Sapphire Tour: Nicholson seals GC, Belinda Bailey wins stage 2

Katelyn Nicholson (Team BridgeLane) has won the Sapphire Tour overall while Belinda Bailey has scored Team Hydraplay Femme’s first NRS win, sprinting to victory on Stage 2.

It took a bike throw for Bailey, 19, to pip Odette Lynch (Butterfields Racing) on the 42-kilometre criterium at Lake Inverell.

“I was positioned well at the start around the girls at the start and kind of drifted back just about all race and just sat in,” Bailey said. “The girls positioned me well all day.

“Coming up the finish the last lap, I went for it up the hill and came past everyone in the last corners, flicked through the corners and threw for the line.”

Behind, the peloton was splintered into groups after the fast and furious finale, but overnight leader Katelyn Nicholson finished safely to wrap up the general classification on the back of her solo victory in yesterday’s road race.

Nicholson’s teammates Lillee Pollock (who placed third on the stage) and Keely Bennett also confirmed their podium places.

The AusCycling National Road Series will continue in August with the Tour of Gippsland.

Results – 2024 Sapphire Tour

Stage 2

1. Belinda BAILEY (THF) 1h01:59
2. Odette LYNCH (BRT) +0
3. Lillee POLLOCK (TBL) +0
4. Talia APPLETON (TBL) +0
5. Savannah COUPLAND (CDF) +0
6. Gina RICARDO (TBL) +0
7. Amanda POULSEN (TBL) +5
8. Keely BENNETT (TBL) +5
9. Hayley JONES (WCD) +5
10. Georgia WHITEHOUSE (BRT) +7

General Classification

1. Katelyn NICHOLSON (TBL) 4h13:20
2. Lillee POLLOCK (TBL) +1:16
3. Keely BENNETT (TBL) +1:19
4. Savannah COUPLAND (CDF) +1:22
5. Talia APPLETON (TBL) +1:24
6. Gina RICARDO (TBL) +2:56
7. Amanda POULSEN (TBL) +3:06
8. Imogen FRANCIS +3:08
9. Angela GATES +3:08
10. Miriam SINNERBRINK (CDF) +3:11

Click for full results

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Photos: Auriol Carruthers