Decker savours tour win

IT took 20 years, but Tim Decker has finally etched his name on to the honour roll as a Bendigo and District Cycling Club tour champion.Decker yesterday joined a who’s who of cycling stars to have won the three-day Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend classic.His first start in a Bendigo tour was in the under-17s.A remarkable cycling career for the rider from Natimuk, near Horsham, has included a Melbourne to Warrnambool victory, a Bendigo International Madison track title, and many more.The cycling ace moved to Bendigo when he was 21 and has excelled as a competitor and coach.“To finally win the Bendigo tour means a lot to me,” Decker said after powering to the lead in yesterday morning’s 69km stage at Emu Creek.The tour’s overnight leader, James Mowatt was caught back in the main bunch.A little over an hour after starting the tour finale on the Mayfair Park criterium circuit, Decker was celebrating victory in the Golden Square Hotel-backed A grade tour.Decker’s aggression was to the fore in the final stage in a four-man breakaway and the time bonuses kept racking up in the sprints.Decker kept powering on in the final hour on the Bendigo East streets.“From talking to other tour winners, the plan was ride as if you haven’t got it (the tour lead),” Decker said.The criterium was won by Jamie Crass, who is coached by Decker.For the second year running, Bendigo-based Mark O’Brien, who is from Horsham, was runner-up.For the latest tour winner, this week will be a chance to spend time with his family.Upcoming races for the cycling ace include the Creswick Open, Victoria Country championships, and Casterton classic.Final standings in the 2009 Bendigo and District Cycling Club three-day tour:Golden Square Hotel-backed A grade: Tim Decker 8 hours 2.44 minutes, Mark O’Brien -58 seconds, James Mowatt -3.04, Jay Bourke -3.23, Sam Witmitz -3.33, Rhys Gillet -3.34, Jarrod Moroni -4.38, Tim Hucker -4.53, Silas Fisher -5.18, Brad Thomas -5.44, James Boal -6.56, Leigh Egan -7.12, Andrew Ward -7.13, James Rendall -10.44, Jamie Crass -39.23.Curtain Control Systems-backed B grade:Todd Schintler 7 hours 53.31 minutes, John Macague -49, Nick Moroni -55, Tim Fitzpatrick -1.22, Peta Mullens -2.28, Siebran Allen -2.59, Justin Mollison -3.39, Wes Steel -3.48, Darrin Strauch -4.33, Sam Conder -4.51, Dave Fairburn -6.39, Jackson MacCallum -7.47, Todd Derrick -16.57.Brown Sugar-backed C grade: Jamie Costello-Manning 6 hours 25.22 minutes, Craig Riddington -9, Tristan Gerrish -3.25, Peter Ladd Sr -3.45, Jai Howard -4.04, David Mannix -4.09, Dale Lowe -4.25, Neil Thomson -4.33, Rachel Rayner -4.35, Jeff Martin -4.53, John Salter -5.25, Steven Spencer -5.34, Neil Thompson -5.39, Mick Sait -6.04, Paul Oman -6.17, Kieran Pontelandolfo -8.19, Will Kettle -11.55, Jonathon Lacey -13.47, Amanda Hales -17.18, Leigh-Anne Dynon -28.46.