Sophie Edwards won the second edition of the Lochard Energy Warrnambool Women’s Cycling Classic, taking victory on Raglan Parade after the 160km race came down to a bunch sprint.
The 22 year old ARA Skip Capital rider and her team played the run in to perfection, putting Edwards in position so she could bide her time on the final uphill run into the line before she overtook the early launch of Matilda Raynolds (Lochard Energy) and held off the fast finish of Chloe Hosking (Roxsolt Liv SRAM).
Hosking took second place in her first time racing the event while Raynolds was third, adding to last year’s podium place and her two victories in the women’s category of the combined Melbourne to Warrnambool. Edwards place on the top step also provided a repeat of sorts, as although it was her first time at the race, it was the second year in a row an ARA Skip Capital rider had secured the top step, with Maeve Plouffe – now signed with Team DSM – winning the 2022 edition.
“I stayed in the saddle as long as I could,” said Edwards, who was quickly surrounded by her teammates after the line. “Seeing the other girls already starting their sprints I felt confident that as soon as I hooked out of the saddle and really gave a kick, that I’d be able to finish it off to the line.”
Edwards had returned to racing at the Tour Down Under, coming back from breaking her wrist after a training crash at the velodrome in December, and demonstrated that she had well and truly found her feet again post injury at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race by venturing out in the break. Still, making it to the top step in her first attempt at the Warrnambool Women’s Cycling Classic in the sprint at the end of the four and a half hour race was another thing entirely.
“To be honest I am just shocked,” said Edwards. “I hoped it would happen today but I didn’t really believe it until I was over the line. I have to thank every single girl on this team. I did not touch the wind the entire race. I hid in the bunch, I saved my legs.
“The girls rode super aggressively and then set up the finish exactly how we wanted it so I am super impressed and proud to be a part of this team.”
It was also a successful day for the team at the men’s criterium – which ran in Warrnambool while the women made their way to the coastal city from Colac – with ARA Skip Capital’s Kane Richards taking the win and Declan Trezise coming second.
How it unfolded
The 160km National Road…
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