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South Bank Grand Prix / Australian criterium Championships- CN
Brisbane, Queensland, December 2, 2007
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Race 2: Elite women National criterium Championships
Tasmania's Comeback Queen Wins National Title
By John Michael Flynn in Brisbane, Australia
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Tasmanian Kirsty Broun wrote another chapter in one of Australian cycling's more bizarre comebacks today to claim her first National Criterium Championship at age 28.
A National Champion on the track at the age of nineteen, Broun ventured into cycling obscurity following a long battle with glandular fever, but re-emerged at last year's Tasmanian Track Carnivals where she performed impressively.
The lawyer, who now resides at Bundaberg in Queensland but remains a devout Tasmanian, avoided a crash-fest which ultimately ended the hopes of the leading contenders including defending champion Alexis Rhodes.
Broun formed one half of a two rider breakaway, escaping up the road with Queenslander Carly Hibberd shortly before the race defining crash.
"It was quite good because Carly took off and I yelled out to the girls, come on lets chase her down and they didn't kind of jump on my wheel," Broun said.
"When I caught Carly, I said let's work together and see how we go."
Race Mishap
The race was marred by several major crashes, the worst coming at the ten minute mark when defending champion Alexis Rhodes suffered a mishap.
Riding at the front of the lead group, the South Australian was negotiating the first corner of the course when her front wheel slid away in the wet conditions. What followed was a domino effect as, one after another, riders hit the deck.
Noosa Criterium winner Rochelle Gilmore managed to avoid the race carnage, but had a perfect view of events as they unfolded.
"I didn't go down myself, I definitely knew it was happening 100 per cent as I was on her (Rhodes) wheel," the eventual third-place getter said.
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"She (Rhodes) entered that corner on the inside entry to the corner, you don't enter on the inside, you go wide and then you come in.
"I knew she was going to crash because she was going way too fast."
In the chaotic moments that followed, the main bunch lost sight of the bigger picture issue - a breakaway group of two riders, which was still up the road.
Ultimately, the oversight cost Gilmore any chance of winning the race in a sprint finish. Even with the help of Sky-Lee Armstrong pulling turns in the final laps, the opportunity was lost - Gilmore forced to settle for third.
"All the girls back in the bunch didn't know that those two girls were still away," Gilmore said.
"When the big crash happened and a big group re-entered the race, we thought we'd caught the two that had been away.
"I think in the back of my head I knew there was two away."
Unable to match Broun in the final two-up sprint, Queensland's Carly Hibberd was overjoyed with her second placing in the National Championship race.
"I'm really happy, my coach Vince McLachlan just told me I'm not a crit rider so just go out there and enjoy myself," Hibberd said.
"We're really lucky, apparently the girls chased and just after that there was a big accident and that helped establish the gap.
"I think it was the best place to be on the course."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by John Flynn/Cyclingnews.com
- Olympic Champion Sara Carrigan takes charge as the bunch settles down.
- Rochelle Gilmore wins the race for third in the open womens criterium.
- Sky-Lee Armstrong working for Rochelle Gilmore.
- Spectators catch the action of the open womens criterium.
- Tasmanian come back girl Kirsty Broun.
- The domino effect.
- The open women's podium of Carly Hibberd Kirsty Broun and Rochelle Gilmore.
- Veteran Sharon Heaps recovers after a tumble.
- Another tumble.
- Awaiting the start.
- Carly Hibberd and Kirsty Broun share the turns.
- Courtney LeLay.
- Defending champion Alexis Rhodes hits the deck.
- Kirsty Broun driving in the home straight.
- Kirsty Broun triumphs.
- Liz Young avoids face planting.
- LizYoung grimaces as the riders tumble around her.
- Nikki Egyed tries to hunt down the breakaway.
- Anxious moments early for the elite women.
Images by Tim Francis
- Sara Carigan shows off here teschner fitted with zipps
- The women line up
- Sara Carrigan (2xu)
- The pace backs off a bit in the women's race
- The two leaders at the bell lap in the women's race
- Skye Lee Armstrong tries to chase down the leaders
- Kristy Broun looks back to see if they're still clear
- The women's winner Kristy Broun
Results
1 Kirsty Broun 2 Carly Hibberd 3 Rochelle Gilmore
