Chris Sutton claims back-to-back NSW Grand Prix overall standing – Cycling Update
Rabobank Team’s Michael Matthews won a narrow victory over Sky’s rider, Chris Sutton, on the second day of the NSW Grand Prix Series at Cronulla on Sunday. However, the series leader and local race favourite, Chris Sutton, again displayed a stunning effort
and took the overall leader’s jersey.
The duo was broken up by centimetres and Matthews was actually surprised as he earned the triumph and beat the other cyclists in the final course.
Matthews gained a lead with 20 points while Sutton was in the second place with 18 points.
After taking the stage triumph, Matthews told the media, "I just held it all the way to the end. I was pretty lucky, I probably went a little bit early, I didn't see anyone coming. It came down to a photo finish and I just held it on the line”.
NSWIS rider, Caleb Ewan, who is the 2010 Australian Under 19 road champion, grabbed the third place with 16 points, ahead of Dean Windsor (Rapha Condor Sharp).
The 2011 season was the most successful year for the Australian track and road cyclist, as he won the second stage of Jayco Bay Cycling Classic and also took the first stage of Vuelta a Murcia. He secured the third stage and grabbed the overall fourth place
in Tour Down Under.
Jackson-Leigh Rathbone (Parramatta Race Team) showed a good performance throughout the race but failed to take the lead and snatched the sixth place with 13 points, ahead of Adam Phelan (Drapac Cycling Team).
Sutton took the overall standing of NSW Grand Prix with 38 points while Michael Matthews, Caleb Ewan and Ben Kersten (Team Jayco-2XU) shared the second place with 30 points.
Sutton was very pleased after taking the home victory and said, "Michael hit out for the sprint and Browny let the wheel go a little bit and probably about 150 to go, I realised Graeme had nothing and I sprinted around him and got a good run at Michael but
it was just a bit too late”.
Graeme Brown (Rabobank) was in the fifth place with 29 points, ahead of Dean Windsor (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Richard Lang (Jayco AIS).
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