Santos Festival of Cycling 2022 – Stage 3 [FULL STAGE] (ladies)

January 25, 2022

Santos Festival of Cycling 2022 – Stage 3 WE – Lobethal – Lobethal : 86,9 km

The Santos Festival of Cycling, which includes four days of racing across South Australia for the women and men, is the National Road Series replacement for the cancelled Tour Down Under, which was last held as a WorldTour event for men. The multi-day event provides an opportunity for the top domestic racers to line up alongside some of the nation’s WorldTour professionals who returned home for the Australian summer. The domestic event will feature three-day stage races for elite women and elite men, as well as men’s and women’s criteriums in Victoria Park.

Ruby Roseman-Gannon (BikeExchange-Jayco) added a stage victory to her unyielding grip on the overall on day 3 of the Santos Festival of Cycling, finishing the GC determining road stages of the South Australian race on a high note before getting set to put on the jersey of the Australian criterium champion for Wednesday’s women’s racing finale.

The newly signed BikeExchange-Jayco rider, who took second place in the first two stages, delivered a clear win in the stretched out sprint in Lobethal after the team fighting off the numerous attempts during the stage to try and chip away at the lead in the overall competition. Roseman-Gannon, however, didn’t give them that chance, just stretching it with intermediate sprint placings and that podium topping finish.

“It’s so good to finish it off on a high,” said Roseman-Gannon. “The last two days were good but not what I wanted, I wanted to finish off the job so today is the dream day.”

Australian champion Nicole Frain (Roxsolt Liv SRAM) came over the line second, which also helped her jump up to second overall, while Roseman-Gannon’s teammate Georgia Baker held on after the lead-out to take third on the stage. That also made it a tight run battle for third on the GC, putting Baker 25 seconds back with Maeve Plouffe (ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast) , but the stage two winner Plouffe held the position.

How it unfolded

With the General Classification so tight – the top 23 riders all within 23 seconds – the decisive 86.9km stage, which started and finished in Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills, was always going to be fiery and with the first of two unpaved sections barely 2km into the racing it was not surprising that the moves started rolling early. It was the versatile multi-discipline rider Peta Mullens (Roxsolt Liv SRAM) who initially shot across to the gravel out the front and Ruth Corset (VA Pro Racing) was among those that joined, but with key riders attentive to the danger and quick to react it was a split that wasn’t allowed to get well established.

Next out the front it was Lauren Thomas (Giant Racing), Sydney Uni Staminade teammates Josie Talbot and Georgia Whitehouse along with Nicola Macdonald (Roxsolt Liv SRAM). After that it was Australian champion Nicole Frain (Roxsolt Liv SRAM) that set the peloton scrambling, shooting out the front solo and stretching the gap as the first intermediate sprint approached at 23 km into the racing.

There were reactions aplenty, but Frain had a big enough gap out the front that it was clear she would sweep up the top intermediate sprint points and 3 second bonus, enough to move her up one spot on the GC before lining up the next shift up the overall on the final line. Georgie Howe (Knights of Suburbia Racing), who was chasing Frain, took second place in that intermediate sprint while Roseman-Gannon made another small deposit in her bonus time piggy bank.

The break attempts continued but weren’t let run too far after until Elizabeth Young (Butterfields Racing) built a solid gap, stretching it out to over a minute as Ella Bloor (Inform TMX MAKE) fought to catch on behind with around 40 kilometres to go. Bloor held on just long enough to take second place behind Young in the next intermediate sprint of the day, at nearly 60 kilometres in, while Roseman-Gannon again jumped to accumulate another second of time bonuses.

With Amanda Spratt (BikeExchange-Jayco) working relentlessly on the front as the second gravel section approached the gap to Young shrunk. It was down to around 30 seconds by the time the race had moved into its final 14km and as the gravel gave way and the challenge of that final climb, and the day’s QOM point, approached the field was together. Grace Brown (Team Garmin Australia) went right at the base, providing what looked like a perfect lead out to Corset, who attacked over the top to secure the Queen of the Mountain jersey.

Behind Roseman-Gannon was on guard – not wanting to be undone at the final hurdle – with the climb just two kilometres from the line, particularly not after all the work that had been put in.

“I remember thinking just coming out of the gravel you have got to so deep, whatever goes you have got to be there,” said Roseman-Gannon. “I knew I had to take full responsibility for that because my team had been working all week for me, so I was ready.”

It was then a flawless run into the line for BikeExchange-Jayco, with the ever hard working Alex Manly driving the pace, then Baker and finally the launch of Roseman-Gannon to clinch the stage victory to add to her two stage second places and overall tour victory.

The four days of women’s racing in South Australia finishes on Wednesday evening with a criterium on a 1.35km circuit in the heart of Adelaide, running over 45 minutes and 1 lap.

Results :
1 Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco 2:17:21
2 Nicole Frain (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
3 Georgia Baker (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco
4 Matilda Raynolds (Aus) Inform TMX Make
5 Peta Mullens (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
6 Hayley Jones (Aus) Giant Racing Team
7 Ruth Corset (Aus) VA Pro Racing
8 Matilda Field (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
9 Danielle de Francesco (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
10 Emily Watts (Aus) Knights of Suburbia Racing 0:00:04
11 Katie Banerjee (Aus) Knights of Suburbia Racing 0:00:05
12 Georgia Whitehouse (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s
13 Amelia Watkinson (Aus) Individual Riders
14 Mia Hayden (Aus) Women’s Racing Project
15 Maeve Plouffe (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
16 Justine Barrow (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
17 Isabelle Carres (Aus) Team Garmin Australia
18 Courtney Sherwell (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
19 Carlee Taylor (Aus) Inform TMX Make
20 Hannah Seeliger (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation
21 Alisha Wells (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
22 Megan Armitage (Irl) Team Westpac
23 Georgie Howe (Aus) Knights of Suburbia Racing
24 Alexandra Manly (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco
25 Gina Ricardo (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s
26 Samara Sheppard (NZl) Team Westpac 0:00:13
27 Grace Brown (Aus) Team Garmin Australia
28 Amber Pate (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco 0:00:23
29 Rose Vassel (Aus) Stepfwd Soomom 0:00:25
30 Sophie Edwards (Aus) Team Garmin Australia 0:00:28
31 Kathryn Mcinerney (Aus) Stepfwd Soomom
32 Sharni Morley (Aus) Stepfwd Soomom
33 Elizabeth Young (Aus) Butterfields Racing Team
34 Alli Anderson (Aus) South Australian Sports Institute
35 Chelsea Holmes (Aus) Inform TMX Make 0:00:34
36 Jennifer Darmody (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s
37 Sophie Malowiecki (Aus) Giant Racing Team 0:00:52
38 Darcie Richards (Aus) VA Pro Racing
39 Claire Battle (Aus) Giant Racing Team
40 Jessica Pratt (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s
41 Lauren Thomas (Aus) Giant Racing Team
42 Nicole Oh (Aus) Individual Riders 0:01:16
43 Nicole Wilson (Aus) VA Pro Racing 0:01:19
44 Ella Simpson (Aus) Butterfields Racing Team 0:01:48
45 Imogen Alton (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s
46 Laura Chancellor (Aus) Women’s Racing Project
47 Nicole Mitsigeorgis (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation 0:01:50
48 Mackenzie Coupland (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation
49 Haylee Fuller (Aus) Team Garmin Australia
50 Brittany Petersen (Aus) Team Westpac
51 Emma Pratt (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation
52 Lucinda Stewart (Aus) Team Garmin Australia
53 Josie Talbot (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s
54 Kerry Jonker (RSA) Team Westpac
55 Loretta Hanson (Aus) Team Westpac 0:01:57
56 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco 0:02:04
57 Rachel Wales (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast 0:02:05
58 Belinda Bailey (Aus) Stepfwd Soomom 0:03:05
59 Emma Viotto (Aus) Giant Racing Team 0:03:09
60 Bree Playel (Aus) VA Pro Racing 0:03:29
61 Phillipa Ash (Aus) Individual Riders 0:03:49
62 Ella Bloor (Aus) Inform TMX Make 0:04:10
63 Lucie Fityus (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation
64 Alana Forster (Aus) Butterfields Racing Team 0:05:12
65 Sophie Marr (Aus) Knights of Suburbia Racing 0:11:15
66 Julia Atkins (Aus) Women’s Racing Project
67 Holly Lubcke (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
68 Maddison Taylor (Aus) Giant Racing Team 0:11:19
69 Celia Cowan (Aus) Butterfields Racing Team 0:12:30
70 Rachel Hore (Aus) Individual Riders 0:13:30
DNF Nicola Macdonald (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
DNF Alyssa Polites (Aus) Team Garmin Australia
DNF Jessa Francis (Aus) Women’s Racing Project
DNF Eloise Sandow (Aus) Inform TMX Make
DNS Anya Louw (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
DNS Alexandra Martin-wallace (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
DNS Shannon Mccurley (Irl) Knights of Suburbia Racing

Final General Classification :
1 Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco 6:53:53
2 Nicole Frain (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM 0:00:18
3 Maeve Plouffe (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast 0:00:25
4 Georgia Baker (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco
5 Emily Watts (Aus) Knights of Suburbia Racing 0:00:29
6 Matilda Raynolds (Aus) Inform TMX Make 0:00:35
7 Matilda Field (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
8 Ruth Corset (Aus) VA Pro Racing
9 Danielle de Francesco (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
10 Peta Mullens (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
11 Georgie Howe (Aus) Knights of Suburbia Racing 0:00:38
12 Georgia Whitehouse (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s 0:00:40
13 Katie Banerjee (Aus) Knights of Suburbia Racing
14 Mia Hayden (Aus) Women’s Racing Project
15 Gina Ricardo (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s
16 Amelia Watkinson (Aus) Individual Riders
17 Alexandra Manly (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco
18 Courtney Sherwell (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
19 Carlee Taylor (Aus) Inform TMX Make
20 Justine Barrow (Aus) Roxsolt Liv SRAM
21 Grace Brown (Aus) Team Garmin Australia 0:00:48
22 Samara Sheppard (NZl) Team Westpac
23 Isabelle Carres (Aus) Team Garmin Australia 0:01:09
24 Alisha Wells (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast
25 Megan Armitage (Irl) Team Westpac
26 Hannah Seeliger (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation
27 Amber Pate (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco 0:01:15
28 Sophie Malowiecki (Aus) Giant Racing Team 0:01:27
29 Rose Vassel (Aus) Stepfwd Soomom 0:01:29
30 Elizabeth Young (Aus) Butterfields Racing Team
31 Sharni Morley (Aus) Stepfwd Soomom 0:01:32
32 Hayley Jones (Aus) Giant Racing Team 0:01:34
33 Jennifer Darmody (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s 0:01:38
34 Jessica Pratt (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s 0:01:56
35 Lauren Thomas (Aus) Giant Racing Team
36 Darcie Richards (Aus) VA Pro Racing
37 Nicole Wilson (Aus) VA Pro Racing 0:02:23
38 Josie Talbot (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s 0:02:53
39 Emma Pratt (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation 0:02:54
40 Ella Simpson (Aus) Butterfields Racing Team 0:02:59
41 Kathryn Mcinerney (Aus) Stepfwd Soomom 0:03:00
42 Loretta Hanson (Aus) Team Westpac 0:03:29
43 Rachel Wales (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast 0:03:37
44 Kerry Jonker (RSA) Team Westpac 0:03:53
45 Lucie Fityus (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation 0:05:14
46 Sophie Edwards (Aus) Team Garmin Australia 0:05:36
47 Ella Bloor (Aus) Inform TMX Make 0:06:11
48 Bree Playel (Aus) VA Pro Racing 0:08:17
49 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Team BikeExchange-Jayco 0:08:44
50 Chelsea Holmes (Aus) Inform TMX Make 0:09:30
51 Claire Battle (Aus) Giant Racing Team 0:10:19
52 Nicole Oh (Aus) Individual Riders 0:11:11
53 Imogen Alton (Aus) Sydney Uni Staminade Women’s 0:11:43
54 Brittany Petersen (Aus) Team Westpac 0:11:45
55 Alli Anderson (Aus) South Australian Sports Institute 0:11:56
56 Belinda Bailey (Aus) Stepfwd Soomom 0:12:01
57 Emma Viotto (Aus) Giant Racing Team 0:12:08
58 Sophie Marr (Aus) Knights of Suburbia Racing 0:12:19
59 Maddison Taylor (Aus) Giant Racing Team 0:12:23
60 Phillipa Ash (Aus) Individual Riders 0:13:13
61 Holly Lubcke (Aus) Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast 0:13:18
62 Haylee Fuller (Aus) Team Garmin Australia 0:14:50
63 Nicole Mitsigeorgis (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation 0:17:18
64 Lucinda Stewart (Aus) Team Garmin Australia 0:21:10
65 Laura Chancellor (Aus) Women’s Racing Project 0:22:52
66 Alana Forster (Aus) Butterfields Racing Team 0:24:32
67 Rachel Hore (Aus) Individual Riders 0:30:03
68 Julia Atkins (Aus) Women’s Racing Project 0:30:35
69 Mackenzie Coupland (Aus) Cycling Development Foundation 0:32:25
70 Celia Cowan (Aus) Butterfields Racing Team 0:35:50