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Jayco Bay Classic Series  2010

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Race 1- Gilmore sprints to victory in opener

Geelong Botanical Gardens, long circuit 2.4 km

Race Writeup

Rochelle Gilmore (Honda) sprinted to victory on race 1 of the 2010 Jayco Bay Classics. Close on her wheel was Chloe Hosking (MB Cycles) ahead of Kirsty Broun (Jayco AIS).

The first race in the series, was on the long circuit round the Botanical Gardens and was fraught with early season mechanicals and a couple of crashes to disrupt the flow of the race.    

Despite a number of attempts to break away, the bunch stayed together for much of the race. An attack from Isabella King, (Plan B), after three laps, forced Nimesha Smith (Honda) and Lauren Kitchen (Jayco VIS) to chase her to close the gap. 

As the pace increased towards the first of the two sprints, a number of riders, fell fowl of the rough edges on the back of the course, and could not hold their wheels. A casualty of the accident was Emy Huntsman (skilled) and in the panic to avoid the carnage Tiffany Cromwell (Honda) skidded into the dirt and punctured. 

The sprint for the first points towards the overall sprinters jersey, started 75m out. It was, Gilmore who got the advantage over Peta Mullens (Honda) and Helen Kelly (Jayco VIS/NSWIS).

With four laps to go, the second of the sprints, Ashlee Ankudinoff (Jayco VIS/NSWIS), got the better of Gilmore and team mate Tess Downing to win the points. 

Another crash, involving 9 riders, disrupted the flow of the race with three laps to go. A number of riders required medical treatment, Shannon McCurley ((Jayco VIS/NSWIS) was the most seriously injured, suffering a deep gash on her knee.

At the bell, Josie Tomic (Honda) led Hosking (MB Cycles) over the line with the remaining bunch on their wheels. 

The final sprint, wound up 100m out, with Gilmore effectively led out by her team. This forced, Hosking and Broun to fight for a good line. Gilmore crossed the line first just ahead of Hosking. Broun had to fight for third ahead of Mullens.

Rochelle Gilmore (Honda) was pleased that team preparation had paid off for her and the team. “It was great, it went to plan today. We put a lot of effort into making sure we were prepared for today and able to pull the win off and we did,” said Gilmore.

Gilmore looked forward to the next three days, “Starting on this long course played with my head a little bit. This is my least favourite circuit. I don’t know tomorrow’s circuit as it's new, I will probably look to one of the team to go for the win and give myself a break to be ready for Ritchie Boulevard on Monday. That circuit is more suited to my style,” added Gilmore.

Chloe Hosking, (MB Cycles), at only 19, was riding her fourth Bay Classic and is a sprinting talent for the future. She took Gilmore to the line in the final sprint, nearly pulling off the win. “I was really excited about racing this week and get stuck into the 2010 season. The legs complained a little bit, but they reacted when I needed them too,” said Hosking.

Hosking signed her first professional contract for Team Columbia HTC for the 2010 season. While Columbia HTC is her full time professional team, she loves supporting the Australian based teams when she can. “I rode with Marcel and MB Cycles last year in China and I think it is great to be able to combine a local team with my European pro team. I would love to have ridden here with Team Columbia HTC, but my season starts with them at the Tour of Qatar in February and then on to Europe,” added Hosking.

Kirsty Broun (Jayco AIS) the 2009 Jayco Bay classic winner and current Australian Criterium Champion, was very happy with her third place in race 1 of the 2010 event. “That was fun, it was a bit sketchy at times. A few riders were jittery and not quite holding their lines at times in the wind. It happens, first race, everyone is excited to be racing again and it was quite windy at the back of the course. Coming into the last bend, I was in second wheel but could not quite hold it to the line. Rochelle [Gilmore] and Chloe [Hosking] jumped to the right and I did not react quickly enough and I had to chase for 20m. I nearly caught them but had to settle for third,” said Broun.

Reflecting on the next three days, Broun added, “I am happy with third today and the next three days are probably more suited to my type of racing. The courses are more technical and I enjoy that.”

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