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Santos Women's Tour
Preview |
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An early start to the 2015
National Road Series with the new Santos Women's Tour. The
race has attracted nearly 100 riders has riders from 11
nations. “It is by far the best quality field I’ve seen in
Australia for a women's stage race,” said race director Max
Stevens.”
The four stage race with two road stages and two criteriums
continues the Australian summer of cycling for women at the
same time as the World Tour opening Tour Down Under.
The Route
Stage 1: Woodside - Murray Bridge (59km)
The opening road stage is short at just 59km. Some minor
undulation in the early part of the stage but otherwise a lot
of it is downhill. Expect a fast stage and it to be one for
the sprinters as teams chase the first leaders jersey.
Sprint Points: 30.2km and 59km
KoM Points: 15.9km (Hogan Road) and 59km (Murray Bridge)
Stage 2: Adelaide Criterium (40mins)
A 40 minute criterium around Rymill Park in Adelaide. Expect
it to again be a stage for the sprinters.
Sprint Points: Lap 6 and final lap
KoM Points: Lap 4 and 8.
Stage 3: Tanunda – Campbelltown (71km)
Likely to be the decisive stage of the race with the peloton
facing rolling roads all day. There are a number of shorter
climbs on the stage including a KoM point at the steep
Checkers Hill climb, around 1km in length. Many of the climbs
might not be long but the constant undulation is likely to put
the sprinters under pressure. With the other three stages
looking like being sprints today is the day for the rest of
the field to make their mark and challenge for the overall
victory.
Sprint Points: 27.8km and 71km
KoM Points: 42.8km (Checker Hill) and 71km (Athelstone
(Campbelltown))
Stage 4: Adelaide Criterium (1hour 10mins)
The race finishes with a one hour and ten minute criterium
around Victoria Park near the Adelaide CBD.
Sprint Points: Lap 5, lap 9 and lap 16
KoM Points: Lap 8, lap 11 and lap 14
Sprint and KoM Classification
Sprint
1st – 5 points
2nd – 3 points
3rd – 2 points
4th – 1 point
KoM
1st – 5 points
2nd – 3 points
3rd – 2 points
4th – 1 point
The Contenders
Full start list available
here
General Classification
Ruth Corset
Corest won the National Road Series for the second time in
2014 by a commanding margin despite missing several races. A
strong all rounder who has raced in Europe before returning to
Australia to spend time with her young family. Few in
Australia can out climb her and also packs a quick finish
especially from a select group.
Holden Women's Cycling Team
The team may have lost the top two finishers from the NRS last
year in Ruth Corset and Ellen Skerritt but the team have
recruited Miranda Griffiths, while Shannon Malseed has shown
she is ready to step up. Miranda Griffiths confirmed her
climbing talent when she won a third consecutive edition of
the Tour of Bright in December.
Shannon Malseed appears ready to take a step up in 2015. Won
the under 23 Australian Criterium title and backed that up
taking out the road race as well. Important to note is that
her win in the road race came with 11th in the elite race.
More than matching some of Australia's best on a hard circuit.
Specialized Securitor
Still a junior but 2014 Junior Time Trial World Championship
Bronze medallist Anna-Leeza Hull is also mixing it with the
best in Australia. Was on track for a podium finish at the
Mersey Valley Tour before a crash forced her to abandon. Hull
confirmed it wasn't just a one off result, finishing third at
the Battle on the Border weeks later. Finished fourth at the
Tour of Bright in December.
Jenelle Crooks presents another option for the team. The 2014
under 23 time trial national champion was unable to defend her
title this year finishing third and taking fourth in the road
race.
Orica-AIS
The team received a lot of criticism after failing to win a
medal at the National Championships. The team dominant the
Santos Women's Cup last year but a proper race and a very
strong field will make repeating that difficult. The team has
depleted ranks at the moment with several riders out with
illness and others on track commitments.
Former Australian National Champion Amanda Spratt was on good
form last week and looks to be the best option for the team.
Fellow all rounder and Queen of the attack Valentina
Scandolara gives the team a one-two punch. As well as being a
contender in the sprints Melissa Hoskins could prove to be a
threat for the overall as well. Was attacking up the climbs at
Open de Suède Vargarda and Boels Rental Ladies Tour last
season. Her fast finish and now strength on the climbs makes
her dangerous. Likewise Lizzie Williams although she didn't
seem to be on the best form at the National Championships
Rachel Neylan
Silver medallist behind Marianne Vos at the World
Championships in 2012 before injury left her with a
disappointing two seasons. Had a strong finish to 2014
including 5th at Trophée d'Or Féminin, 15th La Route de France
and 24th at the World Championships. Made the decisive move at
the National Championships and only missed out on gold when
the fast finishing Peta Mullens beat her in the two up sprint.
Tiffany Cromwell
Fifth at the World Championships last year in her best
performance to date. Very consistent across 2014 but was
unable to make that step up to the podium. Finished 10th at
the National Championships but didn't seem to be at her best.
Packs a fast finish and if her form has improved will be in
the mix.
Carlee Taylor
One of the most underrated riders in the professional peloton.
Often spends her time working for others and had a difficult
year with Orica-AIS. Has returned to Lotto-Soudal for 2015 and
has already showed signed of her potential this year. Was
constantly near the front at the National Championships.
Doesn't have a fast finish so will have to try and get away.
Kendelle Hodges
Part of Rochelle Gilmore's new NRS team, High5 Dream Team.
Hodges won the bunch sprint for fifth at the National
Championships beating out Lizzie Williams. The 23 year old is
clearly ready to take a step up this year and her performance
at the National Championships shows she capable of mixing with
the best.
Jo Hogan
A strong all rounder who has been a consistent performer in
Europe over the years with a number of teams. Spent 2014 with
Bigla but after big changes to the squad was left without a
team for 2015. Finished in the main bunch at the National
Championships in a sign she has good form.
Don’t discount some of the stronger sprinters from also being
in the mix think Giorgia Bronzini, Mel Hoskins, Loren Rowney,
Lauren Kitchen and Jessie MacLean.
Other names to watch: Ella Falzarano, Rebecca Wiasak,
Alexandria Nicholls and Taryn Heather.
Sprinters
Wiggle Down Under
It is essentially a team of sprinters headlined by dual World
Champion Giorgia Bronzini who is one of the worlds best.
Bronzini claimed the final stage of the Bay Crits in early
January off the back of eight wins in 2014. Also on the team
is Bay Crits stage and overall winner Chloe Hosking plus
Australia's Track Queen Nettie Edmondson and British Criterium
Champion Eileen Roe. The four sprinters are joined by Emilia
Fahlin adding more power to the leadout. Whoever the team
decides to sprint for it will be a formidable combination.
Kimberley Wells
Newly crowned Australian Criterium Champion Kimberley Wells'
leads Rochelle Gilmore's new NRS team. Not just one of the
fastest sprinters in Australia but in the world Wells will be
hard to beat with the form she has been showing in the
Australian summer. Watch for Wells especially in the two
criteriums.
Melissa Hoskins
Two-time Bay Crits winner Hoskins hasn't raced since the TTT
World Championships in September, where she became one of only
three people to win a medal in all three editions to date. One
of Australia's top sprinters will be looking to get her 2015
season off on a strong note. Didn't manage a win in 2014 but
was climbing better than ever making her a potential threat
for the overall.
Lauren Kitchen
Former Australian Criterium Champion finished third for the
second year in a row. Not a pure sprinter but a fast finisher
who spent much of 2014 leading out others. Roxsolt has a
strong team and when you combine Kitchen with Lucy Martin,
Loren Rowney and Tiff Cromwell you have a dangerous
combination.
Lucy Martin
The British sprinter and leadout specialist has had a
difficult two years to say the least. It would have broken
many others but Martin is ready to move past it. A new team
for this year and a strong early showing in Australia would
see her on a good path in 2015. Not a pure sprinter but the
former track rider has a fast kick.
Loren Rowney
The tall and fast Queenslander had an up and down 2014, with
her early season impacted with illness. Rowney bounced bad in
the second half spending a lot of time racing with the
Australian National team. A smart decision and quick finish
saw her jump early and hold off the peloton to win a stage of
the Tour de l'Ardèche,
Emily Collins
The Kiwi pocket rocket won Omloop van het Hageland in 2013
before a quieter 2014. Has joined Tibco for 2014 and would no
doubt love to pick up an early win. Narrowly missed a medal at
the New Zealand Championships being pipped in the sprint for
third.
Dani McKinnirey
McKinnirey is a Junior World Champion in the Team Pursuit as
well as an Australian and Oceania Champion on the track. Still
a junior but will be racing against some of the fastest
sprinters in the world. Don't expect to see her win but will
be an important step in her development.
Other names to watch: Lizzie Williams, Jess Mundy, Georgia
Baker, Stacey Riedel and Jessie MacLean. |
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