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Split-up fields raced to the line in Sheffield in stage 2 of the Tour of Tasmania, with Hagens Berman Jayco rider Hamish McKenzie making the most of his time at his home state race by claiming a solo victory in the men’s race on Saturday morning while Sophie Marr (Praties Cycling Team) jumped up a step in the women’s race.
The women’s field had split, with a lead group of 14 emerging on the brutal Union Bridge climb. There was a break of three including New Zealand U23 time trial champion Kirsty Watts (Meridian Blue Cycling p/b 99 Bikes), Sophia Sammons and Frankie Hall (Praties Cycling Team) that held out front until within the final 10km, but ultimately the lead group pulled it back together for a lead group sprint after 102km of racing through the hilly Meander Valley.
The 117km men’s stage was also set alight at the Union Bridge climb at around 70km into the day of racing, with Jack Ward (Team Brennan p/b TP32) heading off the road solo and sparking a chase behind.
After that the group thinned and ultimately it was three in pursuit of Ward – Zac Marriage (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing), McKenzie and Ollie Sims (Cobra9 X Leigh Surveyors). Sims dropped off, while Marriage chased hard with the overall battle in the U23 category spurring his pursuit of Ward.
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