Alli Anderson wins Harbour City GP on countback with last-stage ambush

Alli Anderson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) has won the inaugural SBS Women’s Harbour City GP, seizing the overall victory on countback over Talia Appleton (Praties Cycling Team) by outsprinting her on the final stage.

The fourth round of the ProVelo Super League favoured the sprinters after changes to the course were announced one week beforehand. A lumpy time trial and Akuna Bay Road Race were cancelled, replaced by a flat finale at the Pheasant Wood motor racing circuit.

The opening stage was a criterium at the Sydney Motorsport Park, highlighted – or lowlighted, perhaps – by an embarrassing moment for top sprinter Keely Bennett (Meridian Blue p/b 99 Bikes), who appeared to launch with over one lap remaining. It was only when she put her hands in the air that it became clear she had sprinted a lap early.

National-level racing returned to Sydney at the Harbour City GP.

At the finish, Praties Cycling Team launched the league leader Sophie Marr to a narrow sprint victory ahead of Odette Lynch (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing).

Stage 2 took the riders to Cronulla for an aggressive and technical beachside criterium.

Praties, with full confidence in Marr, chased down a breakaway that included a teammate to set up a showdown between the three big sprinters. Marr launched early on the uphill drag to the line, challenged by Bennett and Lynch, but the PSL leader was too strong, taking her second win in as many days.

Praties sprinter Sophie Marr won the first two stages.

The general classification was turned on his head, however, on the final stage at a tight and technical 1.3-kilometre circuit at Pheasant Wood.

Attacks flew out of the gate and riders began losing contact within the opening laps of the 78-kilometre race.

Eventually, a lead group broke clear containing Anderson, Appleton, Hannah Gianatti (ARA Skip Capital), Mia Williams (Meridian Blue p/b 99 Bikes), and Aberdeen McLain (Women’s Cycling Development Initiative p/b Balmoral).

The quintet grew their lead to more than two minutes over the peloton and began to think not just of the stage win, but also the overall standings.

The successful breakaway on stage 3.

Appleton raced hard for the bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints, taking over the virtual GC from her Praties teammate.

However, coming into the finish, Anderson unleashed a powerful sprint to capture the stage win ahead of Appleton, taking 10 important bonus seconds along with the victory.

The result meant the 21-year-old South Australian, who is the under-23 women's time trial national champion, won the overall by the slimmest of margins, finishing equal on time with Appleton but ahead on a countback of their respective stage placings.

With two rounds remaining, Sophie Marr (Praties Cycling Team) retains her position at the top of the PSL leaderboard, but Appleton has closed the margin to 64 points.

Results: SBS Women’s Harbour City GP

Stage 1

1. Sophie Marr (Praties Cycling Team)
2. Odette Lynch (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing)
3. Nicole Duncan

Stage 2

1. Sophie Marr (Praties Cycling Team)
2. Keely Bennett (Meridian Blue Cycling p/b 99 Bikes)
3. Odette Lynch (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing)

Stage 3

1. Alli Anderson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing)
2. Talia Appleton (Praties Cycling Team)
3. Hannah Gianatti (ARA Skip Capital)

General Classification

1. Alli Anderson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) 4:24:29
2. Talia Appleton (Praties Cycling Team) +0
3. Hannah Gianatti (ARA Skip Capital) +11

SBS Women’s League – Standings after Round 4

1. Sophie Marr (Praties Cycling Team) 465pts
2. Talia Appleton (Praties Cycling Team) 401pts
3. Alli Anderson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) 332pts

Photos: John Veage / ProVelo Super League