Arndt laps field to take first win in GreenEdge colours
Team make a statement after yesterday's confusion in Rymill Park
Judith Arndt (GreenEdge-AIS) won the second round of the women's criterium series in Prospect today, but it was the performance of GreenEdge as a whole that really raised eyebrows.
"I feel dead," said Arndt at the finish. "I killed myself out there. I feel dizzy at the moment, the heat was really hard to get used to. But I'm happy to have taken the result today in the GreenEdge colours."
On the back of a confusion plagued opening criterium that saw the majority of the women's field not contest what was in fact the final sprint in Rymill Park, GreenEdge-AIS, who to their credit actually rode a good race on Sunday came out in round two to make sure the same "mistake" didn't happen again.
"I was confident yesterday that the girls were going to pull it off." said GreenEdge-AIS director Dave McPartland at the stage finish. "But with the confusion at the finish, we didn't get the result and that put a dampener on things last night. I just made sure the girls bounced back in the best possible way today."
GreenEdge tore the main field to pieces in the 40 minute criterium, and by the fifth lap, more than two thirds of the field had either retired or been lapped.
Arndt ended up out in front almost by accident after initially bridging to the lead group of two riders, Amanda Spratt (GreenEdge-AIS) and Gracie Elvin (Jayco-AIS) to help out her teammate. Spratt and Elvin had toiled together in the lead for the majority of the race, but as Arndt closed, Spratt started to sit on, allowing the German to close and eventually catch up to the break.
But when she caught the leaders, the Elvin and Spratt were so fatigued from their efforts in the hot afternoon sun, that Arndt simply continued right past them. Arndt was going so well that she continued on her motoring pace and evenutally lapped the main field, who's chase was lethargic at best.
By the finish the world time trial champion had a margin of more than 30 seconds, with Elvin besting Spratt in the sprint for second.
"Full credit to Judith today," said McPartland. "Because her condition is a long way behind a lot of the Australians who have already done really good preparation through December. It's a great sign of her class when she can win like that [lapping the field] on the form she's got at the moment."
Results
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) GreenEdge-AIS
2. Gracie Elvin (Aus) Jayco-AIS
3. Amanda Spratt (Aus) GreenEdge-AIS
Overall leader
1. Rebecca Werner (Aus)
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Alex Hinds, Production Editor
Sydney, Australia
Alex Hinds is a graduate of Economics and Political Science from Sydney University. Growing up in the metropolitan area of the city he quickly became a bike junkie, dabbling in mountain and road riding. Alex raced on the road in his late teens, but with the time demands of work and university proving too much, decided not to further pursue full-time riding.
If he was going to be involved in cycling in another way the media seemed the next best bet and jumped at the opportunity to work in the Sydney office of Cyclingnews when an offer arose in early 2011.
Though the WorldTour is of course a huge point of focus throughout the year, Alex also takes a keen interest in the domestic racing scene with a view to helping foster the careers of the next generation of cycling.
When not writing for Cyclingnews Alex is a strong proponent of the awareness of cyclists on the road in Sydney having had a few close run-ins with city traffic in the past.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'It was tense' - Jonathan Vaughters on EF Education-EasyPost's emotions and strategy as Ben Healy takes Tour de France yellow jersey
American squad celebrates team performance that ended with cycling's biggest prize -
'We couldn't crack them just yet' – Jorgenson and Kuss try to isolate Tadej Pogačar as Visma flex team's strength over UAE at Tour de France
Jonas Vingegaard aided by American duo in fight to try take back time on world champion on road to Le Mont Dore -
Tour de France 2025: All the yellow cards, fines, and penalties
A slew of infractions on stage 10 with three yellow cards -
'They were a bit annoying with all the attacks' – Tadej Pogačar provoked by Visma into late surge after ceding Tour de France yellow jersey to breakaway
World champion isolated but up to every challenge thrown at him and UAE en route to Le Mont Dore on stage 10
