Felix English storms to sprints win in Mitchelton Classic; in mix from the gun Down Under

Felix English has had a great few days in Australia, generating plenty of interest from the local media in the process (Photo: Dean Francis Casey)

Former national criterium champion, Felix English has rounded out the four-race Mitchelton Bay Classic series in Australia with another top 10 placing and outright victory in the sprints classification.

English’s nearest challenger for the sprints jersey was yesterday’s race winner Luke Durbridge of Orica GreenEdge.

However, the former U23 world time trial (TT) champion and reigning Australian national elite TT and road race champion was a non starter in today’s final criterium of the series in Williamstown after falling ill overnight.

English’s tactics in today’s race were familiar, with the Rapha Condor JLT rider very aggressive in the early period of the hour-long race and picking up second place on the first of three intermediate sprints.

That was enough to give him victory in that competition and at the finish English still had enough in his legs to sprint in to finish 8^th on the day, enough to see him placed 7^th overall.

Today’s race was won by Caleb Ewan (Subaru NSWIS), with Brenton Jones (Procon Telematics) claiming the final yellow jersey.

That’s a fantastic start for English, who seems to have progressed hugely since starting his 2013 season in Australia 12 months ago when the rides he has put in in the past few days were well beyond him.

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