Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic new format will still be a test for riders

THE Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic will boast one of the sharpest fields in the event’s 28-year history but the new three-day format means no cyclist can afford to have one bad day.

Two-time defending champion Caleb Ewan is the one to beat in the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic. Picture: AFP

MITCHELTON Bay Cycling Classic race director John Trevorrow says the 2017 edition of the famous criterium series boasts one of the sharpest fields in the event’s 28-year history.

But he says the Bay Crits’ new three-day format means no cyclist can afford to have even one bad day at the office.

Two-time defending champion Caleb Ewan will be the man to beat when racing starts at Geelong’s Eastern Beach on Sunday evening, while a wide open women’s field will produce a new champion, with Gracie Elvin not defending her title.

“It’s a really good field, there’s no doubt,” Trevorrow said.

“Probably we would have liked to have a few more, depth-wise, but at the top end it’s fantastic in the elite men and the elite women.

“A few weeks ago people were saying Caleb will win for a fourth time, but now, maybe not. Scott Sutherland beat him in St Kilda a week and a half ago. Those two guys, I reckon, are the two best criterium riders in the world.

“But then, 2014 winner, last year’s runner-up, Brenton Jones is back and he’s got a really strong team around him with Ed Clancy, the three-time Olympic gold medallist.

“And in the women it’s a ripper. Annemiek van Vleuten is a superstar and she’s a really good criterium rider.

“Chloe Hosking (the 2015 champion) is as quick as they come, Valentina Scandolara is fantastic, Amanda Spratt loves Portarlington, so it’s a really deep field.”

The other two stages are at Portarlington tomorrow and Williamstown on Tuesday.

Historically there has been another stage in Geelong, but the increasingly cluttered summer cycling calendar forced Trevorrow to make a cut.

He hopes to return the series to four stages in 2018, but for this year at least he expects the new format will change the way riders approach the event, starting on Sunday’s famous “hotdog” course along Ritchie Blvd.

“In the past someone might miss out early but then come back and win the series,” he said.

“That won’t happen this year — they have to be consistent right through.”

Originally published as Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic new format will still be a test for riders