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This year the criteriums start
off the Australian National Championships giving the sprinters
a chance to shine on the opening day.
The Route
The circuit is the same as previous years. The 1.1km circuit
is not flat, starting with a brief rise before a descent and
an uphill final 400m to the finish at around 3%.
2014 Results
1 Sarah ROY
2 Peta MULLENS +0
3 Lauren KITCHEN +0
4 Lizzie WILLIAMS +0
5 Chloe MCCONVILLE +0
6 Emily ROPER +0
7 Jessica HUSTON +0
8 Rebecca MACKEY +3
9 Kristy GLOVER +5
10 Jessica MUNDY +5
Under 23 Podium
1 Emily ROPER +0
2 Rebecca MACKEY +3
3 Jessica MUNDY +5
The Contenders
Full Start List available
here
Sarah Roy
While Roy wasn't one of the outright favourites last year with
both Annette Edmondson and Chloe Hosking crashing out Roy
powered to the line to take a convincing win. What is more
impressive is she did it without the support of a team, this
year however she can count on the powerful Orica-AIS squad to
deliver her to the line. Not a pure sprinter but still fast on
the line. Expect Orica-AIS to try and take control in the
closing laps.
Missed the first two days of the Bay Crits with illness,
started stage three but abandoned early before electing to
again sit out the final day. Has a couple of days to recover
but unlikely to be at her best.
Strong support from Gacie Elvin, Amanda Spratt and Lizzie
Williams. All three could play their own cards and have strong
finishes themselves. Elvin was on fine form with a 30 minute
solo break on stage two of the Bay Crits while Williams picked
up a number of top five stage finishes.
Kimberley Wells
Wells won in 2013 but illness and injury impacted her 2014
season, seeing her miss racing in Europe with Futuroscope.
Wells won at Noosa, Stan Siejka Cycling Classic and Shimano
Super Crit at the end of 2014 after picking up several NRS
wins. Wells has also been spending time on the boards winning
silver in the scratch race at the Oceania Championships and
more recently silver in the omnium.
Quiet on the opening stages of the Bay Crits but bounced back
to finish second behind Giorgia Bronzini on the final stage.
If Wells has the form she has been showing she will be hard to
stop from claiming a second criterium title.
Chloe Hosking
One of the favourites in 2014 but crashed out early. Hosking
will be looking to get her 2015 season off on a strong note.
After her contract with Hitec Products was not renewed she
eventually signed with Wiggle Honda. One of the top sprinters
in the world and even beat Kirsten Wild in 2014. Consistency
is something Hosking has struggled with and will want to start
the year strongly.
Comes in with good form after winning the opening stage of the
Bay Crits and held the lead all race.
Lauren Kitchen
Last year a teammate of Hosking but this year Kitchen who won
back in 2011 will get another chance for herself. Had a strong
2013 season in Europe but a quiet 2014 without a single top 10
in Europe. A strong finisher but not a pure sprinter, Kitchen
might be more focused on the road race where she finished
second last year. Don't discount a podium finish for Kitchen
though.
Second on stage one of the Bay Crits, third in the bunch
sprint on stage two and second on stage three. Has good form,
unable to beat Hosking at the Bay Crits but should be a contender on the
slightly uphill finish.
Peta Mullens
Mixes her time between the road and dirt but is one of the top
sprinters in Australia. Will be without teammates in the race
but that is the same situation for a majority of riders. With
Orica-AIS the only team that will be able to make a strong
leadout if Mullens can position herself well coming in to the
finish, could find herself pulling on the Green and Gold
jersey.
Took a solo win on stage three of the Bay Crits but unlikely
to be given any room at the Nationals as she was over a four
day series.
Jessie MacLean
The reliable domestique and leadout rider Jessie MacLean was
left without a team when her contract with Orica-AIS as not
renewed for 2015. Returned to the boards at the end of
December and showed some good form, so expect to see her come
out firing. A strong result here could land her a team for
2015 so MacLean will be motivated to perform.
Ruth Corset
The 2014 NRS winner returns to the national championships
after dominating domestically in 2014. Corset is a strong all
rounder who can climb, time trial and sprint. Taking the win
in the criterium against the names of Chloe Hosking, Sarah
Roy, Kimberley Wells will be difficult but don't discount her
being on the podium.
In the under 23 ranks watch for Rebecca MacKey and Jessica
Mundy who finished second and third in the category last year.
The dominant under 23 rider over the past two seasons Emily Roper
is not racing in 2015.
Other names to watch: Lisa Jacobs, Jo Hogan, Brittany
Lindores, Kristy Glover, Rebecca Mackey, Jessica Mundy and
Julia Kalotas. |
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