The celebration in Portarlington was a long time coming for Pat Shaw (Avanti IsoWhey). The 29-year-old outkicked Dan Fitter (State of Matter/MAAP) and Sam Spokes (Drapac) in a tailwind sprint to win stage three of the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic on Sunday. Caleb Ewan, who had taken back-to-back wins to open the Australian summer, was forced to settle for fourth place but held on to his overall series lead.
“I’ve been a semi-pro for ten-plus years,” said Shaw. “It takes you this long to get a good win.”
Shaw’s Avanti IsoWhey team animated the windy race, with Chris Hamilton (Avanti IsoWhey) joining forces with Fitter in the first significant break of the day. The duo lasted for three laps in front of a shattered peloton before their capture sparked a counter-move from Australian U23 road race and time trial champion Miles Scotson (Budget Forklifts).
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A powerful chase group took shape in Scotson’s wake with ORICA-GreenEDGE teammates Ewan and Jack Haig joined by sprint leader Robbie Hucker (Avanti IsoWhey). A reduced peloton swallowed up the chase group, which was Luke Durbridge’s (ORICA-GreenEDGE) cue to jump. The former two-time Portarlington winner made quick work of bridging the gap to Scotson. With 15 minutes left in the hour-long race, the duo had nearly 30 seconds on the peloton.
Australian U23 criterium Chris Hamilton joined the leading duo with three laps remaining. Peter Koning (Drapac) followed suit. The four leaders clung to a 10-second advantage at the start of the penultimate lap. As the bell sounded, however, the race had come back together, and the reduced field readied for the bunch sprint.
“I’m sitting on Caleb’s wheel getting the best run anyone could dream for, and I’m just lucky I got the job done,” Shaw said. “I was just saying in the last corner ‘do not crash!’ I knew I had it. I’ve been working hard on my sprint.”
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