Founding Life Member of Cronulla Boardriders Club and Life Member of Surfing Sutherland Shire among other things.
Thirty five year photographer for Fairfax -former NSW Chief Photographer for FCN and now Photo Journalist for the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader in southern Sydney.Official photographer for Cycling Australia (20 years) Official photographer for Surf Life Saving Australia (30 years) Founding Life Member of Cronulla Boardriders Club and Life Member of Surfing Sutherland Shire among other things.
