Lawson Homes
2009 Tour of Gippsland - Our Inaugural Tour
Stage 1 - Traralgon to Boolara 51.5km (Wednesday, July 29)
Getting to the start line in Traralgon the guys were all keen to get the 5 days of racing underway. After the initial section of control the flag was dropped and the pace was on. Upon reaching Boolarra the main field had regrouped after a mid race split caused by some strong cross winds and the scene was set for and exciting bunch sprint. Approaching the final kilometres the Budget train had the field strung out for their sprinter. Tommy Robinson latched onto the wheel and delivered an impressive kick and was only narrowly pipped on the line by Kane Walker to finish in second place.
Stage 2 - Traralgon South to Yarram 57.7km (Wednesday, July 29)
With the cobwebs well and truly blown out and the morning’s stage success behind us the second stage saw a fast tempo set from the outset. The course started around two laps of an undulating circuit before commencing a 20 kilometre ascent where the climbers set about blowing the 145 strong field to pieces before a nine man breakaway was established containing tour favourites Tim Roe, David Kemp and Leigh Howard. Upon reaching the summit the Lawson boys had Crippsy, Donut and Smithy in the second group on the road trailing the break by about a minute. A long, wet and technical descent followed containing 3 “pick a plank” bridges where Smithy and Donut both came to grief but were able to continue and rejoin the group without serious injury. The trailing group was unable to bring back the breakaway in the cross winds towards the finish. A scrappy sprint to the line saw Donut hit the deck after crossing the finish line to receive his second touch of gravel rash for the day.
Stage 3 - Trafalgar Criterium 28km (Thursday, July 30)
The first Criterium of the tour was set on a narrow street circuit and all the Lawson guys were keen to stay out of trouble as the large field made its way to the finish line. The AIS team was keen to establish Leigh Howard’s stranglehold on the tour lead and took it upon themselves to set the pace.
Stage 4 - Trafalgar to Walhalla 75.3k (Thursday, July 30)
Stage four saw a small break move clear of the field in the early stages. After bridging the gap to an early breakaway around the 45 kilometre mark, half the field was whittled away and on the final ascent into the historic mining town of Walhalla a group of 26 moved clear. The Lawson boys drove the second group of around 20 to the line keeping the deficit to only 17 seconds and limiting the damage.
Stage 5 - Sale Criterium 36km (Friday, July 31)
With fresh legs a thing of the past Tommy Robinson once again set the standard in the morning’s Criterium, with brother Will showing strong signs of riding himself into some form after a bout of the flu in the weeks leading up to the tour. Bad luck proved to be coming in threes for our “Ginger Nut” Donut who was tangled in a crash half way through the stage and again hit the pavement removing a little more skin and badly spraining his wrist. Tom once again finished strongly with a 7th placing.
Stage 6 - Sale to Licola 88.3km (Friday, July 31)
On what would prove to be one of the most testing days of the tour the field once again encountered some more windy conditions that caused the main bunch to split into 3 echelons by the 20 kilometre mark, well before the four categorised climbs scheduled for the stage. Reaching the base of the first of three climbs all the Lawson guys had rejoined the front of the race before the climbers once again set about blowing the bunch to pieces. With about 25 kilometres to go the Lawson Homes Team had Tommy and Crippsy at the front among a select group of around 35 left to fight it out on the final category one climb. The front group broke up part way up the climb but most regrouped after the descent. Crippsy finished the stage with the leaders with Tom coming in close behind and Smithy and Joel within the next group on the road.
Stage 7 - Bairnsdale Criterium 33km (Saturday, August 1)
Donut was forced to withdraw due to injury at the start of stage seven and The Lawson Team was reduced to five. Wind was again a factor in the morning’s Criterium stringing the field out on the back straight. Jack Bobridge and David Pell managed to sneak off the front and build a lead of around one minute before the Fly V Team put their heads down and started to bring the break back but they were unable to bridge the gap. Jack ended with the spoils beating David to the line 30 seconds ahead of the main field. With one last podium position up for grabs Tommy Robinson put power to pedal in the final lap and finish agonisingly close with a photo finish deciding against him in favour of Cody Stevenson for the third place finish.
Stage 8 - Bairnsdale to Lakes Entrance 76km (Saturday, August 1)
A crash while under control delayed the start of stage eight to Lakes Entrance. With rumours of a viciously steep climb within the final kilometre and the danger of the bunch splitting due to tired legs riding towards the front was the order of the day for the Lawson boys. Joel showed incredible staying power to be still mixing it after four hard days of racing as one of the youngest in the field. A three man breakaway was established part way through the stage and managed to hold off the fast finishing field. Smithy was the first of the Lawson Team across the line with the rest finishing within the pointy end of the competition all managing to hold onto each of their positions on the general classification. Scott Davis took out a deserving win beating home the other two breakaway riders.
Stage 9 - Paynesville Criterium 44km (Sunday, August 2)
Arriving on the final day of racing the field was greeted by sunny skies and a large crowd. The small waterfront circuit provided the perfect backdrop for what would be the final chance to move up on general classification. A nasty crash rattled the field but fortunately with the boys increasing confidence they were able to stay up the front and out of trouble. Many attempts to go off the front were made including a solid effort by Will but nothing was to eventuate due to the fast nature of the course. In the finish it came down to a bunch kick and Howard once again took out the stage underlining his dominance of the tour. All the Lawson boys finished strongly.
As our inaugural tour racing as a team the guys have all grown in confidence, and coupled with more valuable kilometres in the legs, the team’s successes in this year’s Tour of Gippsland will provide a strong foundation to build on in the up coming Tour of the Murray and Tour of Tassie.