Kennedy takes overall Women's Herald Sun Tour title after thrilling finale

Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott) defended her overall Women's Herald Sun Tour title after a thrilling finish to stage 2 at the Falls Creek ski resort on Thursday, with overnight leader Arlenis Sierra (Astana) only dropped by the front group in the final few hundred metres.

Ella Harris – who normally rides for Canyon-SRAM but was racing for the New Zealand National Team at this race – fought her way back after having been dropped multiple times by the leaders to win the stage, with Tibco-SVB's Sarah Gigante taking second place and Kennedy third, which was enough for Kennedy to sew up her second title in a row.

Kennedy won overall by 12 seconds from Jaime Gunning (Specialized Women's Racing), while stage 1 winner Sierra did just enough to finish third overall, 22 seconds back, having started the day with a 10-second buffer over Kennedy.

"With 500 metres to go, no , I didn't think I could shake Arlenis, as she was so strong and followed my every move," said Kennedy at the finish. "But she eventually cracked, and when I saw the two riders in front of me, I knew I'd done enough.

"I was really motivated, and the team was just amazing," she added. "I never felt in trouble, and I was always really calm, and even though we didn't have a full team here, they were really strong, and I just owe a lot of it to them."

How it unfolded

The shortening of the day's second and final stage due to safety concerns about the 30km descent from Falls Creek in the wet weather that arrived at the end of the men's stage meant that riders faced a 45km stage, with the last 30km of that mostly uphill back to Falls Creek.

After the new start in Mount Beauty at the base of the climb, an initial flurry to make the first intermediate sprint, which came just 4km into the shortened stage's initial 15km loop, was won by Pro Racing Sunshine Coast's Alexandra Marin-Wallace. Specialized Women’s Racing’s Kate Perry then attacked soon after, and quickly built up a 45-second lead over the bunch.

Perry took her lead onto the start of the final 30km climb up to Falls Creek, with her advantage hovering around the same 45-second mark for most of the time she was out in front.

Mitchelton-Scott soon took over at the front of the bunch, however, and Perry was caught with 16km to, although by that point, Mitchelton's firepower had been reduced to just Jessica Roberts working at the front for Kennedy, with race leader Sierra sitting comfortably on the defending champion's wheel.

An attack from Roxsolt Attaquer's Bree Wilson with 14km to race gained her an advantage of almost a minute on the climb, but the Australian was brought back well before the finish, and then suffered an unfortunately timed mechanical that took her out of the running for the stage.

Kennedy tried multiple times to shake Sierra as the kilometres ticked down, and with 4km to go there were just seven riders still in contention: Kennedy, Sierra, Justine Barrow (Roxsolt Attaquer), Sarah Gigante (Tibco-SVB), Ale BTC Ljubljana's Anastasiia Chursina, Jaime Gunning (Specialized Women's Racing) and New Zealand's Ella Harris.

Kennedy's continuing attacks served to drop Harris and Barrow each time, but they clawed their way back time and again, and when Kennedy made her final, desperate, successful attack with 400 metres to go, followed by Gigante and Gunning, Harris came from behind a final time and gave it everything she had left to take the stage win from Gigante, Kennedy and Gunning, with the unfortunate Sierra trailing home for fifth place.

"I kept getting dropped, so I just kept dieseling myself back on, and then with about 500 metres to go, I felt like I had a little bit more power than everyone else," said a delighted Harris after taking her first pro win. "To cross the line in first after the surprise crosswinds yesterday, I can't believe it, and it means so much to me. I've got so many people to thank, and I'm just ecstatic.

"To win my first professional race is just crazy. It’s not really a weight off my shoulders, but it's just nice to tick that box," she said. "And it's Waitangi Day as well, so to win on New Zealand's national day in the national kit is pretty cool."

Results

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Results
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ella Harris (NZl) New Zealand National Team 1:36:43
2Sarah Gigante (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
3Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:00:03
4Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 0:00:11
5Arlenis Sierra Canadilla (Cub) Astana Women's Team 0:00:31
6Justine Barrow (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 0:00:44
7Samara Sheppard (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:01:00
8Andrea Ramírez Fregoso (Mex) Agolico 0:01:03
9Anastasiia Chursina (Rus) Ale' BTC Ljubljana 0:01:32
10Ariadna Gutierrez Arzaluz (Mex) Agolico
11Bree Wilson (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 0:02:26
12Katia Ragusa (Ita) Astana Women's Team 0:02:40
13Kirsty McCallum (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:03:43
14Lauren Stephens (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
15Maaike Boogaard (Ned) Ale' BTC Ljubljana 0:03:45
16Jessica Pratt (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:03:46
17Emily Herfoss (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer
18Holly Harris (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing
19Taryn Heather (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing
20Marcela Elizabeth Prieto Castañeda (Mex) Agolico
21Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women
22Madeline Wright (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 0:04:06
23Denisse Aracely Ahumada Riquelme (Chi) Agolico 0:05:08
24Jorja Swain (NZl) New Zealand National Team
25Peta Mullens (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 0:05:09
26Jennifer Morales Milanes (CRc) Agolico 0:05:12
27Kirsty Deacon (Aus) Veris Racing Women's Team 0:05:14
28Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:05:39
29Alana Forster (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki 0:05:53
30Maryna Ivaniuk (Ukr) Astana Women's Team 0:06:45
31Anet Barrera Esparza (Mex) Agolico
32Kate Perry (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 0:07:51
33Bre Vine (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki
34Georgie Whitehouse (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:08:16
35Jenna Merrick (NZl) New Zealand National Team
36Georgia Miansarow (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade 0:08:42
37Elyse Fraser (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:09:10
38Sarah Roy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:10:49
39Jessica Roberts (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott Women
40Sophie Edwards (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women
41Matilda Raynolds (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 0:11:32
42Gina Ricardo (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade 0:12:30
43Georgia Danford (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team
44Julia Atkins (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki 0:13:46
45Annamarie Lipp (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:14:20
46Hannah Bartram (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:14:45
47Catelyn Turner (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:14:48
48Josie Talbot (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team
49Sharlotte Lucas (NZl) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:15:58
50Ally Wollaston (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:16:34
51Grace Brunto-Makeham (Aus) Veris Racing Women's Team 0:17:23
52Kathryn Woolston (Aus) Veris Racing Women's Team 0:17:27
53Lucie Fityus (Aus) Veris Racing Women's Team 0:17:40
54Pia Smith (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki 0:18:55
55Jennifer Darmody (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade
DNFFrancesca Pattaro (Ita) Astana Women's Team
DNFAmy Vesty (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade
DNFAmalia Langham (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki
OTLAnna Trevisi (Ita) Ale' BTC Ljubljana
OTLErica Clevenger (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
OTLNina Kessler (Ned) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
OTLChloe Moran (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team
OTLFrancesca Sewell (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team
OTLStella Nightingale (NZl) New Zealand National Team
OTLEmma Pratt (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade
OTLAnya Louw (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women
OTLAlexandra Martin-Wallace (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women
OTLRylee McMullen (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team
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Sprint 1 - Tawonga South
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ally Wollaston (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 6
2Peta Mullens (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 4
3Taryn Heather (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 2
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Sprint 2 - Mount Beauty
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Kate Perry (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 6
2Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women 4
3Anastasiia Chursina (Rus) Ale' BTC Ljubljana 2
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Sprint 3 - stage finish
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ella Harris (NZl) New Zealand National Team 10
2Sarah Gigante (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 8
3Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 6
4Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 4
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Climb 1 - Mount Beauty
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Kate Perry (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 12
2Justine Barrow (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 8
3Jorja Swain (NZl) New Zealand National Team 4
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Climb 2 - Falls Creek
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ella Harris (NZl) New Zealand National Team 24
2Sarah Gigante (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 16
3Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 8
4Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 4
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1New Zealand National Team 4:56:17
2Agolico 0:00:13
3Roxsolt Attaquer 0:00:48
4Specialized Womens Racing 0:01:35
5Astana Women's Team 0:03:48
6Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:10:23
7Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:13:33
8Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:19:15
9Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:20:42
10Stepfwd It Suzuki 0:21:22
11Veris Racing Women's Team 0:33:56
12Sydney Uni-Staminade 0:33:59

General classification

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Final general classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 3:52:38
2Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 0:00:12
3Arlenis Sierra Canadilla (Cub) Astana Women's Team 0:00:22
4Ella Harris (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:00:40
5Sarah Gigante (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:00:44
6Andrea Ramírez Fregoso (Mex) Agolico 0:01:04
7Anastasiia Chursina (Rus) Ale' BTC Ljubljana 0:01:31
8Justine Barrow (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 0:01:34
9Samara Sheppard (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:01:50
10Ariadna Gutierrez Arzaluz (Mex) Agolico 0:02:22
11Katia Ragusa (Ita) Astana Women's Team 0:02:41
12Bree Wilson (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 0:03:16
13Lauren Stephens (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:03:40
14Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women 0:03:41
15Maaike Boogaard (Ned) Ale' BTC Ljubljana 0:03:46
16Taryn Heather (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing
17Jessica Pratt (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:03:47
18Emily Herfoss (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer
19Kirsty McCallum (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:04:33
20Marcela Elizabeth Prieto Castañeda (Mex) Agolico 0:04:36
21Holly Harris (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing
22Peta Mullens (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 0:05:05
23Denisse Aracely Ahumada Riquelme (Chi) Agolico 0:05:09
24Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:05:48
25Jorja Swain (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:05:58
26Jennifer Morales Milanes (CRc) Agolico 0:06:02
27Kirsty Deacon (Aus) Veris Racing Women's Team 0:06:04
28Maryna Ivaniuk (Ukr) Astana Women's Team 0:07:02
29Anet Barrera Esparza (Mex) Agolico 0:07:35
30Jenna Merrick (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:08:17
31Georgie Whitehouse (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:08:21
32Madeline Wright (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 0:08:30
33Elyse Fraser (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:10:00
34Jessica Roberts (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:10:50
35Sarah Roy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:11:21
36Matilda Raynolds (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 0:11:32
37Sophie Edwards (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women 0:11:39
38Kate Perry (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 0:12:12
39Georgia Miansarow (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade 0:13:06
40Alana Forster (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki
41Gina Ricardo (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade 0:13:20
42Georgia Danford (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team
43Julia Atkins (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki 0:14:36
44Josie Talbot (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:14:49
45Bre Vine (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki 0:15:18
46Hannah Bartram (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:15:35
47Ally Wollaston (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:17:21
48Grace Brunto-Makeham (Aus) Veris Racing Women's Team 0:18:13
49Catelyn Turner (Aus) Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:19:12
50Jennifer Darmody (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade 0:19:45
51Sharlotte Lucas (NZl) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:20:22
52Annamarie Lipp (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:21:47
53Lucie Fityus (Aus) Veris Racing Women's Team 0:22:01
54Kathryn Woolston (Aus) Veris Racing Women's Team 0:24:54
55Pia Smith (Aus) Stepfwd It Suzuki 0:26:22
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Sprints classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Arlenis Sierra Canadilla (Cub) Astana Women's Team 10
2Ella Harris (NZl) New Zealand National Team 10
3Peta Mullens (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 10
4Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women 10
5Sarah Gigante (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 8
6Lauren Stephens (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 8
7Kate Perry (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 6
8Ally Wollaston (NZl) Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 6
9Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 6
10Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 4
11Anastasiia Chursina (Rus) Ale' BTC Ljubljana 4
12Taryn Heather (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 2
13Matilda Raynolds (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 2
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Mountains classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ella Harris (NZl) New Zealand National Team 24
2Sarah Gigante (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 16
3Kate Perry (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 12
4Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women 8
5Justine Barrow (Aus) Roxsolt Attaquer 8
6Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 4
7Jorja Swain (NZl) New Zealand National Team 4
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Young rider classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Womens Racing 3:52:50
2Ella Harris (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:00:28
3Sarah Gigante (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:00:32
4Andrea Ramírez Fregoso (Mex) Agolico 0:00:52
5Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Pro Racing Sunshine Coast - Women 0:03:29
6Maaike Boogaard (Ned) Ale' BTC Ljubljana 0:03:34
7Jorja Swain (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:05:46
8Anet Barrera Esparza (Mex) Agolico 0:07:23
9Jenna Merrick (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0:08:05
10Jessica Roberts (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:10:38
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Teams classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Agolico 11:47:07
2Specialized Womens Racing 0:00:33
3Roxsolt Attaquer 0:00:35
4New Zealand National Team 0:00:36
5Astana Women's Team 0:02:50
6Mitchelton-Scott Women 0:09:29
7Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:13:20
8Kordamentha Australian National Team 0:19:44
9Velo Project Women's Cycling Team 0:20:40
10Stepfwd It Suzuki 0:32:44
11Veris Racing Women's Team 0:38:52
12Sydney Uni-Staminade 0:38:58

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