The Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Festival marked a thrilling Round 2 of the ProVelo Super League, with Blake Agnoletto (Team Brennan p/b TP32) and Katelyn Nicholson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) claiming well-deserved victories after their gruelling days in the saddle.

Crosswinds decimated the field in the men’s event on Saturday. Team Brennan p/b TP32 and CCACHE X BODYWRAP went head to head in the finale, with all eyes on Blake Agnoletto and Cameron Scott for a small group sprint. Last years winner Mark O’Brien (TRAPPIST), and Hamish McKenzie riding for his home club Launceston City CC, did their best to shake things up, but couldn’t rid themselves of Agnoletto and Scott.

Agnoletto proved the fresher of the two sprinters in the end, taking a strong sprint victory on Raglan Parade as Scott seemed to run out of gas right when he needed it most. Mckenzie showed strong grit to hold on for 3rd in the sprint.

Agnoletto’s win sees him move into the PSL overall League lead on 200 points, ahead of his team mates Jack Ward, who extended his lead in the u23 classification on 176 points, and SA Kick-It winner Brendon Davids on 166 points.

The women’s event saw similar conditions to the men with strong crosswinds shredding the field from the Great Ocean Road all the way to Allensford. The Praties Cycling Team seemed to have everything under control until inside the final 35km when the Oceania Road Champion Katelyn Nicholson launched off the front and never looked back.

The field scrambled behind but was unable to get an organised chase. Nicholson only had the duo of Frankie Hall (Praties Cycling Team) and Josephine Pepper (Duda Cycling) in pursuit, but they were unable to make the junction. Nicholson arrived at the finish with plenty of time to soak up what she had accomplished as she took a dominant solo win ahead of Hall and Pepper.

Talia Appleton remains the League leader after round 2, but sees her lead slashed to only a single point ahead of Nicholson, while Hall’s strong performance was enough to move her into third.

PSL Overall League Leaderboards:

SumUp Men's League

Overall Individual Classification

1. Blake Agnoletto
2. Jack Ward
3. Brendon Davids

U23 Classification

1. Jack Ward
2. Hamish McKenzie
3. Julian Baudry
4.  

SBS Women's League

Overall Individual Classification

1. Talia Appleton
2. Katelyn Nicholson
3. Frankie Hall

U23 Classification

1. Talia Appleton
2. Sophie Marr
3. Sophia Sammons

Photography Credit: Con Chronis