The former WorldTour professional is looking for a new contract back at the top level of cycling and has put his best foot forward over the Australian summer of cycling, placing second in the nationals road race before triumphing in style in South Australia at the Festival of Cycling.
Stage 1 proved a decisive day in the battle for the general classification, with a hard fight to make it into the early breakaway seeing a large move go clear with most of the top teams represented. When the Garmin-Australia national team rider, Zac Marriage, was dropped, the peloton suddenly livened up, with a number of bridging attacks attempting to cross over to the early break.
With WorldTour stars Lucas Plapp, Richie Porte (both Garmin-Australia and INEOS Grenadiers), Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange-Jayco), Chris Harper and Rohan Dennis (both Villawood and Jumbo-Visma) attacking and counter attacking, a strong group containing Whelan was able to make it to the front of the race.
The attacks continued, but the only one to manage to get headway was Whelan, who powered away from the reduced group at the front of the race with over 20 kilometres to go. He quickly pushed the lead out to a massive one of over a minute and a half, and was able to largely maintain that on the run to the finish, where he finished 1’27 ahead of teammate Matt Dinham who lead home the chasers for a famous Team Bridgelane 1-2.
The dampener on the day for Whelan was the commissaire’s decision post-race to enforce a one-minute penalty on him for pacing behind a motor vehicle, the infringement happening when returning to the peloton after suffering an early mechanical.
Team Bridgelane issued a statement saying the mechanical happened in the neutral zone, a point in the race where the normal procedure would be to have the race continue in neutralised manner until all riders were present and ready for the start.
With Whelan’s lead cut from a minute and 27 seconds to just 27 seconds, Stage 2 was a more controlled affair, albeit with some fireworks late.
An early break containing Dylan Sunderland (Team Westpac), Ben Dyball (Aus II), Carter Bettles (ARA-Pro Racing Sunshine Coast), Tom Chester (Rauland), Robert Parker (Onyva) and Torben Partridge-Madsen (CCS Cycling) went up the road and were allowed a little leash by the Team Bridgelane-led peloton.
None were general classification threats after losing time on the opening stage, and it wasn’t until the acceleration from the peloton with 30 kilometres remaining that the breakaway had their two-minute advantage threatened. That prompted Sunderland, Bettles and Dyball to attack and drop their three companions, but the sprinter’s teams surged to the front of the race and set a ferocious pace that saw the trio of escapees brought back.
A series of small attacks were neutralised into the expected sprint finish before 18-year-old Dylan George (Garmin-Australia and Team Bridgelane) launched a flying attack in the final kilometre, building an impressive lead. The sprinters were only just able to overhaul George in the final 50 metres, and it was Blake Quick (Inform TMX MAKE) who claimed the win, his fourth already of 2022.
Jensen Plowright (Team Westpac) was second, with Cameron Scott (ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast) third.
With the famous ascent to the summit finish on Willunga Hill on Stage 3 the main difficulty remaining, Whelan faced the task of holding onto his lead over the formidable climbers behind him.
Working in tandem with Team Bridgelane teammate Matt Dinham, Whelan worked at the front of the peloton as it left McLaren Vale towards Willunga Hill determined to keep his lead in the GC.
A move from Callum Scotson created an initial five rider breakaway before a chase group of four caught up with 90 kilometres to go creating a lead group of nine, including Scotson, Angus Lyons, Declan Trezie, Cooper Sayers and Brendon Green.
The lead group stretched their advantage ahead of the peloton to as much as five minutes at one point before losing time as they approached Willunga Hill.
Lyons, with the support of Trezise, was too strong on the famous climb as he made a race-winning move in the final two kilometres to pip Callum Scotson to the line by 22 seconds.
Despite all the excitement at the front of the race, Whelan was able to do enough to secure the General Classification victory by 24 seconds ahead of Dinham and 30 seconds ahead of Chris Harper in third.
Whelan was quick to thank his fellow Team Bridgelane riders after the race saying their work on Stage three proved pivotal in his GC victory.
"The team was unreal today," Whelan said
"We were on the front all day taking care of the attacks and the cross winds. Every time we got attacked we could just reset and ride tempo.
"Matt Dinham set the tempo for me and after that, it was just a case of hold the wheel and win the thing.
Whelan said the victory meant he managed to achieve a mark he set for himself at the backend of last season.
"This win is unreal. In October when I lost my contract I thought to myself I need to win the Nationals and the TDU. he said.
"They were some pretty lofty goals and while I didn't win at nationals, I've managed to get it done here. It's surreal."
