Solo breakaways and sprint finishes at Gravel National Championships in Derby

Brendan Johnston and Courtney Sherwell have been crowned the 2024 AusCycling Elite Gravel national champions on a bluebird day in Derby, Tasmania.

A strong field braved the early morning conditions to roll out for their 106km chase of the green and gold jersey.

Elite Men

It was a stacked elite men’s field, and unexpectedly an early breakaway appeared with Adam Blazevic, Johnston with a gap on the descent after Scott Bowden suffered a puncture 30km in.

It then became a duel between Blazevic and Johnston out front while Alex Lack, Mark O’Brien and Reece Tucknott were part of the chase group.

But with 65km to go Johnston, who took out the UCI Gravel World series race Seven race just a month ago dropped some watt bombs to etch out a more than a minute lead ahead of his rival.

Obrien and Blazevic were battling it out for the final spot on the podium steps as the multiple cross-discipline national champion extended the gap.

The Canberran crossed in a time of 3:26.20 to secure his second gravel Australian title.

“I was a bit worried about this course as it’s not made for me being on the shorter side and the climbs are long and steep in spots,” the 2022 national champion said.

“I had my work cut out for me today and I had to make the most of what I had but felt really good out there today.”

O’Brien would finish with silver and Mark Chong with the bronze.

Brendan Johnston wins his second gravel national title.

Elite Women

The elite women’s race was one for the books as defending champion Justine Barrow, Cassia Boglio, Ella Bloor and Courtney Sherwell were in a four-way tussle at the first climb before Boglio was to succumb to a punture of the descent.

By the second climb the dynamics of the race had changed as the elite men began to pass and it was a case of who could hold on to their wheels.

Bloor was unable so it was left to Barrow and Sherwell to go mono-a-mono by the third and final QOM.

The defending champion made her move to put a 200m gap into the marathon national champion leaving Sherwell thinking her chance had got away.

But a steamrolling Scott Bowden in the elite men's race kept her company, and by Ringarooma Barrow was in Sherwell’s sights and the title chase was back on with 5km to go.

The Victorian recalling how the final moments played out post-race.

“The run into the oval was very tame.

“I decided I didn’t have the legs to attack and that it was going to come down to a sprint.

“Technically my sprint was terrible, I didn’t lead into the corner and I was in too bigger gear but just managed to squeeze past right on the line,” Sherwell said.

“I really wanted this one it means so much I am lost for words."

Courtey Sherwell outsprints Justine Barrow to win.

Barrow a heartbreaking fingernail away from back-to-back titles to claim silver with Ella Bloor in third.

Brendan Johnston and Courtney Sherwell claim the elite titles at the Gravel National Championships.

In the Under 19 categories Ruby Taylor and Oliver Johnston would take the win.

Full results can be found here.

Photo Credit: Beardy/The Devils Cardigan