Redcat and VIS strike in Brisbane!
SBS Women's League
The women's race opened at a high tempo in front of a strong local crowd, with Brisbane-based riders eager to animate the race on home roads. Cobra9 x Leigh Surveyors were once again aggressive, joined by the Women's Cycling Development Initiative p/b Balmoral team, racing on their home terrain.
Despite their efforts, no move was able to establish separation from the peloton, which was controlled by Butterfields Ziptrak Racing. Their intent was clear, keep the race together to give Sophie Edwards the best possible chance to continue building her advantage in the general classification ahead of the decisive final stage.
Edwards collected three more bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints, a valuable gain as she continued to challenge League leader Sophia Sammons for the overall PSL title.
Into the finish, Team Redcat took control, leading the field into the final straight. Meridian Bikebug also positioned strongly, setting up a head-to-head sprint between Keira Will (Team Redcat) and Amelie Sanders (Meridian Bikebug).
Sanders launched a powerful sprint, but Will proved too strong, holding her advantage to take an impressive victory. Edwards followed in third, adding further bonus seconds to cap off another important day in the overall standings.
Let's Go Motorhomes Men's League
The men's race began at a furious pace on the tight 1.2km Brisbane International Cycle Park circuit. Finn Walsh (CCACHE X BODYWRAP) was the first to make an impact, attacking early to claim maximum bonus seconds at the opening intermediate sprint before returning to the bunch to conserve energy ahead of the queen stage.
After a relentless opening, three riders stepped away from the field featuring Sam Jenner (Cobra9 x Leigh Surveyors), Dylan Proctor-Parker (RCA BikesOnline) and Will Heath (CCACHE X BODYWRAP). The trio established a lead of around 30 seconds, collecting the remaining intermediate sprints as they went.
The move was brought back as the peloton prepared for the finish, before the race was disrupted with three laps remaining following a large crash that forced a brief neutralisation.
Racing resumed with Team Brennan_ immediately taking control at the front, setting up for Tom Cornish. They were challenged by CCACHE X BODYWRAP in the run to the final corner, with Cornish leading the field through the turn.
He crossed the line first, but was later relegated for contact with CCACHE's Oscar Gallagher in the final corner.
As a result, Alistair Forsyth (VIS p/b K.O.M.P), who had finished second on the road, was awarded his first PSL stage win and, in doing so, moved into the race leader's yellow jersey.
PSL17's
The final race day of the PSL17's season was animated amongst both women's and men's fields. In the Women's, Ava Gidget Rodgers looked to defend her overall learned earned on stage 1 yesterday. She faced immense pressure from League leader Ava Robbins who, alongside New Zealand's Sophie Archer, managed to push away from the main field in the closing laps. The pair worked well together and as they approached the finish it was Archer who launched first, establishing a small gap of only 10 metres, but that was all she needed as she came home to take the stage and secure the overall win in the process.
The men were aggressive throughout, with Luka Collins, Vince Bell and League leader Bryn McDonnell the primary animators. Collins was away solo early before being brought back by the race leader Elliot King and into the finale it looked set to be a bunch finish. Collins had something to say about that, exploding out of the main field with three laps to go, and holding off a strong chase to take a very impressive solo win ahead of Bell and McDonnell who took out the bunch sprint behind. King maintained his lead in the GC to secure the final round win in Brisbane.
