Dennis hits the lead

Rohan Dennis has taken over the lead of the GMHBA Tour of Geelong after destroying his nearest rival, Rhys Pollock, in hilly country around the hamlet of Anakie.

Jayco Skins' Dennis, 20, finished fourth behind Cameron Peterson in the 143km fifth stage that doubled as the Victorian Open Road Championship but Pollock, who had led the tour since the opening criterium on Wednesday, placed well back in 13th position, 2:27 behind the South Australian.

Pollock (Drapac) rode bravely over the testing three-lap circuit but his team was no match for the Jayco Skins line-up. Dennis had great support from team-mates with Patrick Lane and Richard Lang working hard for him at the business end of the event.

Dennis, who this week was named in the Australian Under 23 team for the Road World Championships, revealed after the wind-hammered race that Jayco Skins planned to attack Pollock heavily on the many hills that peppered the circuit.

“Our plan was to have a crack in the last lap and basically get rid of Rhys,” Dennis said. “I think we pretty much softened him up in the second last lap and I could see that he was in a bit of trouble.”

Pollock, who led Dennis by only seven seconds going into today’s road race, said afterwards that he was extremely disappointed at the defeat.

“You can only do so much by yourself and it was an exceptionally tough stage,” he said.

A giant field of 145 riders lined up for the championship but only four – Peterson, Patrick Shaw, defending title holder Cameron Jennings and Dennis – remained in contention at the finish.

Peterson, 26, won by 200 metres from Shaw with Jennings third.

The tour, backed by Tourism Victoria and the City of Greater Geelong concludes tomorrow with the Victorian Open Criterium Championship in Geelong’s Eastern Gardens.

Photo: Shane Goss / www.licoricegallery.com