Cameron Scott wins Harbour City GP in CCACHE x BODYWRAP domination

Former WorldTour professional Cameron Scott has completed a perfect weekend for CCACHE x BODYWRAP, winning the overall and two stages of the SumUp Men’s Harbour City GP.

Scott’s teammate Kurt Eather was the only other rider to win a stage, ensuring the CCACHE team swept all three stages and the GC.

The fourth round of the ProVelo Super League favoured the sprinters after changes to the course were announced one week beforehand. A lumpy time trial and Akuna Bay Road Race were cancelled, replaced by a flat finale at the Pheasant Wood motor racing circuit.

With a stacked squad of fast men including Scott, Eather and under-23 criterium national champion John Carter, CCACHE x BODYWRAP took full control as the pre-race favourites.

They asserted their strength early on Stage 1 at Sydney Motorsport Park, using their well-drilled sprint train to lock up almost all the bonus seconds in the intermediate sprints.

When the bell sounded for the final lap, another clinical lead-out delivered Eather to a comfortable victory ahead of Scott, adding to Eather’s win at the Spirit of Tasmania Cycling Tour last month.

Kurt Eather sprinted to victory on Stage 1.

Stage 2 in Cronulla was a furiously aggressive criterium. The Brennan p/b TP32 squad was constantly looking to apply pressure and they placed Brendon Davids up the road, holding an advantage of up to 20 seconds for the better part of the race.

The strong rouleur had the CCACHE squad sweating until they finally reeled him in with one-and-a-half laps to go. With what was left of their lead-out train, they strung the peloton into single file until the finish.

This time, Scott powered home on the uphill drag, with Eather taking third.

Impressively, splitting the CCACHE riders was the slight figure of League leader Jack Ward (Team Brennan p/b TP32) who displayed incredible sprinting skills to take the runner-up spot between the heavyweight favourites.

The CCACHE x BODYWRAP train (with Eather, Scott and Carter in classification jerseys)

Stage 3 took the peloton to the Pheasant Wood Circuit for a 99-kilometre race on a tight, twisting track.

A lead group of five formed early on as CCACHE x BODYWRAP set to controlling the race.

However, as riders bridged across from the peloton, the lead group began to swell in number – as did the size of their lead.

Eventually, Scott took matters into his own hands and made the junction to a breakaway that now stood at around 15 riders. Brennan p/b TP32 and ARA Skip Capital were well-represented, while Scott was isolated.

The tour leader rode superbly, however, letting his rival teams chase each other’s attacks. When he did close a gap, he seemed to do so effortlessly.

Connor Doyle (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) launched a late move with just under one kilometre remaining and held a slender lead into the final straight. But, from behind, Scott launched his sprint, passing Doyle in the final metres to sew up the stage and overall win.

The 27-year-old from Wagga Wagga said it had been a long time since his last race win.

“Couldn’t be happier. All three stages this week. It means a lot for the team with a lot of local sponsors,” Scott said. “So, it’s not just a win for me, it’s a win for everybody.

“We had a pretty ambitious plan of controlling from the start,” Scott said about the final stage. “I knew it was going to hurt our guys, but I also knew it was really going to split up in the last half of the race, so I had to make the most of that and be aggressive myself.

“I haven’t put my hands up in the air for a long time, so it’s good to be back on the top step.”

Tristan Saunders (Team Brennan p/b TP32) finished second on the stage and overall, while individual rider Oliver Penney rounded out the GC podium after taking bonus seconds from the earlier five-man breakaway on stage 3.

Jack Ward (Team Brennan p/b TP32) retains his lead in the SumUp Men’s League as Scott now moves into second position with two rounds to go.

Results: SumUp Men’s Harbour City GP

Stage 1

1. Kurt Eather (CCACHE X BODYWRAP)
2. Cameron Scott (CCACHE x BODYWRAP)
3. Craig Wiggins (Cycling Development Foundation)

Stage 2

1. Cameron Scott (CCACHE x BODYWRAP)
2. Jack Ward (Team Brennan p/b TP32)
3. Kurt Eather (CCACHE X BODYWRAP)

Stage 3

1. Cameron Scott (CCACHE x BODYWRAP)
2. Tristan Saunders (Team Brennan p/b TP32)
3. Connor Doyle (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing)

General Classification

1. Cameron Scott (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) 4:23:17
2. Tristan Saunders (Team Brennan p/b TP32) +20
3. Oliver Penney +27

SumUp Men’s League – Standings after Round 4

1. Jack Ward (Team Brennan p/b TP32) 360pts
2. Cameron Scott (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) 260pts
3. Blake Agnoletto (Team Brennan p/b TP32) 256pts

 Photos: John Veage / ProVelo Super League