Jayco Herald Sun Tour – NRS Teams Recap
Stage 1
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A massive day for the men of the NRS in stage 01 of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour. Being the early antagonisers it was the Korda Mentha team comprising of InForm TM Insight MAKE riders that stirred the pot. Though it was a break of 5 NRS riders who stole the show; consisting of Jesse Coyle (Nero Continental), Ben Hill (Team BirdgeLane), Conor Murtagh (Olivers Real Food Racing) and Ryan Thomas (ARA Pro Racing).
Awarded with most combative for the day, it was Ben Hill driving the break fighting until the end as it was reeled in with just a few kilometres to go. In the end, it came down to a bunch kick dominated by the WorldTour Teams. Though flying under the radar of it all was Godfrey Slattery (Korda Mentha) who contested in the bunch kick crossing the line in fifth! Not a bad day out all in all.
Stage 2
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Stage 02 of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour – 117km in total from Beechworth to the mountain top finish of Falls Creek. As expected, the day began with Ben Hill (Team BridgeLane) in the early break as he looked to lock down the points jersey; placing 3rd and 1st in the two intermediate sprints respectively seeing him step into the green for Stage 03. Though it wasn’t just Hill in today’s break, accompanied by fellow NRS rider: Angus Lyons (Olivers’ Real Food Racing) put on a real display of determination and grit as he picks up the most combative jersey for the stage.
As the race proceeded into the latter stages, the peloton dwindled seeing big names fall to the wayside, though short-lived an attack from Jay Vine (Nero Continental) had everyone out their seats as he launched from long range though, it was not to last as Team Sunweb found yet another gear and reeled him back in. Not to be discouraged Vine still powered through finishing in an impressive 8th against some top talent of the WorldTour.
Stage 4
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Stage 04 of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour got underway this morning as the race departed Mansfield towards Mt. Buller on the 106km Queen Stage. As predicted it was Ben Hill (Team BridgeLane) who continued his run of joining the early break as he looked to reclaim the points jersey. Doing just that, Hill took maximum points at intermediate sprints meaning we will see him in green on the final day of the tour.
With the break finally being caught at 5km to go, the race truly got underway. Throwing everything he had at the competition it was the white jersey of Sebastian Berwick (St. George Conti.) that went on the attack only to be reeled in by the tour leader and eventual winner Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb). Closing out the podium and crossing the line in third was none other than Jay Vine (Nero Continental) who sits 6th on GC!
Stage 5
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Stage 05 Jayco Herald Sun Tour; it all came down to 22x 4km laps around the Melbourne botanical gardens. A lot was at stake for many of our NRS riders today. Ben Hill (Team BridgeLane) was looking to secure the points classification, Jay Vine (Nero Continental) was striving to increase his GC position and Sebastian Berwick (St Geroge Continental) only needed to stay up-right to secure the Young Riders Classification. From the gun, it was Ben and Jay off the front in the early break.
Ben quickly took the first intermediate sprint, ensuring that he would go home with the Green Jersey he had fought so hard for throughout the week.
It was then Jay’s turn to pick up the crucial bonus seconds, taking out the second intermediate he snuck in front of Jess Ewart (Team Sapura) and wrapped his week with an astonishing 5th in overall GC.
Sebastian; staying safe and out of trouble throughout the stage. He finished just behind the kick, clinching the White Jersey and 2nd in the overall GC a massive achievement for anyone, let alone a 20-year-old. Surely big things to come for this young man!
Last but not least the 2019 National Road Champion, Michael Freiberg went on the hunt mid-race bridging the gap between the break and the peloton which had extended out to 35 seconds, earning him the most aggressive riders jersey.