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In-form Hoskins sprints to second place and under 23 title
Rhodes shows her appreciation for the support she has had from GreenEDGE since the Garmin team folded during the off-season.



Hanging on for the finish - Alexis Rhodes (GreenEDGE) was visible …

Jo Hogan (Team Jayco-VIS) leads a chase to Rhodes, marked by …

Chloe Hosking (Specialized - lululemon) and Melissa Hoskins …



In the final lap, Gracie Elvyn (Jayco-AIS) tried to go alone …

Tiffany Cromwell (GreenEDGE) was attentive throughout the race, …

Alexis Rhodes (GreenEDGE) approaches the line on the long climb …

A victory for Alexis Rhodes (GreenEDGE) in the women's criterium. …

Melissa Hoskins (GreenEDGE) sprints for second place and also …

Annette Edmondson (SASI), Melissa Hoskins (GreenEDGE) and Lauren …

Annette Edmondson (SASI), Melissa Hoskins (GreenEDGE) and Lauren …

Alexis Rhodes (GreenEDGE) pulls on the Australian National criterium …

A glance down at the jersey and medal raise a smile from newly-crowned …

Australian National criterium Champion, Alexis Rhodes (GreenEDGE). …

Chloe Hosking (Specialized - lululemon) in the bunch, surrounded …

Tiffany Cromwell (GreenEDGE) keeps an eye on the front of the …

Alexis Rhodes (GreenEDGE) takes a corner in the evening sun.…

She hurt, but she kept going - Alexis Rhodes (GreenEDGE) solo. …

Melissa Hoskins (GreenEDGE), Alexis Rhodes (GreenEDGE) and Annette …
Alexis Rhodes has celebrated her new contract with GreenEdge-AIS by winning the Australian Elite Women's Criterium Championship for the fourth time in her career. Teammate Melissa Hoskins took out the Under 23 title by crossing the line seven seconds in arrears, followed by Annette Edmondson.
Lauren Kitchen, wearing her new Rabobank kit, claims the bronze medal in the Under 23 division.
Rhodes, defending Australian Road Champion, escaped on the back straight of the 12th lap and never looked back. Thursday evening's win was in identical style to that of new teammates Amanda Spratt and Shara Gillow at the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic earlier in the week – a time trial style effort to maintain a consistent gap.
"One hour criteriums are a little different to a three-hour road race but I've been training really hard the last couple of months and I've got a really good team," said Rhodes who will race on Saturday in defence of her 2011 road race title.
"If I don't win on Saturday, I really hope one of my teammates do," Rhodes said. "Hopefully we can really dictate the race like we did tonight, but there are probably other people who have a lot of other ideas as well."
It was a fabulous return for Rhodes, having been off the bike for the past six months due to surgery on a blocked iliac artery, with Thursday's criterium her first race back. Rhodes said that with that in mind, the win ranked as her best in the criterium having previously won the title in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
"This one's probably a little bit more meaningful, just because I haven't raced in six months so it's always nice," the 27-year-old explained. "It's a nice little gauge of where my form is and hopefully it will be good come Saturday."
Hoskins hot run of form continued with her under 23 title, having won the Jayco Bay Classic on Wednesday. The 21-year-old said the buzz of her first overall success on the road at the event, made it difficult to stay focussed on Thursday for the nationals.
"We knew we'd be under attack from people like Chloe [Hosking] and pretty much every other person in the race because we've been such a dominant team the last four days," Hoskins explained. "We predicted it; it happened; it was aggressive; it was hard.
"There was a point there where I'm sure there were a few sprinters in a bit of trouble and I was happy to see Alex up the road because it took the pressure off us. I was pretty confident in her time trialling ability and I just had to hold on for that last corner and hold on for a sprint again."
Adding to GreenEdge-AIS' success, was Tiffany Cromwell who took out the sprint championship.
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexis Rhodes (SA) | 0:49:32 | |
| 2 | Melissa Hoskins (Wa) | 0:00:07 | |
| 3 | Annette Edmondson (SA) | ||
| 4 | Belinda Goss (Vic) | ||
| 5 | Peta Mullens (Vic) | ||
| 6 | Lauren Kitchen (NSW) | ||
| 7 | Kirsty Broun (Qld) | ||
| 8 | Gracie Elvin (ACT) | ||
| 9 | Rebecca Werner (SA) | ||
| 10 | Joanne Hogan (Vic) | ||
| 11 | Isabella King (Wa) | ||
| 12 | Grace Sulzberger (Tas) | ||
| 13 | Nicole Moerig (Qld) | ||
| 14 | Jessie Maclean (ACT) | ||
| 15 | Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) | ||
| 16 | Stephanie Ives (Vic) | 0:00:14 | |
| 17 | Jessica Allen (Wa) | 0:00:20 | |
| 18 | Melina Bernecker (Vic) | ||
| 19 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 0:00:27 | |
| 20 | Amy Bradley (Vic) | 0:00:29 | |
| 21 | Sinead Noonan (SA) | 0:00:31 | |
| 22 | Chloe McConville (Vic) | ||
| 23 | Rowena Fry (Tas) | 0:00:36 | |
| 24 | Chloe Hosking (ACT) | 0:01:16 | |
| DNF | Nicole Whitburn (Vic) | ||
| DNF | Megan Bagworth (ACT) | ||
| DNF | Carley McKay (Vic) | ||
| DNF | Kimberley Wells (ACT) | ||
| DNF | Emma Mackie (NSW) | ||
| DNF | Katrin Garfoot (Qld) | ||
| DNF | Lisa Jacobs (Vic) | ||
| DNF | Elizabeth Phillipou (SA) | ||
| DNF | Amber Jenkins (NSW) | ||
| DNF | Katherine O'Shea (Vic) | ||
| DNF | Ailie Mcdonald (ACT) | ||
| DNF | Alice Wallett (ACT) | ||
| DNF | Emma Lawson (Tas) | ||
| DNF | Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW) | ||
| DNF | Myfanwy Galloway (ACT) | ||
| DNS | Loren Rowney (Qld) | ||
| DNS | Kate Finegan (Vic) | ||
| DNS | Sue Forsyth (NSW) | ||
| DNS | Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) | ||
| DNS | Heidi Croxson (Qld) | ||
| DNS | Alexandra Carle (ACT) | ||
| DNS | Kendelle Hodges (Vic) | ||
| DNS | Angela Mcclure (SA) | ||
| DNS | Chloe Mcintosh (Vic) |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimberley Wells (ACT) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Peta Mullens (Vic) | 2 | |
| 3 | Joanne Hogan (Vic) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinead Noonan (SA) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 2 | |
| 3 | Isabella King (Wa) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Chloe McConville (Vic) | 2 | |
| 3 | Sinead Noonan (SA) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joanne Hogan (Vic) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 2 | |
| 3 | Grace Sulzberger (Tas) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grace Sulzberger (Tas) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 2 | |
| 3 | Chloe Hosking (ACT) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jessie Maclean (ACT) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) | 2 | |
| 3 | Lauren Kitchen (NSW) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Chloe Hosking (ACT) | 2 | |
| 3 | Gracie Elvin (ACT) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexis Rhodes (SA) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Emma Mackie (NSW) | 2 | |
| 3 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexis Rhodes (SA) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 2 | |
| 3 | Chloe Hosking (ACT) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexis Rhodes (SA) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Grace Sulzberger (Tas) | 2 | |
| 3 | Melissa Hoskins (Wa) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexis Rhodes (SA) | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Joanne Hogan (Vic) | 2 | |
| 3 | Jessie Maclean (ACT) | 1 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) | 15 | pts |
| 2 | Alexis Rhodes (SA) | 12 | |
| 3 | Joanne Hogan (Vic) | 6 | |
| 4 | Grace Sulzberger (Tas) | 6 | |
| 5 | Jessie Maclean (ACT) | 4 | |
| 6 | Sinead Noonan (SA) | 4 | |
| 7 | Chloe Hosking (ACT) | 4 | |
| 8 | Kimberley Wells (ACT) | 3 | |
| 9 | Peta Mullens (Vic) | 2 | |
| 10 | Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) | 2 | |
| 11 | Chloe McConville (Vic) | 2 | |
| 12 | Emma Mackie (NSW) | 2 | |
| 13 | Melissa Hoskins (Wa) | 1 | |
| 14 | Lauren Kitchen (NSW) | 1 | |
| 15 | Gracie Elvin (ACT) | 1 | |
| 16 | Isabella King (Wa) | 1 |