Garfoot claims overall victory at Mersey Valley

Queensland's Katrin Garfoot (Pensar SPM Racing) has triumphed on the final day of the Mersey Valley Tour to claim overall victory at the opening event of the women's Subaru National Road Series (NRS).

Garfoot crossed the line 24 seconds ahead of her nearest rival in the general classification - Saturday's yellow jersey holder Sam de Riter (Holden Women's Cycling) to seal the overall tour win.

"I don't think it has sunk in yet," Garfoot, 31 described. "I'm pretty exhausted, I had nothing left in the last 10 kilometre's, Ruth (Corset) gave everything for me so I really owe her big time."

The reigning Oceania Champion finished the tour just two seconds ahead of teammate and 2012 Subaru NRS Champion Ruth Corset and a further 7 seconds to de Riter.

"I'm very proud of the team, they all deserve it," said German born Garfoot who now leads the Subaru NRS.

Tasmania's Grace Sulzberger (Team Polygon) claimed stage three line honours, with the 23 year old winning the challenging 87 kilometre road race through the iconic Gunns Plains.

"I definitely had the advantage of being at home," Sulzberger described. "I knew my parents were at the finish line which made me work that little bit harder at the end."

Sulzberger took out the stage in a sprint finish from Garfoot and Victoria's Taryn Heather (Jayco/Apollo/VIS).

"I knew I had to work with the girls to start with, so we could establish a break and then with three kilometre's to go I thought I could sit on and try for the stage win," Sulzberger described.

Sulzberger, Garfoot, Corset and Heather formed the winning break as the treacherous Gunns Plains ascent decimated the field at the 50 kilometre mark.

The group easily established a one minute advantage before a frantic chase ensued from yellow jersey holder de Riter and Holden teammates Miranda Griffiths and Lucy Coldwell.

"It was definitely a hard ride because we knew Holden were behind us closing the gap so we had to drive and give it everything," Garfoot noted.

Pensar SPM won the overall teams classification while the Queen of the Mountains jersey went to de Riter.

Alexandria Nicholls (ACT) was the highest placed under 19 rider, finishing in 13th position, one place ahead of Macey Stewart (TAS). Emily Mcredmond (WA) was the third placed junior rider.

Results