Nicola Rutzou
This year’s ProVelo Super League (PSL) kicked off in scorching heat over the weekend in Adelaide. The opening time trial had to be moved from an uphill location to the flat track at Victoria Park due to 40 plus temperatures and high fire danger, while the road race on Monday at Tailem Bend was run earlier in an effort to beat Monday’s 40+ degree heat!
Stage 1
The opening stage of the SA Kick It was a 6km individual time trial around Victoria Park. The riders completed three laps of a 2km circuit that featured several long straights and sharp corners, allowing them to settle into a rhythm and lay down the power.
In the women’s, all eyes were on the number of starters lining up with a track background, or potentially the more endurance-minded sprinters to whip around the fast, flat course. Mostly known for her sprint prowess, Odette Lynch (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) posted a fast time, looking likely to challenge for the win. U23 Time Trial national champion Sophia Sammons (Team Redcat) came close, but couldn’t quite unseat the Butterfields Ziptrak rider. That was until the experienced head of Alyssa Polites (Meridian Bikebug) flew around the course, the only rider to get under eight minutes to take her first-ever national-level victory in a time of 7:59.
Many riders lined up for the men’s event, keen to stamp their authority on the opening round. Leighton Cook (Falcons Pedal Mafia), fresh off his fourth place in the elite men’s road race at nationals, blasted out from the middle of the starting order, with many wondering if his time could be beaten. He managed to hold steady while a number of pre-race favourites, including Julian Baudry (VIS p/b K.O.M.P), came within a second of his time, but no one was able to get over the top until the final starter of the day, Conor Leahy (Team Brennan), took to the track. Olympic gold medallist Leahy started fast and finished even faster, coming home with an average speed of over 50kmh on the road bike to take an emphatic win.
Stage 2
Stage 2 provided yet another scorching day’s racing, with the riders tackling the fast Victoria Park circuit.
While everyone was expecting a showdown between the Butterfields Ziptrak Racing team and Meridian Bikebug, it was Team Redcat who was on patrol throughout the 30 lap criterium. Riding for Keira Will, it became clear they had faith as they put the U23 time trial national champion Sophia Sammons to work at the front. In the sprint, it was race leader Alyssa Polites (Meridian Bikebug) who led around the final corner and looked set to take a powerful win, but an early celebration was her undoing, and Keira Will stormed past to take an emphatic win.
In the men’s race, all eyes were on the duel playing out between Team Brennan in the leaders jersey with Conor Leahy, and CCACHE X BODYWRAP who were looking flush with sprint options in Kurt Eather, Graeme Frislie and Oscar Gallagher. An aggressive race throughout, it was driven by U19 rider Connor Wright (Falcons Pedal Mafia) who was incredibly active at the front. In the end, it came down to the sprint duel we were waiting for, and it was Team Brennan_ who emerged victorious with Tom Cornish powering through the field in the saddle to take an iconic win in front of a home crowd.
Stage 3
Stage 3 of the ProVelo Super League SA Kick It saw the riders return to the now infamous Bend Motorsport Park for two thrilling road races.
In the SBS women’s league, all eyes were on Alyssa Polites in the race leader’s yellow jersey, who came into the stage with a 9-second lead over second-placed Keira Will.
Odette Lynch for the Butterfields Ziptrak racing team was active early on, securing both intermediate sprints.
Coming into the stage 13 seconds down, Lynch was now in with a chance for the overall win after picking up 6 bonus seconds from the intermediates.
The stars needed to align for Lynch to take overall victory, requiring a win on the stage and Polites to finish outside the top 3. Lynch’s Butterfields Ziptrak team delivered her perfectly to the finish, where she produced a powerful sprint to win the stage and the overall win, with the difference between Lynch and Polites coming down to fractions of a second.
In the men’s league Conor Leahy looked to defend the overall lead earned from his blistering performance in the Stage 1 time trial. The Brennan squad were active throughout the race as the heat started to take effect, before a breakaway of 5 riders stepped away from the field with 30 kilometres remaining.
The breakaway quickly established a lead of just under a minute, and held this advantage as the main field struggled to organise a chase. Into the final 5km, the breakaway saw their margin reduced to 30 seconds, but there was still hope. Some big turns and composure under pressure saw Oliver Sims and Iven Bennett enter the final straight with the bunch rapidly approaching behind.
Bennett launched early and looked set to take the win, but it was Oliver Sims who came out from the wheel and just managed to come past the Adelaide local to take a gutsy win on his least favoured terrain.
In the bunch sprint, only two seconds behind, Conor Leahy was right at the front and secured an impressive overall victory in his home race.
After the two rounds of the PSL, the individual league leaderboards are:
Women’s Individual Classification
1. Odette Lynch Butterfields Ziptrak Racing 162 pt
2. Alyssa Polites Meridian Bikebug 133 pt
3. Keira Will Team Redcat 110 pt
Men’s Individual Classification
1. Conor Leahy Team Brennan 128 pt
2. Tom Cornish Team Brennan 111 pt
3. Graeme Frislie CCACHE x BODYWRAP 106 pt
The next round of the ProVelo Super League is the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Festival on 14 and 15 February.
Learn more about PSL at provelosuperleague.com
Photo credit: ProVelo Super League
Nicola Rutzou – a long-time contributor and, most recently, the editor of Bicycling Australia. Nicola is a keen Sydney-based road cyclist who writes reviews, news, and destination pieces, as well as the weekly e-newsletter for BA online.
