After four days of aggressive racing, Gracie Elvin (Orica-AIS) rung in the new year with a big win at the 2016 Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic.
A warm-up for this weekend’s Australian National Championships, the field was strong and the competition fierce. Every stage saw a different winner and while she had initially planned on riding “under the radar,” Elvin –a two-time national champion –put on the leader’s jersey after stage 1 and managed to hold onto it for the rest of the stage race.
“I think I’ve got a big target on my back again!” commented Elvin.
Catch up on the racing with our race reports:
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
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- The grassy embankment makes for a terrific viewing area near Geelong’s Ritchie Boulevard.
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- National criterium champ Kimberley Wells is easy to spot in her green and gold stripes.
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- Gracie Elvin (far right) takes a surprise win after trying to lead out Sarah Roy.
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- Jack Haig rode a very impressive stage 1, keeping attacks at bay for Caleb Ewan.
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- Stage 2 saw the riders take to Eastern Gardens in Geelong.
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- Valentina Scandolara goes on the attack on the course’s short but steep climb.
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- Wells wins in the sprint.
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- Kimberley Wells and Gracie Elvin are good friends off the bike but fiercely competitive once the racing begins. They are pictured here at the start of stage 3 in Portarlington.
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- The infamous Portarlington hill.
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- Sarah Roy, Vale Scandolara and Gracie Elvin forged the winning breakaway on stage 3.
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- A great victory for crowd-favourite Scandolara.
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- Stage 4 winner Lizzie Williams said after her victory: “I could tell I was feeling good. I was looking at my watts on the rollers and you can just tell if you’re going to have a good day and I’m like ‘I’m going to go and I’m going to go full gas and see what happens’ and it worked.”
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- Julie Leth (left) and Lizzie Williams (right) created the day’s main breakaway.
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- Gracie Elvin’s fifth place netted her the overall victory with Scandolara second and Williams third.