Mactier takes tour opener after timing mix-up Melbourne cyclist Katie Mactier, 28, (Jayco) leads the Geelong Tour after claiming a delayed victory in the opening twilight time trial stage raced at the Bellarine Peninsula beachside town of Portarlington.

Her victory came in unusual circumstances after officials amended the original result when a recording error was noticed. After reviewing the timing tape officials moved Mactier into first and Sydney's Kate Bates, 21, (NSWIS), who was originally awarded the win, down to fourth.

Bates, whilst disappointed, accepted the mistake with good grace while Mactier was thrilled to learn she would start the second stage as the race leader.

"That's fantastic news," said Mactier. "I was so spent when I crossed the line because I turned myself inside out so when Kate (Bates) put four seconds into me I thought she was really flying.

"I'm also impressed with the officials in moving to rectify the error so quickly," she said. "I really appreciate that and commend them for their prompt response."

Mactier completed the eight kilometre distance in a time of 10min21.57sec, three seconds clear of 1992 Barcelona Olympic road champion Kathryn Watt, 39, (Freedom Machine) with Mactier's team mate, Louise Yaxley, 22, a further three seconds back in third at six seconds.

The riders battled a strong headwind for the first half of the race along the Esplanade and a tailwind on the homeward four kilometres.

Bate's performance has however given her the lead in the Best Young Rider (U23) classification but Mactier will wear the blue leader's jersey into tomorrow's second stage, a 35 kilometre criterium at Eastern Park near the Geelong Botanic Gardens.

The top five riders are separated by only 11 seconds so the time bonuses on offer for the intermediate sprints and finish of tomorrow's stage will be key in deciding who leads for Stage 3 but with Jayco having two riders in the top three they will have an advantage.

"It means we have a couple of good options up our sleeves which is a terrific situation to be in," said Mactier. "The bonuses mean tomorrow's stage will be very dynamic and with just under 100 starters we'll have to keep our wits about us in terms of positioning and making sure the sprints are covered.

"We want the Tour win and a couple of stages so we'll go out there guns ablaze and work the team depth," she said. "We've got a few tricks up our sleeves."

The four stage, four day Geelong Tour features 93 riders representing 15 countries and is the lead in event for next Sunday's opening round of the UCI (International Cycling Union) Women's Road Cycling World Cup Series at Geelong's Waterfront.

Stage 1 – 8km Time Trial and General Classification

Results

1 Katie Mactier (Aus) Jayco 10.21
2 Kathy Watt (Aus) Freedom Machine 0.03
3 Louise Yaxley (Aus) Jayco 0.06
4 Katherine Bates (Aus) NSWIS 0.10
5 Oenone Wood (Aus) AIS 0.11
6 Sara Carrigan (Aus) QAS 0.20
7 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) New Zealand 0.22
8 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Nürnberger 0.23
9 Deirdre Barry (USA) T Mobile 0.24
10 Kristin Armstrong (USA) T Mobile 0.24
11 Amy Safe (Aus) AIS 0.26
12 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) World team 0.28
13 Manon Jutras (Can) SATS 0.28
14 Amber Neben (USA) T Mobile 0.31
15 Judith Arndt (Ger) Nürnberger 0.31
16 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand 0.32
17 Alison Wright (Aus) Nobili - Fanini 0.32
18 Emma Davies (GBr) Great Britain 0.36
19 Stacey Peters (USA) T Mobile 0.37
20 Olivia Gollan (Aus) AIS 0.37
21 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) Nobili - Fanini 0.39
22 Natalie Bates (Aus) AIS 0.40
23 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) NSWIS 0.41
24 Lynn Gaggioli (USA) T Mobile 0.41
25 Lorian Graham (Aus) AIS 0.42
26 Tina Mayola Pic (USA) Jayco 0.42
27 Sara Symington (GBr) SATS 0.42
28 Linda Capello (Aus) Body Torque 0.43
29 Tetyana Stiajkina (Ukr) Ukraine 0.43
30 Emma James (Aus) SATS 0.44
31 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) T Mobile 0.45
32 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Body Torque 0.47
33 Miyoko Karami (Jpn) Japan 0.48
34 Rachel Heal (GBr) Great Britain 0.49
35 Leonie Aisbett (Aus) NSWIS 0.53
36 Johanna Buick (NZl) New Zealand 0.54
37 Petra Rossner (Ger) Nürnberger 0.55
38 Frances Newstead (GBr) Great Britain 0.55
39 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japan 0.56
40 Cathy Marsal (Fra) Nobili - Fanini 0.57
41 Cristine Foster (Aus) Body Torque 0.57
42 Kateryna Krasova (Ukr) Ukraine 0.57
43 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) New Zealand 0.57
44 Jessica Ridder (Aus) FRF Couriers 0.59
45 Rosalind Reekie - May (NZl) New Zealand 1.00
46 Michelle Hyland (NZl) Avanti 1.01
47 Meredith Miller (USA) SATS 1.01
48 Nicole Freedman (Isr) World team 1.01
49 Kirsty Robb (NZl) Avanti 1.02
50 Jessica Phillips (USA) Nürnberger 1.02
51 Jessie Maclean (Aus) NSWIS 1.02
52 Helen Kelly (Aus) Jayco 1.02
53 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Nürnberger 1.03
54 Hiroko Shimada (Jpn) Japan 1.03
55 Caroline James (GBr) Great Britain 1.04
56 Susie Wood (NZl) Avanti 1.05
57 Katie Brown (Aus) NSWIS 1.05
58 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Nürnberger 1.06
59 Laura Bortolozzi (Aus) FRF Couriers 1.09
60 Kym Shirley (Aus) Nobili - Fanini 1.09
61 Emma Rickards (Aus) Freedom Machine 1.09
62 Belinda Goss (Aus) Jayco 1.10
63 Jennifer Findlay (Aus) QAS 1.11
64 Christine Riakos (Aus) FRF Couriers 1.13
65 Narrelle Peterson (Aus) Body Torque 1.14
66 Akemi Morimoto (Jpn) Japan 1.14
67 Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr) Ukraine 1.16
68 Naomi Williams (Aus) AIS
69 Karen Hopkinson (Aus) Body Torque 1.17
70 Bridgett Evans (Aus) Freedom Machine 1.18
71 Kate Nichols (Aus) FRF Couriers 1.18
72 Anna Perrin (Aus) QAS 1.20
73 Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr) Ukraine 1.22
74 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) Avanti 1.23
75 Kirsty Bortilin (Aus) Freedom Machine 1.23
76 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) SATS 1.24
77 Tanja Hennes (Ger) World team 1.26
78 Julie Pekarkova (Cze) World team
79 Nadene Boyle (NZl) Avanti 1.27
80 Iryna Simonova (Ukr) Ukraine 1.29
81 Ayumu Otsuka (Jpn) Japan 1.30
82 Zoe Southwell (Aus) FRF Couriers 1.30
83 Hannah Banks (Aus) QAS 1.32
84 Oxana Kashchyshyna (Ukr) Ukraine 1.41
85 Nina Davies (GBr) Great Britain 1.42
86 Kerryn Charman (Aus) Body Torque 1.44
87 Charlotte Goldsmith (GBr) Great Britain 1.47
88 Michelle Kiesanowski (NZl) Avanti
89 Desiree Schuler (Ger) World team 1.53
90 Karina Sorensen (Den) SATS 2.06
91 Natasha Harrigan (Aus) FRF Couriers 2.17
92 Louisa Judd (Aus) Freedom Machine 2.34
93 Emi Onoyama (Jpn) World team 2.35

Thanks to Cycling Australia