Dubbo cyclists braved a cold and foggy Canberra on the weekend to take on the Canberra Juniors and Women's tour. A strong group of riders represented with all coming home with some sort of success.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Haylee Fuller was the dominant rider in the U17 women's category. Fuller finished in the gold winner's jersey, winning the four-stage tour by 48 seconds. So dominant was Fuller's weekend she also claimed the green sprinters jersey and the Queen of the mountain classification. What made this effort even more impressive was the New Zealand National team was also racing and their riders claimed the next six finishing positions. Zara Fuller, in her first year in the U17 category, sandwiched the New Zealand riders finishing in eighth.
Only just outdone by Fuller was Kurt Eather in the U19 men's category. Eather finished the tour in the gold winner's jersey and claimed the green sprinters jersey. He narrowly missed the trio of jerseys by finishing second in the King of the mountain's category.
Dylan Eather enjoyed the start of his road racing season claiming the gold winner's jersey after a dominant time trial and exciting sprint finish in the criterium. Also having to battle the New Zealand national team Eather was joined by Danny Barber, who finished the tour in fourth, as the two worked to counter attacks made by the Kiwis. Isabelle Russell finished the tour on the podium in fifth position in the U15 women's category while Lachlan Farr enjoyed his first stage tour in the U13 boys' category.
Three riders contested the U13 girls' category with all impressively finishing in the top ten. Imogen Fuller finished on the podium in fourth position with sister Makayla Fuller in sixth and Georgia Farr right behind in seventh position. Young Cooper Farr took on his first 4 stage road race and was very impressive to finish in second place. Just short of taking a winner's jersey in his first ever tour.
Simone Grounds was in great form taking on the women's A-grade classification. Following a long track season and a couple of weeks rest Grounds came out of the gates on all cylinders winning the open time trial stage by a clear margin. After three stages she still held the gold leader's jersey with only a gruelling 80km mountain road stage to go. The final mountain climb proved a bridge too far and a couple of local Canberra riders were able to pass Grounds in the general classification to see her drop to fourth overall.
While some riders were climbing the mountains around Canberra, David Gerrish and Kate Spicer were taking on Australia's toughest one day classic.
The Grafton to Inverell Classic is a 228km race involving 3382 metres of climbing. Both Gerrish and Spicer finished the race in tough conditions.