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Jayco Bay Classic Series  2011

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Rochelle Gilmore (Honda) sprinted to win victory to win the third race in the 2011 Jayco Bay Classic series. Gilmore just beat Chloe Hosking (TDT/Race/BikeForce) and Peta Mullens (Honda) in one of the best races of the night. 

When racing got underway the pace was furious with Judith Arndt (HTC Highroad) one of the prominent pace makers. Arndt who is based in Australia over the European winter, rode to the event some 100km before leading the charge right from the off.  Approximately five minutes into the race, a small group got clear with Arndt. Lauren Kitchen (Jayco AIS), Jess Maclean and Emma Mackie (Virgin Blue), Melissa Hoskins and Peta Mullens (Honda Dream Team) and Jess Allan (Jayco VIS). Bridget Officer (Vetta Pasta) managed to join the group.

Over the next few laps the group got a lead of 17 seconds but were reeled in by the peloton. Naomi Williams (Prime estate) did much of the work on the front, to try and bring her team sprinter Nicole Whitburn back with a chance in the final sprint. Jayco AIS team mates Amanda Spratt and Shara Gillow tried hard to distrupt the chase to protect Kitchen. 

More riders tried to break free, but the race finally came back together with 9 laps to go. Immediately Kitchen attacked and Mullens, Officer and 2009 winner Kirsty Broun (Virgin Blue), joined forces to create a small break. 

Over the last six laps of the race, Tiffany Cromwell (Honda) moved to the front to close gap and set up the race for the whole team to move to the front to control the race. On the final lap the race was brought back together and it finished with a sprint to the line. Gilmore proved to be too fast, just beating Hosking and Mullens to the line. 

Gilmore is on track to equal last years performance of three wins and go back-to-back. She has a 12 point buffer over her team-mate Peta Mullens and the Honda Dream Team have an unassailable lead heading into the final leg of the series.

Rochelle Gilmore (Honda) was “Happy” Gilmore after race 3 in the 2011 Bay Classic series. She secured her place as the overall leader with a sprint win on the fast ‘hot dog’ course. “It's a great feeling to sit back in the peloton and know that I can relax. It it came back I knew it was down to me to finish the job off,” Gilmore said after the race. Gilmore added, "If we don't have any bad luck tomorrow I can take the series. I like the course in Williamstown. The finish really suits me with the corner so close to the finish. I feel strong and I don't have tired lets yet so I'm really looking forward to it.”

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