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Lyte, Lang and Chapman ride away from the field of the main attraction event.
From www.nsw.cycling.org.au 

The Hurstville Italian Grand Prix was staged for the very first time in glorious weather conditions at Kempt Field Hurstville last Saturday and was the very first sporting event to be staged as part of the annual Sydney Italian Festival.

Supported by Hurstville City Council, Multiplex Living, FRF Couriers, Bates Bikes and Bikesportz, as well as support from the Italian Trade Commission, the event attracted top class National riders in all categories that took on the challenging and purpose built 552 metre criterium circuit.

Mayor Vince Badalati and Councillors Philip Sansom and Con Hindi attended the cycle action, as did SBS reporter Michael Tomalaris, Leader Sports Editor Brad Forrest, National Coach Gary Sutton and the organiser of the Sydney Italian Festival, Zoe Johnson.

The Mayor and the Italian Trade Commission are keen to ensure that the event will grow and with much greater lead-time for preparation, it is expected to not just have a greater array of cyclists but also an Italian village established for the day where people will be able to benefit from the wonderful Italian culture.

The feature event comprised many state and national champions with the honours going to NSW Pursuit Champion Robert Lyte from the Bankstown Sports Club ahead of the riding Under 19 star Richard Lang with Phil Chapman finishing third. 

The three placegetters broke clear halfway through the 40 kilometre race and were able to hold off a belated challenge from National Junior Criterium champion and St George rider Warren Scott. Dale Scarfe from Central Coast finished fifth with Kris Koke from Randwick Botany the next placed rider.

Adam Socha of North Sydney spread-eagled the field with a sustained performance to win the Open B Grade finishing ahead of St George cyclists Luke Barrett and Scott Mills. Andrew Herlihen from Sutherland finished fourth. Lewis Little from St George was responsible for the most aggression in the race and at one time had built up a half lap lead over the field. 

In the Masters & Women’s event it was a trifecta for St George with Greg O’Brien, Geoff Paine and Ashlee Ankudinoff taking out the placings in a desperate sprint finish to the line.

Jack Bennett from Lidcombe scored a runaway win in the Under 17 after some clever help from his Lidcombe team mate Alex Carver.  Bennett careered away with six laps remaining and Carver and Anthony Scott were forced to race for the minor placings with Carver not willing to chase down his team mate.  Carver in the sprint home got the better of Anthony Scott with the Lidcombe riders taking out the quinella.

State champion Jessica Griffiths from St George added the women’s victory to her long list of achievements.

Phillip Arias from Lidcombe, Sam Nelson from St George and Jared Trigg from Southern Cross kept the pace going from the start in the big field of Under 15 riders but in the end it became a bunch sprint between eleven cyclists. Arias, a talented State Champion lead out of the final corner with Sam Nelson making a bold bid in the final fifty metres to get within a wheel of victory with Jared Trigg third just ahead of Scott Carver of Lidcombe.  Joshua Cornish from Southern Cross finished fifth and Evan Batkin from St George, raced well for sixth place.

Kirsty Mills, St George’s NSW Under 15 women’s criterium champion also raced well to claim the women’s event from club mate Imogen Hines.

Nathan Bradshaw always looked in control in the Under 13 race and did not disappoint with a comfortable sprint home to claim yet another win over Patrick Donelan of Southern Cross with Laura Trigg third. 

Lyte leads Lang in the break
Photo © Brian Crawford

Jack Bennett took out the junior race
Photo © Brian Crawford

More photos can be viewed at www.nsw.cycling.org.au