Towards Zero Race Melbourne: Edmondson wins women's race

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Annette Edmondson has won the women's Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Towards Zero Race Melbourne in a sprint photo finish. Georgia Bronzini (Cylance) was second with Kendal Ryan (Tibco) rounding out the podium in third place following a close and hard fought battle for victory

The victory continues the good form of Edmondson after she won the opening stage of the Santos Women's Tour in her home town of Adelaide earlier in the month.

Mitchelton-Scott led the sprint to the line with Sarah Roy and Gracie Elvin as the sprinters bided their time, protected by the wind. Inside the few final hundred meters, Wiggle High5 made its move with Edmondson on the right-hand side of the road. On her inside line, Hosking, Bronzini and Ryan were making their move.

Closing in on the finish line, the sprinters fanned across the line but it was Edmondson who kept her straight line and through her bike to take a narrow win. Riders unaware for several minutes who would be delivered the win.

With temperatures almost perfect for racing and on a very fast Formula 1 track, the peloton set out for the first of 12 laps of the 5.3km circuit. Sydney Uni - Staminade and Bepink were active in sending riders up the road for the early break. However, nothing truly stuck and as the laps counted down, it was clear a sprint finish would be inevitable but it would take a photo finish to decide the winner.

With Friday to rest, the peloton heads down the highway for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Saturday and then the Women's Herald Sun Tour from Tuesday to close out a busy start to the 2018 season.

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