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In the women’s elite event Ruby Roseman-Gannon has got one hand on the title after taking out the opening stage. The 23-year-old Victorian has started the year with the win, fresh from being announced as a new signing for Australian owned Women’s WorldTour outfit Team BikeExchange for 2022 and 2023.
The race activated after twenty minutes with 29-year-old Grace Brown (Lexus of Blackburn) making a move off the front and opening up a 10-second gap over a chasing pack of eight riders including Melbourne to Warrnambool winner Matilda Raynolds (Inform TMX make) Courtney Sherwell (Roxsolt Liv SRAM) and team-mate Roseman-Gannon. That was shut down at the mid-point of the race, the nine riders maintaining a small gap before it was completely bunched up with three laps to go. Stage one became a reduced sprint finish with the more polished riders emerging at the front before Roseman-Gannon pounced to beat home Alex Martin-Wallace (Sunshine Coast) and Raynolds. “I didn’t know whether or not I had it in the last little bit there, it was tight around that final corner, but when you’ve got a rider like Grace Brown riding for you in the Lexus of Blackburn team, she is one of the best riders in Australia you just can’t let her down, so I went for it.” The win yesterday helps set her up for a shot at gold at the Road Nationals next week, after finishing on the podium for the last three years without taking the top step. “Yeh, I think I’ve got the legs, so I’m hoping I can pull it off in the criterium next week, that’s a bit of an itch to scratch for me as I’ve been close last three years” Eastern Gardens Geelong is hosting this year’s Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits, with both stages on the same course, clockwise today and anti-clockwise tomorrow - a move that brings several steep rises and long straights into play. The winner in both the men’s and women’s events will be crowned tomorrow, with the elite racing starting at 2pm The Bay Crits are live streamed on SBS On Demand and Facebook. First held in 1989, The Bay Crits has been an innovator over the years - taking the race to the people is what it has always been about. The superstars of Australian cycling cut their teeth in the Bay Crits. Names such as Cadel Evans, Stuart O'Grady, Robbie McEwen, Brad McGee, Baden Cooke and Caleb Ewan and later in the women's Kathy Watt, Anna Wilson, Oenone Wood, Rochelle Gilmore and Tracey Gaudry. This year our naming rights sponsor LEXUS OF BLACKBURN will help the 'Bay Crits' go GREEN with the lead car a brand-new electric Lexus UX 300e, reducing the carbon footprint of the event and a healthy event now taking on the social responsibility of a healthy globe. ‘Pedal Power Meets Electric Power’ - With no harmful tailpipe emissions, the UX 300e is helping to protect the planet while maintaining power and performance. On the road, fast-charging DC stations fully charge the vehicle in about 80 minutes. And our launch superstars inspected the new vehicle that will be leading the 'electrifying' racing!  The road to the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits is different for many, from professionals looking to tune-up ahead of the nationals to up-and-coming riders looking to make a name for themselves. In the women’s support race, there are many athletes excited for the opportunity to race against quality riders in the pumping atmosphere of the Geelong-based race. The women’s support race was introduced in 2020, run in addition to elite women’s race for the riders who aren’t quite at the pro level, but looking to challenge themselves against quality opposition as part of one of the most prestigious events on the summer calendar of cycling. The 2020 event attracted some superb athletes, a lot crossing over from other sports and relishing the opportunity for competition. Rae Lesniowska, won a stage in 2020, and spoke of the experience of winning and competing at the ‘fastest crit series in the world’ a title bestowed by Robbie McEwen. “I was literally speechless when l unexpectedly won the first stage in 2020 and was subsequently congratulated and presented with flowers and the yellow jersey on stage by cycling greats Matt Keenan, John Trevorrow and my absolute idol, Phil Liggett,” said Lesniowska. “The photo of me next to Phil is my all-time favourite photo from my cycling 'career'.  Rae Lesniowska with Phil Liggett during the 2020 Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits. Lesniowska has a storied career, stretching over a decade in triathlon, competing in the Hawaii Ironman, completing marathons and ultra-endurance cycling challenges like cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats – the length of Britain. Lesniowska highlighted the importance of the increasing the inclusivity of the event to give women the chance to show their best on the “For me, the highlight of this race was the opportunity to feel included in the absolute buzz and excitement of a professional race,” said Lesniowska. “To be included in the professional commentary, media coverage and awards ceremonies felt like a privilege to me and provided a level of acknowledgment rarely afforded to me as a competitive club level racer for nearly 38 years. “At least 90% of my cycling training and racing has been predominantly with men, due to the traditionally male dominated culture of the sport and low numbers of female cyclists and racers. Day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year of turning up and giving my all, and never really feeling like part of the gang. Countless races of clocking PBs and missing the overall podium in men's B and C grade races by as little as a tyre width with not even a mention l was there.”  Peta Antonello in action. Peta Antonello, a fellow competitor in the 2020 Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits, echoed those sentiments and spoke of bringing cycling to future generations, with the benefit of encouraging herself to tackle further challenges.
“My first experience with the Bay Crits was in 2020 after there was a call out on She Race (a women’s cycling group on Facebook), for more competitors to ensure the race was run,” said Antonello. “I knew I had no hope of being competitive in the race but I entered because I wanted to challenge myself and also ensure the category was run for future years. I am passionate about opportunity and paving the way for future female generations in the sport, however small my contribution may be.” “Since having this opportunity it has encouraged me to enter further events and races, such as the Port Campbell to Warrnambool Handicap, Ballarat ITT & road race Grand Fondo’s and weekly local club races.” From a spectator to on the course, Emma Jackson went from watching the top athletes going around to participating in the event herself in 2020. “The Bay Crits have always been the number one criterium event to attend as a spectator,” said Jackson. “My family and I have been attending for years. “I got my first photos as a child with Robbie McEwen and Stuart O’Grady at the Bay Crits. For myself, I’m a mum and keen cyclist. I love racing but I am definitely not an Elite athlete. “To have the opportunity to still be a part of the Bay Crits is amazing. I sincerely hope the 2022 event is a success. We really need events like this supporting women’s racing.” Enter here via this Entryboss link before entries close on Wednesday. There’s still time to be part of what is shaping up on a great 2022 Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits!  The Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits are back headlining the summer of cycling, with race founder and race director, John Trevorrrow, excited for the possibilities this year of the event he started back in 1989. The Bay Crits return for 2022 after a year off due to coronavirus restrictions, with the man who has seen and persevered through it all since the late 80’s excited for the return of the race that has been his passion. “It’s fantastic,” said Trevorrow. “1989 was the first one, so it’s been around for a while. We’ve gone through a lot of different things, now COVID has thrown a curveball, so it’s great to get back on it. “We’re lucky to have all our amazing supporters stay onboard (sponsors). It’s great to have them with us again.” This year, naming rights sponsor Lexus of Blackburn will help the 'Bay Crits' go green with the lead car a brand-new electric Lexus UX 300e, reducing the carbon footprint of the event and taking on the social responsibility of a healthy globe. Together with PSC Insurance Brokers, the backing of the event is in good hands for major partners. The theme of 2022 is returning to the head of the summer of cycling again, but Trevorrow is also excited for the racing action that will hit the criterium circuits in Geelong’s Eastern Gardens. “It was the actual Council that asked us to race in the Gardens, the whole COVID thing has affected things there,” said Trevorrow. “Saturday, it’s around the large circuit, it’s 1.9 kilometres and clockwise, which is the easier way. There’s the new hill that they built a few years back, but you get a good run at it, so it’s more of a sprinter’s course. “Then on Sunday, it’s the same course, but anti-clockwise and it’s much tougher. The climb from the beach to the carpark is much tougher. There’s also the wind, it’s a hard course without wind, but if it gets up there, it gets that much tougher again. “The men’s support race will be the Damion Drapac memorial race. That’s always a brilliant race, and we’ll also have the Victorian state criterium championships, which should be great fun for the guys and girls.”  The moniker of the ‘fastest criterium series in the world’ has stuck, with the long-lived event a beacon for hard and fast racing packed into a spectator-friendly circuit. That format has lent itself to cash grab events in the wake of big races like the Tour de France in the past, but the Bay Crits are the real deal. “A lot of the criteriums around the world are more like World Championship Wrestling, more of a show than anything else,” said Trevorrow. “But our crits have always been super fast and it was actually Robbie McEwen that gave it that name, he called it the world’s fastest crits and I’ve run with that ever since.” The women’s event will be raced over the same length as the men, with the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits having led the way in Australia for prizemoney equity between the men and women winners years ahead of the competition. The event has come a long way since its inception, the men’s race starting in 1989, with the first women’s event in 1994. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the event however, as Trevorrow recalls. “One of my worst memories was from the first race, back in 1989. It was in Sorrento and it poured rain the whole day,” said Trevorrow. “The set-up, the race, we had to do the interviews under an awning in the hotel, I was thinking ‘what have I done’. “The whole idea of the Bay Crits was to bring the racing to the holiday venues, bring the racing to the crowds. But it rained all day and barely anyone showed up. Thankfully, it didn’t rain for any of the next four or five years of the event.” The story of the Bay Crits is revealed through the champions that have ridden the event, or have been discovered as top talents during the high-paced racing, with legends of Australian and international cycling lighting up Port Phillip Bay. “I remember Phil Anderson riding there in the nineties, taking a fantastic win at Ocean Grove one day,” said Trevorrow. “Gary Sutton dominated around then as well. Robbie McEwen was extraordinary not just for the number of Bay Crit wins he took, but also the way he took them. Some great duels, he and Browny (Graeme Brown) had some fantastic run-ins which got a bit of publicity.” “In the early days of the women’s race there was Kathy Watt and the race has really just kept going from strength to strength. Over the years we’ve had great female riders, the likes of Rochelle Gilmore, Anna Wilson, Chloe Hosking, Grace Brown will be there this year in her first race back from injury.”  Australia’s most famous cyclist, Cadel Evans, drew some attention to a potential future on the road, while Caleb Ewan was prodigy even at a young age when he took on some of the best sprinters in the world on the streets of Geelong.
“The first time I ever saw Cadel was in one of the Geelong crits,” said Trevorrow. “A group went away and lapped the field, it had Robbie McEwen and Rik McCaig and some others but also this skinny kid. I remember asking Dave Sanders ‘who’s that?’ and said ‘Oh, that’s that mountain biker, Cadel’. He went on and lapped the field on his own and I thought to myself that he’d end up as more than a mountain biker. “Then we saw the young kid from New South Wales come out called Caleb Ewan. He was only about 17 but gee he was quick. He finished second overall in his first one, but the way he took the day in Williamstown was special. He went past Allan Davis and Leigh Howard – who was leading him out – so fast. I just thought ‘wow’. Of course, he went on to win the series many times as well.” Who knows if 2022 will see the next generation of Australia champions emerge, there are certainly some talented youngsters looking to test their abilities against the best in the ‘world’s fastest crits’. “I’m looking forward to it,” said Trevorrow. “I think it’s going to be great.”  Renowned as the worlds 'fastest criterium racing' the 2022 Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits return as the first cycling event of the New Year, when it will see pedal power meeting electric power! After a two-year break the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits return with a fan-friendly two-day event, before gearing up to be back in full in 2023, and the presence of Australian cycling royalty will ensure ferocious racing next month. The event was launched this morning at the Geelong Novotel and will be held at Geelong's EASTERN GARDENS on Saturday January 8th 2022 and Sunday January 9th 2022 First held in 1989, The Bay Crits has been an innovator over the years - taking the race to the people is what it has always been about. The superstars of Australian cycling cut their teeth in the Bay Crits. Names such as Cadel Evans, Stuart O'Grady, Robbie McEwen, Brad McGee, Baden Cooke and Caleb Ewan and later in the women's Kathy Watt, Anna Wilson, Oenone Wood, Rochelle Gilmore and Tracey Gaudry. This year our naming rights sponsor LEXUS OF BLACKBURN will help the 'Bay Crits' go GREEN with the lead car a brand-new electric Lexus UX 300e, reducing the carbon footprint of the event and a healthy event now taking on the social responsibility of a healthy globe. ‘Pedal Power Meets Electric Power’ - With no harmful tailpipe emissions, the UX 300e is helping to protect the planet while maintaining power and performance. On the road, fast-charging DC stations fully charge the vehicle in about 80 minutes. And our launch superstars inspected the new vehicle that will be leading the 'electrifying' racing! Former national time trial champion GRACE BROWN (currently Team BikeExchange, in 2022 FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) leads an all-star women's field and can't wait to race in front of Australian crowds: "This is my first experience here and I'm excited to be here and be back in January. It's a really important event to see where the form is at coming into the Nationals and this is an iconic race on the calendar and its great to have it back. Looking forward to racing in the Lexus of Blackburn black, and then getting into my new team for the rest of 2022." The men’s race will feature Olympic Bronze Medallist LUCAS PLAPP (INEOS Grenadiers), one of the brightest young stars of Australian cycling who will be racing his first full season as a professional. He will begin his journey with the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits and expects the competition will be tough: "I'm riding with the defending champions the Lexus of Blackburn team, Sam Welsford won a few years ago and it was awesome to have the track team here and we are are coming back again and we have great history here. It was terrific to kick off the year, and we are going to have a great squad again. I used to love coming to the Bay to watch the races, I remember seeing Caleb Ewan win and it's a special honour roll."
Race Director JOHN TREVORROW has laid out a parklands course that will test the riders, with a clockwise course Saturday and the opposite direction on Sunday: "It will be a great race and both course offer different challenges, that hill is a ripper - it's just wonderful to be able to get the event back in front of the people after the crazy and challenging two years we have all had to endure with Covid. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank my amazing sponsors especially our naming rights partner Lexus of Blackburn. I would also like to welcome back PSC Insurance Group - the City of Greater Geelong has hosted the Bay Crits right back to the initial event and the State Government has supported us for nearly as long. "It's huge to have it back with some great riders, have a look at these two stars - I am looking forward to January 8 and hope the sun is shining down on all of us." The event is thankful for the support of the Victorian Government and Minister for Sport MARTIN PAKULA - they know how important this is for the greater Victorian cycling community to again offer summer crowds a chance to see elite riders in action. The City of Greater Geelong plays host to this event, now into its fifth decade and Councillor Peter Murrihy said: "It was exciting to see the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits return to Greater Geelong, showcasing the remarkable skill and athleticism of some of the world’s best cyclists." “Council is thrilled to support this cycling event through Geelong Major Events, as it has a proud history in our region and is a big part of our annual sporting calendar,” “It not only creates a brilliant atmosphere at Eastern Gardens and on the Waterfront, but it also generates about $2 million in benefit to our local economy.” The Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits will also feature the Damion Drapac Memorial race, the Victorian State Criterium Champions and plenty of other entertainment across the weekend.  The prestigious Bay Cycling Classic will be held at Eastern Park over two days in 2022.
The Bay Cycling Classic is recognised as the fastest criterium series in the world, and offers a spectacular way to kick start the new year. The series is contested in four divisions:
2022 Bay Crits The Bay Crits will be held over the weekend of January 8 & 9 2022 at Eastern Gardens Geelong. This year the course sees Saturday run with a clockwise course around Eastern Gardens, while Sunday the course reverses with the race going anticlockwise and changing the dynamic of the race entirely. |
BAY CRITS 2022
2022 Lexus Of Blackburn Bay Crits
JANUARY 8-9 2022
