Australian Sam Welsford and Italian Martina Fidanza sprinted to stunning victories in the new ‘Cadel’s Criteriums’ at Eastern Gardens in Geelong this afternoon.
The Cadel’s Criterium races for men and women were a new racing opportunity for teams in this weekend’s Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race events following the cancellation of the Surf Coast Classics. In a united show of support, all teams that participated in Cadel’s Criterium agreed to donate their prize money to the Surf Coast Shire affected community.
Cadel’s Criterium, held on a compact two-kilometre circuit that included a testing hill to about 500m to go, lived up to expectations of high-speed and technical racing.
It also provided fans a chance to see the WorldTour teams in action before Saturday’s Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race for women, and Sunday’s race for men.
Cadel’s Criterium for Women
Italian Martina Fidanza (Team Visma-Lease A Bike) seized her opportunity presented by her team’s to triumph in the Cadel’s Criterium women’s ‘s race in a bunch sprint.
After winning the 20laps race for a total distance of 40km, Fidanza lauded her teammates for supporting her after they tried their hand in early attacks. Fidanza’s winning sprint saw her beat two rival teammates Pole Marta Lach and Italian Barbara Guarischi (both SD Worx – Protime). The race saw a number of attacks, but none ever really worked more than to string out the peloton and tire legs for the inevitable bunch sprint on a long slightly uphill finish.
What the Martina Fidanza said:
“Our plan which was to do sprint with me and for the others [in the team] to try to get in the breakaway for their own chances. It was really perfect work by the team. We arrived at the sprint; so, it was my chance of the day and they helped me really well.
“I’m improving from the beginning of the season. I started a bit later with the training. I had to build the shape. But I think it’s improving. I can take this confidence for my team on Saturday, because I think that will be a helper. I want to pay them back again for their help today.
“I was really excited to do race [the Surf Coast Classic], but I think it was the direct decision [to cancel it]. I think that our thoughts are with them [the public impacted], and if we could help with this [race], it was nice. The good thing was to honour the race with this criterium. We were all at the start line today. I think it was really good.”
Results – Top 5
1. Martina Fidanza (TVL) [Italy] 00:53:06
2. Marta Lach (SDW) [Poland] +0
3. Barbara Guarischi (SDW) [Italy] +0
4. Georgia Baker (LIV) [Australia] +0
5. Josie Nelson (TPP) [Great Britain] +0
For full results of women’s race, click HERE:
Cadel’s Criterium for Men
Australian Sam Welsford led home an unexpected breakaway of eight riders to win the Cadel’s Criterium in a thrilling sprint finish with the peloton hot on their heels.
Welsford (INEOS Grenadiers) won the 25 lap race for a total of 50km from another star sprinter in Australian Jenson Plowright (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Italian Matteo Sobrero (Lidl – Trek).
Also in the break that formed with 15 laps to go were Australian Kelland O’Brien (Jayco-Alula), Belgian Fabio Van Den Bossche (Soudal-Quick-Step), New Zealand’s Laurence Pithie (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe), Great Britain’s Callum Thornley (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe), and Frenchman Rémi Cavagna (Groupama – FDJ United). The break worked extremely well together and managed to get more than 30 seconds lead on the peloton before the chase in the final five laps began.
However, it was a case of the peloton leaving their chase too late, and for Welsford, Plowright and Sobrero the narrowing gap on the chasers did not matter once they hit full throttle and fought for the win with 250 metres to go.
What Sam Welsford said:
“It was a hard race but not one I expected to win in a way in a breakaway, but in these criteriums with this field … there’ll be a moment where something can go. It was a super hard race and I was happy to be out there and we had a really strong sprinters in that breakaway. So you couldn’t just bank on staying away. You had to make sure you left something for the sprint. I had my team behind me and they were working quite well to make sure that nothing really caught and got away twice. We had to keep the gap, but we had to make sure we had enough for the sprint. There were a few games being played in the last couple laps. It was a bit of cat and mouse and really tactical finish there, but are super happy to get the win today. I’ve got some good form. We have to see what Sunday brings. It’s a race [where] anything can happen. We have to see how the bunch race it. We have more teams now, more WorldTour teams. I’m interested to see what that brings. Does that add more control to the bunch? Does that make more options for a sprinter to get over? For me, whatever that looks like, if that’s helping the team, if it’s too hard for me, then I’m fully committed to that. “
Results – Top 5
1. Sam Welsford (IGD) [Australia] 00:59:09
2. Jensen Plowright (APT) [Australia] +0
3. Matteo Sobrero (LTK) [Italy] +0
4. Laurence Pithie (RBH) [New Zealand] +0
5. Kelland O’Brien (JAY) [Australia] +0
For full results of men’s race, click HERE