YELLOW jersey holder Anthony Giacoppo says his Genesys Wealth Advisers team is perfectly poised after two days of the Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland. The Genesys rider clinched the Moe criterium this morning before Team Budget Forklifts cyclist Luke Davison continued his devastating form, winning his third stage of the tour with a victory in the 54.5km Morwell to Yinnar road race. Giacoppo believed Genesys, which dominated last year’s SCODY Cup, was well-equipped to stay at the top of General Classification for the remaining three days of the event.

“We’re exactly where we wanted to be,” he said. “For the rest of the week, we just need to keep riding how we are now.” The 26-year-old scooped up at the 45km Moe criterium, also claiming the Credit Collect Criterium championship and pinching the Lakes Oil tour leader jersey from Davison. "I always thought (the criterium) was going to be quite a good one for me, with the little rise in it," Giacoppo said. “And this afternoon as well, there were a few climbs.” The West Australian was naturally pleased to gain the Lakes Oil tour leader's jersey. "Out of all the jerseys I've got, yellow's definitely my favourite,” he said. “For me, this week is more about the tour itself and any stage wins along the way are a bonus.”

Anthony Giacoppo (Genesys Wealth Advisers) takes out stage three of the tour in Moe.

The Crossco most aggressive jersey after the criterium went to Genesys teammate Alex Carver, while Drapac Professional Cycling’s Will Walker held onto the SP AusNet sprint championship jersey during both of today’s stages.
"I didn't sprint for four years, now I'm sprinting every second lap," he said. The former SCODY Cup champion was not confident he could keep the sprint jersey for the remainder of the tour. “I should’ve saved my energy for later in the week,” Walker laughed. With three climbs in this afternoon’s Bunnings-sponsored road race, the tour’s first King of
the Mountains jersey was presented, aptly going to RBS Morgans-ATS Pro Cycling rider Ben Hill.

The stage four podoim (l-r): Brenton Jones (2nd), Luke Davison (1st) and Anthony Giacoppo (3rd).

“There were a few short, sharp hills which really suited me,” said the Canberra-based Hill, who hopes to defend the jersey tomorrow, when the testing 101.9km Maffra to Dargo road race will feature four hill climbs. RBS Morgans-ATS Pro Cycling also collected the Crossco most aggressive jersey through Cameron Peterson. Tomorrow’s road race follows on from a Sale criterium, with the in-form Davison expected to again be prominent. “It’s not a bad tally so far,” he modestly said of his three-out-of-four stage wins. “Hopefully we can get another one or two.” The 22-year-old, who triumphed in a bunch finish in the road race, trails Giacoppo by 13 seconds in GC.

Words: Caribou Publications Pics: Mark Gunter.