Rhodes takes women's title

Alexis Rhodes stormed to a memorable victory in Buninyong this afternoon. The 26-year-old was crowned the Australian National Women's Champion after beating team-mate, Carla Ryan and Victorian Jo Hogan in a small sprint to the line.

"I'm stoked. I honestly never thought it would happen," a jubilant Rhodes said after the race. "To win the national road championship and wear the jersey in Europe is something you dream about," she added.

An early breakaway dominated the race featuring Joanne Hogan, Tiffany Cromwell, Vicki Whitelaw, Alexis Rhodes, Amanda Spratt, Annabel Luxford and Carlee Taylor. They enjoyed a maximum advantage of just over three minutes.

At the halfway mark of the race, their advantage dropped to two minutes as Judith Arndt and Carla Ryan tried to bridge across and managed to join the leaders with thirty kilometres to run. It was from there that riders started dropping off one by one.

Ryan, Whitelaw, Arndt, Cromwell, Taylor, Hogan and Rhodes were the leading group on the penultimate lap. On the final lap Whitelaw and Cromwell lost contact and Ryan, Arndt, Hogan and Taylor were the leaders over the climb for the last time. Despite Rhodes getting dropped, she fought back to join the leaders and in the sprint to the line, took a brilliant victory.

It was a special win from Rhodes after a roller-coaster last five years. She contemplated retirement at the end of 2010, but bounced back strongly to take the biggest win of her career.

"I came over the last lap and Judith put me in the gutter. I'm not half the bike rider she is and I got dropped. Luckily for me Judith, Carla and Jo started looking at each other and I was able to get back on again. I was patient and knew it was a fast finish. I managed to get the win."

"I'm surprised. Normally I can't climb to save myself, but today I decided I was in with a shot and just buried myself."

2009 National champion, Carla Ryan was thrilled for her team-mate.

"Crossing that finish line and seeing Alex on the other side of me wearing our new Garmin-Cervello clothes, it's very special for the team and also Alexis – winning her first national championship, especially after the things that has happened to her in the past and she's still got an amazing future. I'm just really happy for her," she said.

Both Ryan and Rhodes will be flying out to Spain tonight to attend a Garmin-Cervelo training camp.

Taylor was crowned the queen of the mountains and Whitelaw the sprint champion.

Carlee Taylor claims under-23 glory

Carlee Taylor finished strongly securing the under-23 title. Part of the early break, she battled valiantly and held on for the win, finishing the race in seventh position. 18-year-old Sinead Noonen was second, 20-year-old Lauren Kitchen third.

Taylor has signed a contract with Tibco and will wear the national jersey in her first year as a professional.

"I'm pretty happy. This is my last year as an under-23 and to come away with a win is a good feeling," the 21-year-old said.

"I thought the conditions today would suit an early breakaway and it ended up being the winning move and it was a good decision. I didn't quite have the legs to go with the move today, but to come away with an under-23 win, I'm very happy."

 

Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alexis Rhodes (Norwood C.C.)3:00:18
2Carla Ryan (Lifecycle CC)Row 1 - Cell 2
3Joanne Hogan (St Kilda Cycling Club Inc)Row 2 - Cell 2
4Judith Arndt (Germany)Row 3 - Cell 2
5Vicki Whitelaw (Canberra Cycling Club)Row 4 - Cell 2
6Tiffany Cromwell (Norwood C.C.)Row 5 - Cell 2
7Carlee Taylor** (Norwood C.C.)0:00:55
8Ruth Corset (Townsville Cycle Club)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Bridie O'Donnell (St Kilda Cycling Club Inc)0:01:51
10Amanda Spratt (Penrith CC)Row 9 - Cell 2
11Annabel Luxford (Lifecycle Cycling Club)0:03:23
12Taryn Heather (Mildura-Coomealla C.C.)0:03:44
13Jessie MacLean (Canberra Cycling Club)0:06:45
14Peta Mullens (Bendigo & District CC)Row 13 - Cell 2
15Trudy Van Der Straaten (Bicisport)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Gracie Elvin (Canberra Cycling Club)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Sinead Noonan** (Sturt Holdfast Marion C.C.)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Amber Halliday (Norwood C.C.)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Shara Gillow (Sunshine Coast CC)0:09:46
20Samantha Hemsley (Canberra Cycling Club)0:11:06
21Lauren Kitchen** (Port Macquarie Cycling Club)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Grace Sulzberger (West Tamar CC)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Katherine O'Shea (Dirt Riders)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Nikolina Orlic (Hamilton Pine River Wheelers)Row 23 - Cell 2
25India McLean (Northern Sydney CC)Row 24 - Cell 2
26Laura Meadley (Canberra Cycling Club)Row 25 - Cell 2
27Rebecca Wiasak (Canberra Cycling Club)Row 26 - Cell 2
28Angela McClure** (Norwood C.C.)Row 27 - Cell 2
29Caitlin Turner** (Peloton Sports Inc.)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Alexandra Carle** (Vikings Cycling Club ACT)Row 29 - Cell 2
31Laura Luxford (Lifecycle Cycling Club)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Clare Dallat (Carnegie Caulfield CC)0:12:41
33Rebecca Locke (Coburg Cycling Club Inc)0:14:52
DNFRowena Fry (MTBA)Row 33 - Cell 2
DNFHeather Logie (Canberra Cycling Club)Row 34 - Cell 2
DNFNicole Whitburn (Carnegie Caulfield CC)Row 35 - Cell 2
DNFStephanie Ives (Carnegie Caulfield CC)Row 36 - Cell 2
DNFKatherine Baker (Sunshine Coast CC)Row 37 - Cell 2
DNFRebecca Domange (Carnegie Caulfield CC)Row 38 - Cell 2
DNFDelphine Astier (Footscray Cycling Club Inc)Row 39 - Cell 2
DNFSarah Riley (Carnegie Caulfield CC)Row 40 - Cell 2
DNFMiranda Griffiths (St Kilda Cycling Club Inc)Row 41 - Cell 2
DNFLiz Leyden (Atomic Brooks Cycle Club)Row 42 - Cell 2
DNFChloe McConville (Carnegie Caulfield CC)Row 43 - Cell 2
DNFMaryam Rogers (St Kilda Cycling Club Inc)Row 44 - Cell 2
DNFImogen Smith (NRG Cycling)Row 45 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Smith** (Mersey Valley Devonport CC)Row 46 - Cell 2
DNFShanice Nitis** (Lifecycle CC)Row 47 - Cell 2
DNFKristy Glover** (Wellington Cycling Club)Row 48 - Cell 2
DNFKendelle Hodges** (Brunswick Cycling Club Inc)Row 49 - Cell 2
DNFChloe Hosking** (Canberra Cycling Club)Row 50 - Cell 2
DNFJasmin Hurikino** (Balmoral Cycle Club)Row 51 - Cell 2
DNFStephanie Sanchez** (Sutherland Shire CC)Row 52 - Cell 2
DNFZoe Watters (Lifecycle Cycling Club)Row 53 - Cell 2
DNFAmy Bradley (St Kilda Cycling Club Inc)Row 54 - Cell 2
DNFKirsty Broun (Lifecycle CC)Row 55 - Cell 2
DNFElizabeth Georgouras (Port Adelaide C.C.)Row 56 - Cell 2
DNFRochelle Gilmore (Bankstown Sports CC)Row 57 - Cell 2
DNFNatalie Langer (Balmoral Cycle Club)Row 58 - Cell 2
DNFIngrid Trotter (St Kilda Cycling Club Inc)Row 59 - Cell 2
DNFNaomi Williams (MTBA)Row 60 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Lawson** (Launceston City CC)Row 61 - Cell 2
DNFMyfanwy Galloway** (Canberra Cycling Club)Row 62 - Cell 2
DNFBelinda Mason** (Launceston City CC)Row 63 - Cell 2
DNFChloe McIntosh** (Ballarat/Sebastopol CC)Row 64 - Cell 2
DNFRebecca Werner** (Port Adelaide C.C.)Row 65 - Cell 2
DNFCarly Light (Port Adelaide C.C.)Row 66 - Cell 2
DNFBridget Officer (St Kilda Cycling Club Inc)Row 67 - Cell 2
DNFMegan Dunn** (Dubbo CC)Row 68 - Cell 2
DNFKimberley Yap (Malaysia)Row 69 - Cell 2
DNFCarly Williams (Carnegie Caulfield CC)Row 70 - Cell 2
DNFDavina Summers (South Perth Cycle Club)Row 71 - Cell 2
DNFKelly Bartlett (St Kilda CC)Row 72 - Cell 2
DNFKate Finegan (Hunter District CC)Row 73 - Cell 2
DNFJenni King (MTBA)Row 74 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Mackie (Balmoral Cycle Club)Row 75 - Cell 2
DNFNicole McNamara (Bendigo & District CC)Row 76 - Cell 2
DNFAmy Cure** (Mersey Valley Devonport CC)Row 77 - Cell 2
DNSVictoria Luxton (Carnegie Caulfield CC)Row 78 - Cell 2
DNSRachel Neylan (Norwood C.C.)Row 79 - Cell 2
DNSMonica Kelly** (Horsham Cycling Club Inc)Row 80 - Cell 2
DNSBrittany Lindores** (Gold Coast CATS Cycling Club)Row 81 - Cell 2

** Denotes U23 rider

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