Nat Bromhead
Star Mitchelton-SCOTT climber Lucy Kennedy has gone back-to-back in the Lexus of Blackburn Women’s Herald Sun Tour, giving the tight racing against overnight race leader Arlenis Sierra Canadilla.
The ride that saw Kennedy claim third place on Thule Stage 2 enough to secure her second Lexus of Blackburn Women’s Herald Sun Tour title.
Kennedy said was really motivated and the team were amazing.
“I never felt in trouble,” she said. “I was always really calm and even though we didn’t have a full team they were really strong, and I just owe a lot of it to them.”
Thursday was New Zealand National Day, and NZ rider Ella Harris won Thule Stage 2 on top of Falls Creek ahead of current Australian time trial national champion Sarah Gigante (Team Tibco-SVB) and Kennedy.
Leading into the race as defending champion, there were high expectations on the Queenslander Kennedy, but her tactical racing on stage one saw her gain time on other general classification contenders including Gigante.
Men’s Race: Two From Two For Team Sunweb
Meanwhile in the men’s race Perth’s Jai Hindley of Team Sunweb took victory atop the summit of Falls Creek on Thule Stage 2 of the 2020 Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
Hindley’s victory comes off the back of his Italian teammate Alberto Dainese’s sprint win in Shepparton on Wednesday and puts him into the overall Tour lead. He has cousins, uncle and aunty in Mt Beauty who made it up to watch his win.
Hindley said it was special to have family at the race to witness his first professional win.
“It’s been a while coming just building towards it,” he said. “It’s taken a while to slowly step the level up over the past few years, to get a win here today, my first pro win it’s pretty nice just to get my hands in the air.”
The Men’s race continues – see the Bicycling Australia Facebook page (or see below) for video of the action.
