Sam Jenner has produced a second place finish at the MS Wollongong Criterium over the weekend, after being beaten on the line in a two-man dual with in-form Novocastrian Cameron Ivory.

 

The criterium was part of the 35th MS Sydney to the Gong charity ride, which saw just over 9700 avid cyclists, including the Subaru NSWIS & MS Development Team riders and staff; make the journey from Sydney to Wollongong.

 

The event supports the Australian MS Society, and has so far raised more than $2.2 million.

 

Jenner found himself in an extraordinary two-man breakaway in the Crit with Ivory. After lapping the field with eight laps remaining, the duo pressed on until they had the track to themselves for the final three laps, as stipulated by criterium rules.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMdepQhAXWm/?taken-by=jennersam

 

Despite being thrust into the spotlight for a grandstand finish, Jenner said that the result wasn’t planned and that the team had been aiming to deliver either Scott or Jackson Law to the finish first.

 

“Our plan was always to set Scott or Jackson up for the win. They were always our best bet,” Jenner said.

 

“But as the race unfolded and different riders made their moves we had to adapt and I found myself out the front, waiting for the peloton to catch up again, but they never did.

 

“Cameron is in great form and is really strong, so once I was out the front with him I knew my best bet for the win would be to try and get the jump and outsmart him. I did that, but he is flying at the moment and he dragged me back and got me on the line.

 

“It was disappointing, because I probably left the door open for him, and I wanted to finish it off for Scotty and Jackson. But that’s racing.”

 

Despite missing the breakaway, the NSWIS team controlled the field behind Jenner and Ivory, with Jackson Law taking the final spot on the podium.

 

In the women’s event, NSWIS rider Josie Talbot placed second to runaway leader Christel Van Loo.

 

While the criterium was the icing on the cake for the day, the main focus of the day was the 90-kilometre journey from Sydney to Wollongong, an event that Jenner described as “overwhelming”.

 

 

“The Australian MS Society is the major charity partner of our team, and we put in a lot of effort to fundraise. But to see so many others out riding and doing the same was overwhelming,” he said.

 

“We also had all our coaching staff out riding with us, so for us it was a bit of fun. I even got dropped by Dave Spindler on the hills!”

 

To see a replay of the MS Wollongong Criterium CLICK HERE.

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