ProVelo Super League: Tristan Saunders storms to Grafton to Inverell victory

Tristan Saunders (Team Brennan p/b TP32) has joined an exclusive club of Australian one-day classic winners courtesy of a sensational performance at the the 64th Squadron Energy Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic.

Saunders has now conquered both the Grafton to Inverell and Melbourne to Warrnambool, the latter he achieved in 2023.

64 riders lined up in Grafton at the start of the day for the 230-kilometre race, with a particular focus on the battle between Butterfields Ziptrak Racing and Team Brennan p/b TP32.

Brennan were looking to defend the lead of SumUp ProVelo Super League leader Jack Ward, who was absent for the race due to the 2025 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships in Mt Buller, while Butterfields Ziptrak Racing's Zac Marriage, the winner of the 2023 Grafton to Inverell, was aiming to capitalise on this opportunity by bridging the points gap.

An aggressive start saw a breakaway of nine riders quickly establish a significant lead ahead of Gibraltar Range, with Team Brennan's Brendon Davids driving the pace. CCACHE x Bodywrap's Olympic team pursuit champion Conor Leahy.

The breakaway held a lead of seven minutes at the foot of Gibraltar Range, a gap that fell by nearly three minutes at the summit of the mountain under the impetus of COBRA9 x Leigh Surveyors.

That group was soon caught and another move followed, again led by Davids alongside Leahy and Connor Doyle from Butterfields Ziptrak Racing.

Team Brennan p/b TP32 held a numerical advantage behind in the chasing group and covered moves from Marriage.

As the finish approached a select group of riders bridged across to the leaders and immediately began attacking. This formed a lead group of five, including Will Cooper (St George Continental Cycling Team) and Marriage, along with Team Brennan p/b TP32 trio Davids, Saunders and Mark O'Brien.

In the final stages, Brennan launched a decisive attack with Brendon Davids, forcing Marriage to close the gap and drag a fast finishing Saunders to the line.

Saunders then launched off the back of Marriage, opening the gap and securing a well-earned victory in Inverell, ahead of Marriage and teammate Davids.

 "Brendo out the front all day was freakish and then when we got up the front to him he was still feeling a1, so it was awesome to get to the front, I mean I did nothing all day and had Marko testing everyone on the climb and all I had to do was just sit in and make it over the top," Saunders said.

"It's such a testament to how good this team is honestly, it was awesome to be a part of."

Results: Squadron Energy Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic

1. Tristan Saunders (Team Brennan p/b TP32) 5h38:51
2. Zac Marriage (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) +0
3. Brendon Davids (Team Brennan p/b TP32) +3

SumUp Men's ProVelo Super League – Standings after Round 5

1. Jack Ward (Team Brennan p/b TP32) 381 points
2. Zac Marriage (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing) 338 points
3. Brendon Davids (Team Brennan p/b TP32) 293 points

Feature image: Polizzi Studio / ProVelo Super League