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Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road
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Another strong field for the
second round of the 2015 National Road Series following on
from the Santos Women's Tour. Orica-AIS have elected not to
race but Wiggle DownUnder is here as it the Roxsolt squad full
of riders from the professional European peloton.
NRS Standings
After the Santos Women's Tour the rankings are dominated by
riders who will not be riding the full season. Ruth Corset and
Jenelle Crooks have picked up a few important early season
points. Series leader Melissa Hoskins is not riding and with
only seven points for the win here there is nobody riding who
can take it off her.
1 Melissa HOSKINS 19
2 Valentina SCANDOLARA 17
3 Loren ROWNEY 8
4 Ruth CORSET 7
5 Amanda SPRATT 6
6 Giorgia BRONZINI 6
7 Rachel NEYLAN 5
8 Jenelle CROOKS 4
9 Miranda GRIFFITHS 3
10 Lizzie WILLIAMS 2
The Route
It might be called the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race but
actually very little of it is run on the Great Ocean Road. The
race starts and finishes in Geelong, the location of the
finish of the 2010 World Championships.
The 113km race starts off relatively easy with around 50km of
flattish roads with only some very minor undulation. Important
to note though much of kilometres 20-40 is run along the coast
between 13th Beach and Bells Beach. While the roads there
might not be hilly wind could be a factor. Expect the stronger
teams especially Wiggle DownUnder and Roxsolt to take
advantage of any wind.
The second half of the race is where the climbers will shine.
At around the 50km mark there is a short sharp climb and over
the top there is rolling roads before the Bells Beach Rd climb
and the only QoM point in the race after 57km.
Rolling roads continue to around the 85 kilometre mark before
it is up and down all the way to the finish. Expect the
attacks to come thick and fast in the final 25km and riders
will be tested not just uphill but on the descents as well.
The final climb tops around with around 5 kilometres
remaining. Most of which is a fast downhill. A solo rider or a
small group who goes over the top could well hold any
advantage to the line. The final two kilometres are on flat
roads setting up a potential small group sprint finish.
Profile
Sprint Points
Sprint 1: 24km - Hitchcock Ave, Barwon Heads
Sprint 2: 46km - The Esplanade, Torquay
QoM Points
QoM: 57km - Bells Beach Rd, Torquay
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Orica-AIS dominated the Santos Women's Tour but their absence
leaves a much more open field. Wiggle Down Under are here but
they again bring a team of sprinters. Roxsolt is here with
their traditional strong teams but the NRS is well represented
as well. The new High5 Dream Team on paper has a very young
but talented line-up and Holden Women's Cycling Team and
Specialized-Securitor also bring strong teams.
Roxsolt
Any team that includes Tiffany Cromwell, Jo Hogan, Loren
Rowney, Carlee Taylor and Lucy Martin you should take note
of. Cromwell is Australia's top ranked female rider and
finished fifth at the World Championships in 2014. Cromwell's
form at the Nationals and Santos Women's Tour was not her best
so don't expect to see a flying Cromwell here. Despite her
height Loren Rowney is a rider that still manages to find
herself a little under the radar. Packs a decent sprint but
can also climb reasonably well. Finished fourth on the Queen
Stage of the Santos Women's Tour and then due to a split on
the final stage found herself on the overall podium. Has the
confidence of a strong result and 2015 could be the year
Rowney steps up.
Not a team short of options as they also have Carlee Taylor. A
pure climber but also has the ability to sit on the front and
ride all day. The up and down nature of the course gives her
plenty of opportunity to attack knowing that should it come
back together Loren Rowney could be an ace up the teams
sleeve.
Jo Hogan is a fourth card the team has to play, has finished
on the podium at the National Championships twice and finished
in the main bunch this year. A strong all rounder if she gets
a gap could be hard to bring back.
High5 Dream Team
Ellen Skerritt set the NRS on fire last year when she returned
mid season. Finished second overall to then teammate Ruth
Corset in the overall rankings. Comes in off silver in the
under 23 time trial and bronze in the road race at the
National Championships. Won Amy's Otway Classic and the
National Capital Tour last year and this is another course
that suits her. Give her an inch on one of the climbs and you
quite possibly wont see her again.
A young team but in Tessa Fabry and Kendelle Hodges they have
yet another two cards to play. Hodges won a stage of the Tour
of Murray River last year before her stint with the Australian
development team in Europe. Her time in Europe ended early
with a broken collarbone but the early end of the season might
have been to her benefit this year when she won the sprint for
fifth at the National Championships.
Tessa Fabry did one better at the National Championships
finishing in fourth. All four were front group at the
Nationals and with supercoach Donna Rae-Szalinski behind them
expect to see them produce some strong results.
Holden Women's Cycling Team
The team dominated last year but have lost two of their key
riders in Ruth Corset and Ellen Skerritt. Miranda Griffiths
dominated the Tour of Bright at the end of 2014 winning both
road stages. Few in the field will be able to out climb her
and if she gets a gap could well time trial to victory.
Shannon Malseed took out the under 23 criterium at the
National Championships before surprising everyone and backing
up to do the double. Was off the back on the climb on the
final two laps and the up and down nature of the final half of
the race could prove to be too much.
Specialized-Securitor
The little climbing talent that is Anna Leeza-Hull is ready to
step up further in 2014. Still a junior and looked set to
podium in her first NRS race last year at Mersey Valley Tour
before a crash forced her to abandon. Hull bounced back just
weeks later finishing third at the Battle on the Border weeks
later. Claimed bronze in the junior time trial at the World
Championships before returning to Australia and taking fourth
at the Tour of Bright. A strong showing, just slightly off the
pace at the Santos Women's Tour but could produce a strong
result here.
Michaela Parsons is another young rider looking to step up
this year. The 20 year old is new to the sport and is starting
her first full season in the NRS. Climbed her way to sixth at
the Tour of Bright in a sign of her strength on the climbs.
Ruth Corset (Total Rush Hyster)
Corset has raced in Europe, been National Champion and a
multiple overall winner of the National Road Series and is
back to try and defend her series title. Took an early lead
over her rivals in the series finishing fourth at the Santos
Women's Tour. Also finished eighth at the National
Championships and as one of the strongest climbers
domestically is a name to watch.
Wiggle Down Under
Wiggle brings a team of sprinters and on a course like this it
will be hard for one of their riders to win. Giorgia Bronzini
is their standout rider here, dual World Champion and often
thought of as a sprinter but climbs very well. Won the Queen
stage of the Santos Women's Tour last week ahead of Melissa
Hoskins. The constant up and down nature of the final 50km
will put Bronzini under pressure and she is unlikely to have
many if any teammates to try and drag her back. Depending on
the pace it is not out of the question for Bronzini to be in
the mix and if she is there will be near impossible to beat in
a sprint.
Lucy Bechtel
Bechtel rounded out the podium at the Tour of Bright after
finishing second and third on the road stages. A strong
climber who will be another to factor in to the final stages
of the race.
Other names to watch: Taryn Heather, Verita Stewart, Verita
Stewart, Jess Huston, Alex Nicholls, Laura Darlington, Lisa
Keeling and Nicole Moerig. |
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