Debut Australian road title for Wiasak in women's criterium

Despite being outnumbered and off the list of favourites, Rebecca Wiasak outgunned former champions Sarah Roy and Kimberley Wells to claim the Australian women’s criterium title.

A two-time individual pursuit world champion on the track, 33-year-old Wiasak has enjoyed success in several criteriums but, due to previous track commitments, didn’t have the opportunity to pursue the national title.

"I am thrilled to take the win. I haven’t been able to do the national championships the last few years because I am a track cyclist and we usually have commitments with World Cups and the World Championships," Wiasak said.

"This course really suits me and I spent some time in America last year honing my craft with Fearless Femme and hopefully I can head back overseas with them again and do a couple of months’ stint with them."

Mitchelton-Scott were active across the race, the plan being to set up Roy and defending champion Jessica Allen for the sprint. With attacks failing to materialise on the final laps of the race, a sprint finish became inventible. While Roy and Mitchelton-Scott took one side of the road, a crafty move on the other by Wiasak, hiding from the wind, led her to a debut green and gold jersey on the road.

"I did my own thing and picked my own line and went on the left line," she said. "Sarah Roy and her team were up on the right so it was pretty much a drag race on opposite sides of the course and I was pretty pumped to take the win."

How it unfolded

Ballarat’s Sturt Street was lit up in late afternoon golden glow for the women’s criterium, welcoming the riders into the 2018 season.

With a peloton of quality criterium riders, the opening laps were fast and aggressive, with numerous attempts to force an early break. While several riders tried to get clear on the 1.1km circuit, Mitchelton-Scott’s Amanda Sprat and Lauren Kitchen of FJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope had the best chance but could only pull out a handful of seconds on the bunch.

The duo was reeled in but Kitchen remained on the front of the peloton, setting the tempo and, in doing so, trimming the bunch. Mitchelton-Scott played a role in maintaining a high tempo and ensuring no significant moves were made inside the final laps.

On the bell lap, teams and riders were jostling for position as Wiasak put her track craft to use, along with her finishing power to claim the gold.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Rebecca Wiasak (Aus)0:53:26
2Sarah Roy (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 1 - Cell 2
3Kimberley Wells (Aus) Holden Team GustoRow 2 - Cell 2
4Kristina Clonan (Aus)Row 3 - Cell 2
5Peta Mullens (Aus) Hagens Berman SupermintRow 4 - Cell 2
6Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus)Row 5 - Cell 2
7Lauretta Hanson (Aus) UnitedHealthcareRow 6 - Cell 2
8Matilda Raynolds (Aus)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Lauren Kitchen (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Ashlee Ankudinoff (Aus)Row 9 - Cell 2
11Maeve Plouffe (Aus) SASIRow 10 - Cell 2
12Brodie Chapman (Aus) Canberra Cycling ClubRow 11 - Cell 2
13Shannon Malseed (Aus) TIBCO-SVBRow 12 - Cell 2
14Josie Talbot (Aus)0:00:06
15Anna Booth (Aus) Canberra Cycling ClubRow 14 - Cell 2
16Emma Viotto (Aus)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Taryn Heather (Aus)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Jessica Mundy (Aus)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 18 - Cell 2
20Breanna Hargrave (Aus) SASI0:00:08
21Erin Nolan (Aus) Veris Racing0:00:12
22Annelise Jefferies (Aus)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Lucy Bechtel (Aus)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Kendelle Hodges (Aus)0:00:15
25Minda Murray (Aus)Row 24 - Cell 2
26Jenelle Crooks (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 25 - Cell 2
27Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 26 - Cell 2
28Erin Kinnealy (Aus) Holden Team Gusto0:00:17
29Jessica Allen (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:00:28
30Nicola MacDonald (Aus) Holden Team Gusto0:00:53
DNFRachel Ward (Aus) Canberra Cycling ClubRow 30 - Cell 2
DNFRachel Ward (Aus)Row 31 - Cell 2
DNFSarah Tucknott (Aus)Row 32 - Cell 2
DNFAngela Smith (Aus)Row 33 - Cell 2
DNFAyla Rudgley (Aus) Phoenix Cycling CollectiveRow 34 - Cell 2
DNFMelissa Robinson (Aus)Row 35 - Cell 2
DNFChloe Moran (Aus) SASIRow 36 - Cell 2
DNFJessica Lane (Aus)Row 37 - Cell 2
DNFKerry Jonker (Aus) Canberra Cycling ClubRow 38 - Cell 2
DNFChloe Heffernan (Aus)Row 39 - Cell 2
DNFAlana Haansbergen (Aus)Row 40 - Cell 2
DNFKirsty Deacon (Aus)Row 41 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Chilton (Aus) Canberra Cycling ClubRow 42 - Cell 2
DNFSaffron Button (Aus) Canberra Cycling ClubRow 43 - Cell 2
DNSJordyn Hassett (Aus)Row 44 - Cell 2
DNSNaomi Williams (Aus)Row 45 - Cell 2
DNSCarlee Taylor (Aus) Holden Team GustoRow 46 - Cell 2
DNSRebecca Stephens (Aus) Canberra Cycling ClubRow 47 - Cell 2
DNSRebecca Locke (Aus)Row 48 - Cell 2
DNSCharlotte Culver (Aus)Row 49 - Cell 2

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