Breakaways decide Under-19 Tour of Gippsland

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William Eaves (Tasmanian Institute of Sport) and Isabelle Carnes (ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast) have won the men’s and women’s Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland respectively, sealing their overall titles on Phillip Island on Tuesday.

Both riders established significant time gains on Sunday’s opening stage and were able to defend their leads throughout the three-day event, which was the first round of AusCycling’s new National Junior 19 Road Series.

Bronte Stewart (Sydney Uni-Staminade) and Talia Appleton (99 Bikes Women’s Academy) completed the women’s podium, while Hamish McKenzie (ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast) and William Heffernan (ZCC Racing) did so in the men’s event.

The 2022 Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland comprised two road races and one criterium in the Bass Coast Shire of southern Victoria. In addition to the under-19 races, the Tour features a men’s and women’s National Road Series event.

Under-19 Men: Eaves sets up GC win with solo breakaway

General Classification podium for men's 2022 Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of GippslandOn Stage 1, the junior men faced three laps (83km) of a hilly circuit starting and finishing in Woolamai.

From the peloton of 32 starters, Eaves broke clear and completed a powerful solo performance to take the stage victory, and the overall lead, by 43 seconds including time bonuses.

His Tasmanian teammate Campbell Palmer won the reduced bunch sprint for second, while junior national time trial and criterium champion Hamish McKenzie took third.

William Eaves wins stage 1 of men's 2022 Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of GippslandOn Stage 2, an 88km road race starting from the seaside town of Inverloch, Eaves finished in the main peloton, just 11 seconds behind a leading quintet that contested stage honours.

Sydney’s William Heffernan won the stage ahead of Noah Blannin (Gold Coast Cycling Club/Queensland Academy of Sport) and Sam Golding (Butterfields-Insurance Advisernet p/b Van D'am Racing).

Will Heffernan wins stage 2 of men's 2022 Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of GippslandStage 3 was a flat, fast-paced criterium in the small fishing village of Rhyll, on Phillip Island. The attack-filled race ended in a bunch sprint along the foreshore, with McKenzie taking the stage win and a 10-second time bonus that propelled him to second overall ahead of Heffernan.

Oscar Chamberlain (CCS Cycling) and Luke Tuckwell (InForm TMX Make) completed the stage podium.

Eaves finished safely in the bunch to wrap up the overall win and secure the early lead in the National Junior 19 Road Series.

Hamish McKenzie wins stage 3 of men's 2022 Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland

General Classification – Under-19 Men

1.William EAVES (TAS) 4h48:49
2.Hamish MCKENZIE (QLD) +35
3.William HEFFERNAN (NSW) +35
4.Oscar CHAMBERLAIN (ACT) +43
5.Campbell PALMER (TAS) +43
6.Joshua CRANAGE (SA) +45
7.Nate HADDEN (VIC) +49
8.Eddie WORRALL (VIC) +49
9.Leo ZIMMERMANN (SA) +49
10.Tyler TOMKINSON (QLD) +49

Under-19 Women: Carnes takes overall while Bailey doubles up

General Classification podium for women's 2022 Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland

Stage 1 of the women’s event saw an extremely attritional race on the hills around Wollamai.

The tough terrain initially saw Carnes, Stewart and Appleton escape from their rivals before the latter was dropped to leave just two out front. Carnes and Stewart had shown excellent condition at the recent Road National Championships in Ballarat, and, true to form, the duo would not be seen again by their rivals.

At the end of the 55km stage, Carnes outsprinted Stewart to take the victory and the overall lead.

With Appleton finishing two minutes adrift and the race split to pieces behind, the general classification essentially became a battle between Carnes and Stewart.

Isabelle Carnes and Bronte Stewart during the women's 2022 Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of GippslandStage 2 at Inverloch was an undulating affair and finished in a small sprint between seven riders. Bendigo rider Belinda Bailey (StepFWD Soomom) sprinted to victory with Carnes and Stewart stepping onto the podium once again and consolidating their GC positions.

Belinda Bailey wins stage 2 of the women's 2022 Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of GippslandThe final day criterium in Rhyll was decided between a breakaway of four. Belinda Bailey made it two straight wins, unleashing an unmatched sprint to beat Appleton and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Tasmanian Institute of Sport) to the top step. Sophie Sutton (Giant Hampton Racing) just missed the stage podium, finishing fourth after making the decisive split.

Less than a minute behind, Carnes fittingly led home the pack – with Stewart once again on her wheel – to complete the overall victory in the Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland.

Belinda Bailey in the breakaway on stage 3 of the women's 2022 Under-19 Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland

General Classification – Under-19 Women

1.Isabelle CARNES (QLD) 3h56:03
2.Bronte STEWART (NSW) +6
3.Talia APPLETON (VIC) +1:16
4.Belinda BAILEY (VIC) +5:22
5.Felicity WILSON-HAFFENDEN (TAS) +5:38
6.Sophie SUTTON (VIC) +7:31
7.Mia WILLIAMS (VIC) +8:25
8.Muireann GREEN (VIC) +12:43
9.Amelia MULHERN (VIC) +20:18
10.Keira WILL (NSW) +20:20

Photos: Con Chronis

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