PROFESSIONAL cyclist Craig McCartney will jet off to Indonesia and then Europe with plenty of confidence after winning the Footscray Cycling Club's 49th annual Bob Robson Memorial Anzac Day criterium in Williamstown on Saturday.
The Team Budget Forklifts rider and previous winner dominated the race from start to finish.
McCartney was the driving force behind the early breakaway that dominated the race. No matter who joined or left the breakaway, it was McCartney in the driver's seat, looking composed and comfortable out in front of the 77-strong field.
Initially the breakaway consisted of McCartney, Paul Redenbach and Steve Pilson, but Pilson faded back to the peloton and the two leaders increased the gap to 20 seconds.
No matter how hard the peloton pushed, McCartney and Redenbach were too good.
McCartney upped the ante at the finish and beat Redenbach comfortably, with Shaun Gatter taking the bunch sprint and third place 20 seconds behind.
Darren Martin took the A2 win only centimetres ahead of a fast-closing Daniel Hopper.
Memorial Race results: Craig McCartney, 1; Paul Redenbach, 2; Shaun Gatter, 3.
Support Race results: Scott Pilson, 1; Glenn Wright, 2, David Newitt, 3.
Mark Micallef
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