SBS Women's | Harbour City GP Stage 3 Circuit Results
The Pheasant Wood circuit on paper looked like it could go either way, an exciting race should the riders take the race on early, or a more subdued affair if not. As the riders set off under cloudy skies, we saw attacks instantly out of the gate, with riders losing contact at the back of the bunch in the opening laps removed from the short 1.3km circuit. We were in for an exciting one!
Many attempts to establish a breakaway were stifled, before a group containing second overall in the League, Talia Appleton (Praties Cycling Team), Alli Anderson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing), Hannah Gianatti (ARA Skipt Capital), Mia Williams (Meridian Blue p/b 99 Bikes) and Aberdeen Mclain (Women’s Cyclign Development Initiative p/b Balmoral). The quintet worked well together and established a lead of over 2 minutes over the Praties led peloton.
Appleton was very active seeking the bonus seconds on offer at the intermediate sprints and sat in the virtual lead for the majority of the race. Coming into the finish however, it was Anderson who unleashed a powerful sprint to take the win, the 10 bonus seconds on offer, and the final Harbour City GC by the smallest of margins, finishing on equal time with Appleton, the final place decided on a countback.
