Felix English launches from the starting ramp in Melbourne today; going on to take a fantastic 4th place in a field full of quality (Photo: Darren Francis Casey)
Former national criterium champion and Irish U23 international, Felix English has enjoyed perhaps the best performance of his career to date in Australia today, Wednesday.
The Rapha Condor JLT rider stormed to 4th place in the prologue time trial of the Herald Sun Tour (UCI 2.1).
He flew around the 2.5km course in a time of 3mins 2secs, equal on time with third placed on the day William Clarke (Drapac).
Today’s stage was won by Kiwi Jack Bauer of Garmin-Sharp who clocked three minutes exactly, just one second ahead of his compatriot Tom Scully who is riding this week on the New Zealand national team.
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There were some very big names behind English today, with the Garmin Sharp trio of Nathan Haas, Steele Van Hoff and Rohan Dennis filling 5th, 6th and 7th. Dennis’s was a particularly good scalp to take, with the Australian having finished 8th overall in Critérium du Dauphiné last year, where he also won the best young rider classification.
The 23-year-old is a former Australian U23 time trial and road race champion.
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English now leads the U23 classification and is 4th overall.
It is the second classification leader’s jersey he was worn on this racing and training trip to Australia, having claimed victory in the sprints competition in the Bay Crits series in Melbourne last month.
Also among those behind English today was Simon Gerrans of Orica GreenEdge, who came home in 11th place. The former Milan San Remo winner is fresh from stage and overall victory at the Tour Down Under which concluded last week.
The Herald Sun Tour runs until Sunday, continuing tomorrow with a stage that should suit fast men like English.
(Results below advertisement)
Herald Sun Tour (UCI 2.1), February 5th to 9th
Wed, Feb 5th: Prologue TT 2.5km, Melbourne
| 1 | Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin Sharp | 3:00 | |
| 2 | Tom Scully (NZl) New Zealand Team | @1sec | |
| 3 | William Clarke (Aus) Drapac Pro Cycling | @2 | |
| 4 | Felix English (Irl) Rapha Condor JLT | ||
| 5 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Garmin Sharp | @3 | |
| 6 | Steele von Hoff (Aus) Garmin Sharp | @4 | |
| 7 | Rohan Dennis (Aus) Garmin Sharp | @5 | |
| 8 | Neil Van Der Ploeg (Aus) Avanti Cycling Team | ||
| 9 | Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | ||
| 10 | Germain Burton (GBr) Great Britain National Team | @6 | |
| 11 | Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | ||
| 12 | Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Avanti Cycling Team | ||
| 13 | Glenn O’Shea (Aus) Kordamentha Real Estate - Team Australia | @7 | |
| 14 | Christopher Lawless (GBr) Great Britain National Team | ||
| 15 | Campbell Flakemore (Aus) Avanti Cycling Team |
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