McConville wins Tour of the Goldfields

Germany's Katrin Garfoot has claimed the crown of 2013 Subaru National Road Series (NRS) Champion after winning the final stage at the Tour of the Goldfields on Sunday.

"I am definitely a very happy person that I have won the NRS and with the final stage win, but I don't think it has sunk in yet," said Garfoot, who won the Mersey Valley Tour, Tour of the King Valley and the Tour of the Murray River.

"It has been a very difficult year, with the team change, although I think that it definitely benefited me. Also with my citizenship, it was very emotional for me in 2013, so I am very happy the season and the year is over and I can't wait for what the future holds.

"And now [with my citizenship] I can aim for the Australian title and Oceania titles now and then look towards Europe hopefully next year," she added.

Jayco/Apollo/VIS's Chloe McConville was the benefactor of a stoush between Garfoot and Ruth Corset (Pensar/SPM) in the third stage of the race with the Victorian capitalising and seizing the leader's Jersey. McConville sealed her maiden NRS tour with a comfortable eighth place finish in the fourth and final stage.

Sarah Roy (Bike Bug) lit up proceedings early on in the race around Dunnstown near Ballarat, Victoria, by launching a daring solo attack within the first few kilometres.

In what turned out to be a longer solo move that she originally intended, Roy established a lead of almost two minutes at the halfway mark over the Jayco/Apollo/VIS led peloton.

The final climb proved too much for Roy as she succumbed to fatigue and the GC favourites were left to fight it out with Garfoot taking one final charge for the season as she flew up the final two kilometre climb to the finish at Mt Warrenheip

For those who've followed the women's NRS with even a cursory glance this season it was a case of ground hog day as Garfoot edged out Corset for the win. The breakthrough story for the day was the outstanding podium finish in the final stage by Victorian newcomer Tessa Fabry (Team Breeze)

32-year-old Garfoot finished the NRS season on 114 points, eleven ahead of Corset. Victoria's Felicity Wardlaw (Bicycle Superstore) finished third in the standings with 63 points.

With her overall victory on Sunday, McConville joined recent Lotto Belisol recruit Amy Cure -Tour of Adelaide victor- and Nicole Whitburn -Shipwreck Coast Classic victor- as the only three riders to have knocked the pair off the top step of the podium in 2013.

"This win is for the whole team for sure, I had some great help all weekend, but in particular today," said McConville. "Jess [Allen] controlled the break for 65-70 odd kilometres on her own today and I have to give it to Jessica Mundy who stayed there with me to the finish when she didn't need to.

"I am really stoked with the win, for the whole team, it is awesome."

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