Australian Grand Prix of Cycling

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Time Trial

 27.4km

Race Writeup

Canberra cyclist Elizabeth Hayman rode a perfectly judged race to win the women’s individual time trial over 27.4 km, ahead of the ever improving Briana James, while internationally ranked triathlete Bridie O’Donnell registered the third fastest time.

Hayman stopped the clock at 45.12.01 minutes and she had a five second advantage over James, with a further eight seconds out to O’Donnell.

“I am very excited about winning this, it was a particularly tough course and I admire all of the girls who competed,” Hayman said.

Hayman admitted she was tired from the long drive from her home town to Ballarat and did not expect to perform so well in the time trial.

“The road race on Sunday is the event I was really concentrating on, so to win the time trial is a bit of a bonus,” she explained.

Runner-up – Briana James – agreed with Hayman that the course was a testing layout.

“I’m a bit the same as Elizabeth, I was not expecting anything too great from the time trial, so I am very pleased with my result,” she said.

O’Donnell is just back from overseas where she has been contesting ironmen races and is in hard training for the Hawaiian Ironmen.

She will miss Saturday’s criterium because of a planned 200 km training ride.

The Australian Grand Prix continues over the weekend with criteriums in Ballarat’s busy CBD on Saturday afternoon and men’s and women’s road races on the testing Buninyong circuit on Sunday morning.