Harbour City GP | Stage 1 Cronulla RSL Criterium Highlights
Sprinters reign supreme in fast opening to Round 4, Harbour City GP!
SBS Women’s League
The SBS Women’s League began cautiously, with the major teams closely watching each other as riders targeted the two intermediate sprints and valuable bonus seconds. With last year’s Harbour City GP decided on a countback, every second mattered. After comfortably taking the first sprint, Team Redcat’s Nicole Duncan quickly emerged as a favourite. Redcat controlled much of the race, with Amanda Poulsen and U23 Time Trial National Champion Sophia Sammons setting a strong tempo at the front to shut down attacks.
Butterfields Ziptrak Racing timed their move perfectly in the finale. Fresh off her Warrnambool Women’s Classic victory, Sophie Edwards surged past Redcat heading into the final corner before delivering teammate Odette Lynch into the final 200 metres. Lynch powered to the win ahead of Belinda Bailey (NSTRMO x Attaquer x CCACHE) and Amelie Sanders (Meridian Bikebug). Lynch now takes the race leader’s jersey into Stage 2.
Let’s Go Motorhomes
Men’s League The men’s race opened aggressively, with riders launching constant attacks in an attempt to escape the CCACHE x BODYWRAP-led peloton. No move gained more than 10 seconds as the bunch repeatedly brought breakaways back. Sydney rider Will Heffernan briefly threatened late in the race, holding a small advantage before being caught in the closing laps as sprint teams organised for the finish.
Brennan led the field into the final corner for National Champion Pat Eddy, but CCACHE x BODYWRAP’s Oscar Gallagher surged around the outside to deliver teammate Kurt Eather perfectly positioned for the sprint. Eather powered home for the win in front of the home crowd. Thanks to bonus seconds and his second-place finish, Gallagher takes the yellow jersey into Stage 2.
PSL U17s
In the U17 Women’s race, league leader Ava Robbins was closely marked throughout. The race came down to a fast tailwind sprint where Robbins powered past Ava Gidget-Rodgers to win ahead of Juno Smith. The U17 Men’s race was aggressive from the start, with riders chasing bonus seconds. Joshua Moore attacked late and built a decisive gap, holding off the peloton to win by 17 seconds ahead of Bryn McDonnell and Beau Mullins.
