Lucy Kennedy wins Women's Herald Sun Tour

Mitchelton-Scott's Lucy Kennedy attacked on the last climb of the second and final stage of the 2019 Women's Herald Sun Tour on Thursday to take both the stage win and the overall classification, ahead of her teammate Amanda Spratt and defending champion Brodie Chapman (Tibco-SVB).

Kennedy bridged across to Spratt on the lower slopes of the final Jeeralang climb, and then went it alone, up and over the gravel section at the top of the climb, while Chapman was left to chase alone on the descent, with Spratt stuck to her back wheel.

The Australian crossed the finish line to win the stage by 39 seconds, with Spratt overhauling Chapman for both second on the stage and second overall. With the 10-second win bonus, it meant that Kennedy won the race by 36 seconds from her Mitchelton teammate Spratt, while 2018 winner Chapman took third overall, another nine seconds back.

"Once I was off the front, there was no way I was going to let anyone catch me," said Kennedy after being presented with her winner's trophy on the podium at the finish in the Victorian town of Churchill.

With everything still together with 30km to go, but with the final climb starting with 15km to go, Mitchelton-Scott took control at the front of the race and quickly split it apart.

"If there's a crosswind leading into a climb, or a bit of an uphill drag leading into it, then we just really want to make it hard for as long as possible and whittle it down to the fewest numbers by the time we reach the climb," Kennedy said of her team's tactics – employed not just on Thursday's stage, but throughout the season.

Once on the climb, first Spratt attacked, and when Chapman chased, Kennedy followed her, and then jumped across to – and past – Spratt before the start of the gravel section.

With Chapman continuing to chase, Spratt latched on to the Tibco rider's wheel, while Kennedy pushed on alone, increasing the gap as she went, all the way to the line.

Spratt and Kennedy have been the two outstanding riders on a powerful Mitchelton-Scott team throughout the Australian summer. While they were unable to prevent Sarah Gigante from winning the national road race championships in early January, Spratt went on to win the Tour Down Under overall for the third year in a row, and Kennedy and Spratt finished second and third at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race four days before the start of the Sun Tour.

"Everyone's so committed on this team, and what goes around, comes around: on some races you work hard for someone else, and on other days you get the opportunity to get everyone working for you. So although you don't feel pressure to pull it off, when everyone's so committed, you just really want to win," said Kennedy.

"We were joint protected riders today. 'Spratty' had seven seconds over me [on the GC], but we knew that there were probably going to be time splits, so it was just about whoever had the best legs on the day.

"It's really special to win at home," she continued. "We're the big Australian team, in Australia, and so to be able to cross the line with my arms in the air felt amazing."

Cyclingnews is proud to introduce the first episode of our Cyclingnews Podcast Women's Edition, brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello and Floyd's of Leadville.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott2:28:02
2Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:00:39
3Brodie Chapman (Can) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 2 - Cell 2
4Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo0:01:24
5Jenna Merrick (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women0:01:28
6Emily Roper (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:01:51
7Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo0:02:06
8Grace Brown (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:02:35
9Alison Jackson (NZl) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:02:49
10Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:02:50
11Holly Harris (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:03:00
12Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale Cipolini0:03:39
13Elizabeth Stannard (Aus) Gusto StepFWD0:04:02
14Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-Segafredo0:04:56
15Taryn Heather (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:05:20
16Georgia Williams (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott0:05:59
17Deborah Paine (NZl) New ZealandRow 16 - Cell 2
18Matilda Raynolds (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:07:10
19Amanda Jamieson (NZl) Mike Greer Homes WomenRow 18 - Cell 2
20Sarah Gigante (Aus) KordaMentha Australian TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Kirsty Mccallum (NZl) New ZealandRow 20 - Cell 2
22Annelise Jefferies (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Katia Ragusa (Ita) BePinkRow 22 - Cell 2
24Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Mike Greer Homes WomenRow 23 - Cell 2
25Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Sydney Uni-StaminadeRow 24 - Cell 2
26Jemma Eastwood (Aus) Gusto StepFWDRow 25 - Cell 2
27Emma Coral-Roberts (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing Team0:07:20
28Shannon Malseed (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:08:09
29Anna Booth (Aus) Sydney Uni-StaminadeRow 28 - Cell 2
30Sharlotte Lucas (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jessica Pratt (Aus) KordaMentha Australian TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Francesca Pattaro (Ita) BePinkRow 31 - Cell 2
33Elyse Fraser (NZl) New Zealand0:08:31
34Lauren Stephens (GBr) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:08:43
35Ella Bloor (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:08:45
36Nicole Steigenga (Ned) BePink0:09:39
37Georgie Whitehouse (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:09:51
38Annamarie Lipp (NZl) New Zealand0:10:05
39Briony Mattocks (Aus) Specialized Women's RacingRow 38 - Cell 2
40Gina Ricardo (Aus) Sydney Uni-StaminadeRow 39 - Cell 2
41Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) KordaMentha Australian TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Romy Kasper (Ger) Ale CipoliniRow 41 - Cell 2
43Nadia Quagliotto (Ita) Ale CipoliniRow 42 - Cell 2
44Alice Cobb (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 43 - Cell 2
45Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:10:08
46Maria Apolonia Van 'T Geloof (Ned) Ale Cipolini0:12:06
47Lotta Pauliina Lepistö (Fin) Trek-SegafredoRow 46 - Cell 2
48Jessica Mundy (Aus) Gusto StepFWDRow 47 - Cell 2
49Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Trek-SegafredoRow 48 - Cell 2
50Stella Nightingale (NZl) Mike Greer Homes WomenRow 49 - Cell 2
51Jenny Pettenon (Aus) Gusto StepFWD0:14:39
52Abigail Morton (NZl) New ZealandRow 51 - Cell 2
53Jessica Allen (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 52 - Cell 2
54Anya Louw (Aus) KordaMentha Australian TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Nicola Macdonald (Aus) Gusto StepFWDRow 54 - Cell 2
56Tereza Medvedova (Svk) BePink0:18:57
57Kirsty Deacon (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing Team0:21:16
58Rebecca Stephens (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing Team0:21:19
OTLEri Yonamine (Jpn) Ale CipoliniRow 58 - Cell 2
OTLJessica Raimondi (Ita) Ale CipoliniRow 59 - Cell 2
OTLAmy Vesty (NZl) Sydney Uni-StaminadeRow 60 - Cell 2
OTLJennifer Darmody (Aus) Sydney Uni-StaminadeRow 61 - Cell 2
OTLJade Colligan (Aus) Sydney Uni-StaminadeRow 62 - Cell 2
OTLBridget Bremner (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
OTLLibby Arbuckle (NZl) Mike Greer Homes WomenRow 64 - Cell 2
OTLHannah Bartram (NZl) Mike Greer Homes WomenRow 65 - Cell 2
DNFRachele Barbieri (Ita) BePinkRow 66 - Cell 2
DNFIone Johnson (NZl) New ZealandRow 67 - Cell 2
DNSAbigail Van Twisk (GBr) Trek-SegafredoRow 68 - Cell 2
DNSVeronica Lebedev (Aus) Gusto StepFWDRow 69 - Cell 2
DNSKatie Banerjee (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
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Intermediate Sprint 1 - Yinnar
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale Cipolini6pts
2Rachele Barbieri (Ita) BePink4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott2Row 2 - Cell 3
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Intermediate Sprint 2 - Boolarra
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale Cipolini6pts
2Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Maria Apolonia Van 'T Geloof (Ned) Ale Cipolini2Row 2 - Cell 3
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Intermediate Sprint 3 - Finish
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott10pts
2Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott6Row 1 - Cell 3
3Brodie Chapman (Can) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank8Row 2 - Cell 3
4Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo4Row 3 - Cell 3
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Queen of the Mountain 1 - Mirboo North
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Alison Jackson (NZl) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank12pts
2Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-Segafredo8Row 1 - Cell 3
3Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women4Row 2 - Cell 3
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Queen of the Mountain 2 - Jeeralang
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott24pts
2Brodie Chapman (Can) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank16Row 1 - Cell 3
3Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott8Row 2 - Cell 3
4Jenna Merrick (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women4Row 3 - Cell 3
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Team Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Mitchelton-Scott7:27:20
2Trek Segafredo0:05:12
3Specialized Womens Racing0:07:56
4Team Tibco - Silicon Valley Bank0:08:23
5Mike Greer Homes Womens Cycling Team0:12:34
6KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team0:13:56
7New Zealand National Team0:18:26
8Gusto Stepfwd Kom Powered By Suzuki0:20:04
9Ale Cipolini0:20:35
10BePink0:21:44
11Sydney Uni-Staminade0:22:10
12KOM Financial Advice Racing Team0:32:32
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Final General Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott4:58:21
2Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:00:36
3Brodie Chapman (Can) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:00:45
4Jenna Merrick (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women0:01:38
5Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo0:01:48
6Emily Roper (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:01:54
7Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo0:02:20
8Grace Brown (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:02:37
9Alison Jackson (NZl) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:02:52
10Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:03:00
11Holly Harris (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:03:17
12Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale Cipolini0:03:23
13Elizabeth Stannard (Aus) Gusto StepFWD0:04:12
14Taryn Heather (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:05:30
15Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-Segafredo0:06:08
16Georgia Williams (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott0:06:09
17Deborah Paine (NZl) New ZealandRow 16 - Cell 2
18Amanda Jamieson (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women0:07:20
19Matilda Raynolds (Aus) Specialized Women's RacingRow 18 - Cell 2
20Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Mike Greer Homes WomenRow 19 - Cell 2
21Katia Ragusa (Ita) BePinkRow 20 - Cell 2
22Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Sydney Uni-StaminadeRow 21 - Cell 2
23Kirsty Mccallum (NZl) New ZealandRow 22 - Cell 2
24Sarah Gigante (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:07:39
25Annelise Jefferies (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Jemma Eastwood (Aus) Gusto StepFWDRow 25 - Cell 2
27Anna Booth (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade0:08:19
28Jessica Pratt (Aus) KordaMentha Australian TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Sharlotte Lucas (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:08:35
30Shannon Malseed (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:08:52
31Lauren Stephens (GBr) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:08:53
32Ella Bloor (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:08:55
33Francesca Pattaro (Ita) BePink0:09:17
34Nicole Steigenga (Ned) BePink0:09:49
35Georgie Whitehouse (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:10:01
36Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:10:05
37Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:10:15
38Romy Kasper (Ger) Ale CipoliniRow 37 - Cell 2
39Nadia Quagliotto (Ita) Ale Cipolini0:10:22
40Annamarie Lipp (NZl) New Zealand0:10:31
41Alice Cobb (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 40 - Cell 2
42Gina Ricardo (Aus) Sydney Uni-Staminade0:10:34
43Briony Mattocks (Aus) Specialized Women's RacingRow 42 - Cell 2
44Elyse Fraser (NZl) New Zealand0:11:06
45Lotta Pauliina Lepistö (Fin) Trek-Segafredo0:12:05
46Maria Apolonia Van 'T Geloof (Ned) Ale Cipolini0:12:19
47Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Trek-Segafredo0:12:20
48Jessica Mundy (Aus) Gusto StepFWD0:12:35
49Emma Coral-Roberts (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing Team0:14:08
50Nicola Macdonald (Aus) Gusto StepFWD0:14:56
51Jessica Allen (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 50 - Cell 2
52Abigail Morton (NZl) New Zealand0:15:05
53Anya Louw (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:16:35
54Stella Nightingale (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women0:18:54
55Tereza Medvedova (Svk) BePink0:19:18
56Jenny Pettenon (Aus) Gusto StepFWD0:21:27
57Kirsty Deacon (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing Team0:21:45
58Rebecca Stephens (Aus) KOM Financial Advice Racing Team0:34:52
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Sprint Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale Cipolini28pts
2Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott16Row 1 - Cell 3
3Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott10Row 2 - Cell 3
4Brodie Chapman (Can) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank8Row 3 - Cell 3
5Lotta Pauliina Lepistö (Fin) Trek-Segafredo8Row 4 - Cell 3
6Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo6Row 5 - Cell 3
7Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott6Row 6 - Cell 3
8Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo4Row 7 - Cell 3
9Grace Brown (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott2Row 8 - Cell 3
10Maria Apolonia Van 'T Geloof (Ned) Ale Cipolini2Row 9 - Cell 3
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Queen of the Mountains Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott24pts
2Brodie Chapman (Can) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank16Row 1 - Cell 3
3Alison Jackson (NZl) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank12Row 2 - Cell 3
4Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott8Row 3 - Cell 3
5Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-Segafredo8Row 4 - Cell 3
6Jenna Merrick (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women4Row 5 - Cell 3
7Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women4Row 6 - Cell 3
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Young Rider Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jenna Merrick (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women4:59:59
2Jaime Gunning (Aus) Specialized Women's Racing0:01:22
3Elizabeth Stannard (Aus) Gusto StepFWD0:02:34
4Deborah Paine (NZl) New Zealand0:04:31
5Amanda Jamieson (NZl) Mike Greer Homes Women0:05:42
6Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Mike Greer Homes WomenRow 5 - Cell 2
7Katia Ragusa (Ita) BePinkRow 6 - Cell 2
8Sarah Gigante (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:06:01
9Jemma Eastwood (Aus) Gusto StepFWDRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jessica Pratt (Aus) KordaMentha Australian Team0:06:41
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Team Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Mitchelton-Scott14:58:26
2Trek Segafredo0:05:37
3Specialized Womens Racing0:08:17
4Team Tibco - Silicon Valley Bank0:08:37
5Mike Greer Homes Womens Cycling Team0:12:55
6KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team0:14:10
7New Zealand National Team0:19:03
8Gusto Stepfwd Kom Powered By Suzuki0:20:32
9Ale Cipolini0:20:49
10BePink0:21:58
11Sydney Uni-Staminade0:22:50
12KOM Financial Advice Racing Team0:36:03

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