6th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3

Australia, January 20-25, 2004

Home   Results    Next stage

Race 1 - January 21: Kapunda (Australian Women's Criterium Championship)

Lost and found - Alexis Rhodes wins National Criterium Championship

Hometown rider wins Race 1 of The Advertiser Women's Criterium Series

By John-Michael Flynn in Kapunda, South Australia

Alexis Rhodes (SA)
Photo ©: John-Michael Flynn

South Australian cyclist Alexis Rhodes capped off an eventful day in the Barossa Valley this afternoon by storming home to win race one of The Advertiser Women's Criterium Series, and in the process claiming the Australian Open Women's Criterium Championship.

The day didn't start exactly as planned for the Adelaide local, who inexplicably became lost trying to guide a posse of fellow riders to the race venue in the rural hamlet of Kapunda. "We actually got lost on the road coming here," Rhodes said. "I'm a local from down the road and the rest of the team was NOT happy."

Arriving with just minutes to spare before the race start, the hasty preparation turned out to be a blessing in disguise Rhodes timed her move perfectly in the 30 minutes (plus 3 laps) criterium, the track riding ace waiting until the penultimate lap before launching a solo breakaway, then holding the peloton at bay to cross the finish line unchallenged.

"I was feeling a little average in the first half of the race," Rhodes admitted. "Luckily I was in the right place at the right time and managed to get away."

As expected the A.I.S. Women's Team tried to control the race from the outset, launching riders off the front in a determined effort to flush out the serious contenders. A charging Natalie Bates showed strong form early, the A.I.S. squad member leading for most of the first nine laps of the 1700 metre street circuit, her efforts assisted by teammates Lorian Graham and dual National Champion Oenone Wood, who shared the workload.

"It was a really good race, the AIS team tried to set a few things up," Wood said after finishing. "We had Natalie Bates go off and Lorian and then Olivia Gollan, but unfortunately those breaks got caught and Alexis Rhodes made a really good move."

It was Gollan's determined move crossing under the start/finish banner which appeared to lift the tempo of the race, setting the scene for another attack by Wood as the National Team tried to take a stranglehold on the event.

AIS riders
Photo ©: John-Michael Flynn

With three laps to go, the in-form Wood was joined by Sarah Carrigan and Alison Wright in what at first looked to be a decisive break. But the attackers were soon reeled and with two laps remaining, Margaret Hemsley led the bunch down Kapunda's main street.

Backing herself in home surrounds, track star Alexis Rhodes then launched into a solo race defining move, establishing a gap of ten seconds on the main field by the start of the bell lap. "Well Marg Hemsley attacked and I went to go with her," Rhodes recalled. "I came over the top and nobody came with me, it was great."

Cheered on by a vocal South Australian crowd, the local rider didn't disappoint. Rhodes rounded the final corner with her lead still largely intact, the main bunch left with no hope of catching the pursuit specialist (a Junior World Champion in this discipline) in the run for home.

A leg weary Rochelle Gilmore claimed the silver medal by taking out the bunch sprint, the New South Wales rider surprised the A.I.S. Women's Team couldn't find the legs late in the race to chase down Rhodes in the run for home. "I'm a little bit disappointed that the A.I.S. girls didn't bring Alex back," Gilmore said. "Alex is a training partner of mine and if someone had to win, I'm glad to see her win."

The women's podium
Photo ©: Mark Gunter

Still, there was some good news for the A.I.S. road squad. Canberra's Oenone Wood backing up her dual gold medal performance at last week's National Road titles by winning bronze in Kapunda. At the same time, deflecting praise from her own recent performances to the rider of the moment.

"Alex is a really strong rider, she just made a move at the right time and caught people a little bit unaware I think," Wood said.

Run in conjunction with the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, the Advertiser Women's Criterium Series heads to Echunga on Friday, before the third and final race of the series at Aldinga Beach on Saturday.

Photography

Images by John-Michael Flynn

• All lined up and listening to the commissaire
• Sara Carrigan looking relaxed
• On the line ready to roll
• Oenone Wood post race
• Alexis Rhodes (SA) - Australian women's criterium champion
• The peloton in the wind
• AIS riders were aggressive during the race
• AIS rider Lorian Graham takes a drink
• Shane Gill (Nalunga South Coast) wins the A Grade men's race

Images by Mark Gunter/Cyclingnews/www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph

• The women's podium Alexis Rhodes (top), next to Rochelle Gilmore and Oenone Wood

Images by Rachel Burke/Maximum Attack Photography

• Start how you mean to finish - local rider Alexis Rhodes (AIS) leads the bunch from the start line, going on to take a convincing victory in the Australian Women's Criterium Championship.
• Sara Carrigan (Queensland Academy of Sport) was a major contender for most of the race.
• Another strong local rider, Bianca Rogers (Bicycle Express), puts in a great performance.
• One of the international competitors from Japan giving it everything on the last lap.
• Alan Gill (SA) takes out victory in the Open Men's criterium event.

Results

Elite Women

1 Alexis Rhodes (SA)
2 Rochelle Gilmore (NSW)
3 Oenone Wood (ACT)
4 Sara Carrigan (Qld)
5 Katie Brown (NSW)
6 Olivia Gollan (NSW)
7 Alison Wright (ACT)
8 Hayley Rutherford (WA)
9 Emma James (NSW)
10 Miho Oki (Jpn)

Others:

A Grade

1 Shane Gill (Nalunga South Coast)
2 Keith Evans (W.A.I.S.)
3 Alan Gill (Norwood C.C.)

B Grade

1 Charles Topfer (C.A.C.C.)
2 Daryl Margrate (Central Districts)
3 Bradlely Smith (Port Adelaide C.C.)

C Grade

1 Jonathan King (Norwood C.C.)
2 Peter Bice (Norwood C.C.)
3 Heintje Leuge Norwood C.C.)