Melissa Hoskins makes it two-from-two for Orica-AIS at Santos Women’s Tour

Western Australian Melissa Hoskins (Orica-AIS) sprinted to victory in Adelaide’s East End on stage 2 of the Santos Women’s Tour. Debuting her new Australian national criterium champion jersey, Kimberley Wells (High5 Dream Team) managed second place ahead of Adelaide local Nettie Edmondson (Wiggle Down Under) in third.

Race leader Valentina Scandolara (Orica-AIS) finished on bunch time to retain her six second advantage in the general classification. With the stage win today and second place on Saturday, Hoskins jumps up to second overall ahead of Lauren Kitchen (Roxsolt).

“I have an amazing team,” said Scandolara. “It’s never easy to keep the jersey, but with this team, it’s much easier. I was really confident because I trust my teammates 100%.”

“Keeping the jersey was the number one priority today,” said Hoskins. “It was the number one target. Anything else is a bonus. We’re pretty stoked.”

The familiar People’s Choice Classic circuit played host to the second stage of the Santos Women’s Tour. The women’s peloton were allotted 40 minutes around the 1.7 kilometre loop. Starting two hours before their male counterparts, the women treated the spectators crowded around the course to a blisteringly fast race.

Although a handful of riders made an effort to escape the stronghold of the bunch, the race stayed together from start to finish without even the slightest hint of a breakaway. With several of the stronger, more experience squads invested in a field sprint and a non-technical course, the outcome seemed somewhat inevitable.

“A few girls tried to attack but the course doesn’t lend itself to anyone getting away,” explained Hoskins. “We were so concerned with keeping the jersey that we weren’t going to let anyone go in a move that didn’t include us, and if we were in the move, the other teams weren’t really interested.”

“It wasn’t a negative race,” Hoskins added. “It was just a fast race. A lot of sprint teams wanted a sprint, too. Kimbers was keen for a sprint and so was Wiggle with Bronzini. They were looking for that opportunity, and I was looking for that opportunity, too.”

With the team’s focus largely on Scandolara, Hoskins would be left to fend for herself in the finale – yet her team was confident she could contend in the sprint.

“We wanted to deliver Mel as best we could to the finish and let her take care of herself from there,” said sport director Gene Bates. “She’s a good track rider, and she knows how to handle herself. We were confident that she’d have a good chance of getting the stage if we took her to the front with one kilometre to go.”

Ruth Corset (Total Rush) jumped between the final two corners, gaining a slight advantage over the field on the run to the line. The move inspired an early start to the sprint. Hoskins surged around the final corner.

“I got onto Lauren Kitchen’s wheel with 500 metres to go,” said Hoskins. “When Ruth attacked, it brought the sprint on early. I was sprinting from the last bend, which was 300 to go. There was a tailwind finish, and it was slightly downhill. You could hit out early and hang on – which I did.”

“I’m extremely happy with the team,” said Bates. “We wanted to start the season off strong, and we’re certainly doing that. The girls are really motivated, and it’s a really good vibe in the team. Back-to-back wins at the Tour Down Under is the perfect start for us.”

The women are back in action on Monday for what is expected to be the most decisive stage of the four day race. The 71km route between Tanunda and Campbelltown travels through the Adelaide hills. Like Saturday’s road race, stage 3 will likely be an aggressive day from start to finish.

“It will be harder tomorrow than today, but I think my job will be pretty much the same – be confident in my teammates and control the race,” said Scandolara. “We’re definitely going to try to keep the jersey, and we maybe will try to win the race, too – just like today.”

“We have a really classy rider in Valentina who can climb, sprint, time trial – the whole lot,” said Bates. “We’re confident that she can wrap up the whole thing.”

Stage 2 Result

• Average speed of the winner: 44.1 km/h
• Number of starters: 87

General Classification

After Stage 2

Sprint Classification

After Stage 2

Intermediate Sprints

Lap 6 Sprint

Finish Lap Sprint

Mountains Classification

After Stage 2

Hill Climbs

Lap 4 KOM

Lap 8 KOM

Stage Awards

Stage Aggressor

Teams Stage Result

Teams General Classification

After Stage 2

NRS Teams Aggregate

Standings after 2015 Santos Women’s Tour Stage 2

NRS Aggregate

Standings after 2015 Santos Women’s Tour Stage 2