Nicola Rutzou
Round 2 of the ProVelo Super League took place over the weekend, with the men’s Melbourne to Warrnambool road race on Saturday, 8 February, and the women’s Warrnambool Cycling Classic on Sunday.
Melbourne to Warrnambool men’s race
Blake Agnoletto (Team Brennan) won the men’s race over the gruelling 267 kilometres in wild and windy conditions. Agnoletto beat home 2022 winner Cam Scott of the Ccache X Bodywrap team, with individual rider Hamish McKenzie third.
The riders set off under brisk, windy conditions at Avalon Airport, with the peloton largely intact as they rolled along the Princes Freeway. Terence Hore (Team Duda) and Tim Cutler (Team Royal Bikes) established the early breakaway, looking to get a head start before the expected crosswinds on the roads into Colac.
They maintained their advantage until the 185km mark, setting up an exciting 80km finale as attacks started flying from the peloton. Team Brennan’s Oliver Bleddyn launched a solo move and established a small margin, but it was short-lived. The race favourites emerged at the front as the crosswinds along the Great Ocean Road began thinning the field.
A lead group formed in the wind containing three past winners – Mark O’Brien (Trappist), Tristan Saunders (Team Brennan), and Cameron Scott (Ccache X Bodywrap). Behind them, Brendon Davids and Jack Ward (Team Brennan) chased hard from the second group on the road but couldn’t bridge the gap.
As the leaders entered the final 10km, O’Brien attacked, trying to repeat his solo win from the previous year. Hamish McKenzie and Blake Agnoletto joined him, and the lead group came to the finish together.
Agnoletto was in disbelief at the finish line and expressed relief, thanking the team. He said, “The team, we wanted this win so bad. It was the most amazing team ride…I can’t believe it.”
Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic Results
1. Blake Agnoletto (Team Brennan p/b TP32)
2. Cameron Scott (CCACHE X BODYWRAP)
3. Hamish McKenzie (Individual)
U23
1. Hamish McKenzie (Individual)
2. Jack Ward (Team Brennan p/b TP32)
3. Zachary Marriage (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing)
Women’s Warrnambool Cycling Classic
Katelyn Nicholson of Butterfields Ziptrak Racing won the race in a dominant solo break.
Rolling out in windy conditions, Celestine Wells of Nostromo X Ccache and Chantelle McCarthy of Women’s Cycling Development p/b Balmoral CC defined the race’s first half with early solo efforts. Celestine built the largest advantage at just over four minutes, but this was whittled down quickly when the peloton started ramping up the pace as they hit the crosswinds.
As the field hit the Great Ocean Road, the Praties Cycling team took control, pushing the front group through the crosswinds and ensuring all six riders made the key selection of about 20. As the lead group settled inside the final 50km, riders keen to avoid a large sprint began attacking.
Oceania Road Champion Katelyn Nicholson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) was the first to break free, quickly building a gap. Frankie Hall (Praties Cycling Team) and Josephine Pepper (Duda Cycling) chased, but the group soon sat up, allowing Nicholson to extend her lead to 2:30, with Hall and Pepper 20 seconds behind.
Pepper began to fade, leaving Hall to chase Nicholson alone. The gap widened as Nicholson powered ahead, maintaining her strong pace to secure a comfortable solo win 47 seconds ahead of Hall. Pepper held on for third, while Talia Appleton (Praties Racing) and Alli Anderson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) battled for the league’s overall points, with Appleton extending her lead in the U23 classification.
Lochard Energy Warrnambool Women’s Classic Results
1. Katelyn Nicholson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing)
2. Frankie Hall (Praties Cycling Team)
3. Josephine Pepper (Duda Cycling)
U23
1. Talia Appleton (Praties Cycling Team)
2. Alli Anderson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing)
3. Mia Williams (Meridian Blue Cycling p/b 99 Bikes)
After the two rounds of the PSL, the individual league leaderboards are:
Women’s Individual Classification
1. Talia APPLETON* Praties Cycling Team 217 pt
2. Katelyn NICHOLSON Butterfields Ziptrak Racing 216 pt
3. Frankie HALL Praties Cycling Team 150 pt
Men’s Individual Classification
1. Blake AGNOLETTO Team Brennan p/b TP32 200 pt
2. Jack WARD* Team Brennan p/b TP32 176 pt
3. Brendon DAVIDS Team Brennan p/b TP32 166 pt
