A cold start to a perfect day with only a slight breeze in the afternoon was enjoyed by the riders for the 2007 Goulburn to Citi Classic. The peloton started with teams from South Australia.com, FRF-NSWIS, Drapac Porsche, Ord Minnett, Praties Cycle Team, and several NSW teams fighting for the generous teams prize money on offer. With an abundance of interstate teams on a downhill course without wind the race destined to be a team tactic determined race however the race didn’t panned out as expected.

The second break of the day grew to include 1 member from FRF-NSWIS, Drapac Porsche and Ord Minnett in Peter Herzig, Angus Morton and Darcy Rosenlund and 2 members from Praties with Ben Mather and Ritche Porte. With a member from each it was left to South Australia.com to jump across or chase the break down as the bunch allowed the bunch to build a gap of up to 4.05. After 130km a second break decided to give chase to the leaders and a strong bunch of 9 riders including William Ford, Gilbert Gutowinski, Mitchell Pearson, Nash Kent, Joshua Wilson, Shaun Higgerson, Robbie Williams and Mitchell Pearson quickly pursued the leaders and made the junction at the base of the first climb of Razorback, 30km from the finish. The group rolled down Razorback without damage although the only minutes later the pressure was applied as the riders puling hard turns on the front with turns by Williams and Higgerson finding some of the riders lacking. But it was an attack by Mitchell Pearson half way up the hill that blew the bunch apart. By the top of the hill Higgerson and Wilson had pulled Pearson back but Williams was 500m off the back and it looked like he’d run his race and was going to fall back to the other riders who couldn’t stay with the lead 3 on the 2^nd pass of Razorback. However Williams dug deep sitting only 100m from the back of the leaders for 2 km but after 14km of his solo chase he managed to close the gap on Cowpasture Bridge with 5km to the finish. The 4 riders continued to roll though knowing they had a respectable gap to the chasers but with the 2km sign in sight Williams attacked and the other 3 and showed them the class of young Drapac Rider winning by 200m with Shaun Higgerson and Michel Pearson sprinting for 2^nd and 3^rd.

5km The race has rolled out of Goulburn under neutral conditions and not long after the flag has been dropped, FRF-NSWIS rider Brendan Jones has jumped clear the group and is going solo. His effort lasts for a couple of km and he continues to look over his shoulder to see if anyone is going to join him but no-one appears eager to go clear this early in the race.

10km The pace has picked up and we’re sitting on 50kph with the front of the bunch in single file and the rear bunched up.

14km The pace has slowed and the peloton is bunching up again.

15km The attacks on the front continue with a strong pace being set by a combination of the teams. FRF-NSWIS and Praties have a good representation on the front..

17km Praties rider Ritchie Porte moves of the front quicker than Jones did in the previous attack. He pulls a larger gap and it looks like he means business.

18km Ord Minnett rider Darcy Rosenlund has decided to bridge the gap to the Tasmanian Praties riders with the assistance of Peter Kerzig of FRF-NSWIS. Angus Morton in the Drapac colours and Ben Mather also of Praties not far behind and this is starting to look like a promising move.

The first of the riders get clear of the bunch before more come across.

19km All 5 riders have come together, with 2 Praties riders, 1 rider from Drapac Porsche, FRF-NSWIS and Ord Minnett. With the exception of South Australia.com, each of the major teams is represented in this break. The bunch doesn’t seem too worried and the break is pulling a gap fairly easily.

20km The bunch has had time to size up who is in this break and the danger it poses, however we are seeing no response and the gap is slowly growing.

23km The rolling hills of the Southern Highlands have begun and the peloton is keeping the break in sight.

28km The morning is warming up and Peter Herzig in the break discards his gloves. The gap to the bunch has grown 1.35

29km The rolling hills continue as the break maintains a comfortable speed in a double paceline.

The rolling hills didn't pose much of a problem

34km Robert Hodgson is trying to bridge the gap with another whos number we can’t see

40km As we pass the Marulan weighing station, the gap to the chasers is 1.35 and the gap to the peloton has grown to 2.25

47km The gap to the peloton has dropped to 2.10

49km The gap to the leaders has dropped to 2min

54km Gap has risen to 3.30. Most of the teams have a member up the road and its going to be up to the individuals to do any chasing.

65km We’ve riding through the rolling hills of the Southern Highlands and the gap is steady at 3.25. 

71km The leaders have exited the main road and are now on the old Hume Highway

77km The gap is 3.15 and the gap to the chasers is 2min

79km Darcy Rosenlund is struggling on the hill after exiting Berrima. The other riders are keen to keep Darcy in the bunch and no-one increases the pace. Darcy gets back on without incident and everyone collects their feed.

81km The peloton is passing through the feed station and Real Aussie Kids rider Richard Lang and Nathan Germaine of Equity IT have crashed at the back of the group. Neither appear to be seriously hurt and both are going to continue

Ritchie Porte found himself in some trouble going under the rail bridge at Mittagong.

83km Ritchie Porte has crashed while going under the rail bridge at Mittagong. The riders pointed to the hole however there was a dark shadow across the road and Porte overcorrected at the last minute swerving to the left and then to the right trying to avoid touching the rear wheel of Peter Herzig. Porte has slide across the road and avoided hitting the concrete polls of the bridge.

86km The lead bunch is now only 4 strong and has a gap of 4.05 on the peloton with the chasing bunch 2.40 behind.

94km The gap is still 4.05 and the bunch has no urgency to chase, the gap is 2.15 to the chasers

110km Peter Herzig has attacked the bunch as they ride through Bargo, he is keen to collect some points for the sprint competition. 5 Riders have attacked the peloton with aggression. The 5 riders are Robbie Williams (Drapac Porsche), Will Ford (South Australia.com), Gilbert Gutowski (Ord Minnett), Joshua Wilson (Praties) and Nash Kent (Equity IT) The gap to the chasers has fallen to 1.56

124km Angus Morton attacks down the left and wins the sprint in Tahmor, he doesn’t take his foot off the gas and makes the others work to pull him back. He rejoins the other 3 escapees after 400m.

125.5km Rosenlund counter attacks and again there isn’t much response though he’s not going to get out of sight too easily. The Ord Minnett rider look like he wants to go further than Angus and he’s in a good aero position on his drops and sitting on a good pace.

127km Still no chase from Morton, Mather and Herzig, they’e conserving their energy for Razorback, while the chasing bunch can now see the leaders on long straights.

The bunches come together

130km The 3 chasers have been caught by the chasing bunch. The group now includes Robbie Williams, Shaun Higgerson, Cameron Hughes, Peter McDonald, Blair Martin, Stuart Shaw, Mitchell Pearson, Brendan Brooks, William Ford, Gilbert Gutowski, Joshua Wilson,  Nash Kent and Robert Hodgson.

134km We begin the hill on the exit of Picton and the leaders give up trying to stay away and allow the chasing bunch to join them on the hill. We know have a lead group of strong hitters with Robbie Williams, Shaun Higgerson, Cameron Hughes, Mitchell Pearson, Peter McDonald, Blair Martin, Stuart Shaw, Brendan Brooks, William Ford, Gilbert Gutowski, Joshua Wilson,  Nash Kent, Angus Morton, Peter Herzig, Steven Robb and Robert Hodgson

137km We have reached the base of Razorback and Rosenlund is still trying to stay clear but has started cramping up. The bunches are all together now and they know that these next two climbs will be the deciding moves of the race. Roselund has hit the wall and has been passed the bunch

139km One of the Praties riders has riden off the front and won the KOM. He comes back to the bunch immediately.

141km the bunch is cruising now as Rosenlund is out of sight and the peloton is no threat. The riders cruise down the hill knowing the excitement will take place on the second and steeper climb

149km Pearson is showing the form he has from his latest stint in France and has ridden away from the bunch and the chasers are spread out and digging deep trying to maintain contact with Pearson. Only Shaun Higgerson, Joshua Wilson and Robbie Williams have managed to maintain contact with Pearson on the steepest section of Razorback. Pearson continues to hammer and know-one looks comfortable.

Only 3 left?

151km Williams has cracked under the pressure and is losing time. The order over the summit is and they have a 25 second lead on the Drapac rider.

155km The leading 3 are growing anxious about the sprint at the end and no-one is pulling hard turns to ensure Williams doesn’t get back on. Robbie is in sight but is still 500m off the back.

158km The roads are fairly flat and the gap to Williams is 15 seconds and he’s pushing a big gear and closing it very slowly.

160km We’re riding through the suburb of Elderslie with only 5km to the finish and the gap to Williams is 10 seconds. If he had the energy for one last dig he’d close the gap and recover for the sprint.

Can he bridge the gap?

162km We’ve passed through a few traffic lights with the protection of the NSW police and Williams is only meters off the back. Still the lead 3 are hesitant to do a hard turn to crack the Drapac rider.

163km The leaders are riding over Cowpasture Bridge on the edge of Camden, Williams is still in the saddle and has finally closed the gap.

165km Our lead bunch ride into Camden over the final pinch amongst the local heritage houses. No-one makes a move, it looks like they’re waiting for the final sprint which is 300m of 1% incline.

166km We are passing the local shops and farms and the riders can now see the 2km to go sign on the left of the road. Williams attacks down the left! The riders don’t respond and must be assuming he can’t have anything left after his effort to rejoin them.

167km Williams is building a lead but Wilson, Higgerson and Pearson aren’t prepared to respond.

167.4km The chasing 3 start to look at each other and see who is going to make the move for the sprint, they’ve stopped pedaling and have accepted they’ve missed their chance for the win. The

167.6km They ride through the final round about and will be able to see the finish line in a few meters. Higgerson attacks on the left and Pearson tries to jump on his wheel but the SA.com rider has too much power and rides away from Pearson. Wilson tried to respond but doesn’t have the speed of the other two.

168km Williams rolls over the finish line with both hands in the air elated that he could hold on as long as he did and then ride away from the lead bunch.

Shortly after his win Williams was singing the praises of his Drapac Porsche team which have given him the opportunity to race in China and Japan this year while supporting Robbie with his Commerce studies at Wollongong Uni. Robbie also admitted he was carrying a broken rib into the race after falling in the Tour of Hokkaido less and 2 weeks ago. When asked about his rib he responds “yes, but it’s only one”.