Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Nettie Edmondson and Chloe Hosking finished the second, criterium stage of the Santos Women’s Tour in first and second places in an exciting 40-minute race around Rymill Park, in downtown Adelaide, South Australia. Double Track World Champion Edmondson was expertly led into the finishing straight by Hosking, who managed to hold off the attentions of Lizzie Williams (Orica-AIS) on the line.
“I’ve had quite a few thirds here, and I’ve actually finished third to Chloe and Rochelle [Gilmore, Wiggle High5 Procycling Team Owner and Manager] here so it’s pretty cool to have them on my side this time and the Wiggle High5 girls who backed me today,” said Adelaide native Edmondson. “I really wanted to get this one with a home crowd in my home city.
“The Orica-AIS girls hit us early in the back corner, they took it really wide and really fast, so Chloe, my lead out girl, led me out on the back straight. I just had to slip off her back wheel. For her to hold on for second is pretty incredible!”
With the race run over 12 laps of the 1.7km Rymill Park circuit, it was always going to be difficult for riders to escape the high-speed peloton. Several individuals tried, however, but Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling and the other sprinters’ teams kept things under control.
A crash brought down a number of riders midway round the final lap, but Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s sprint train was unaffected.
“In the end we had Peta [Mullens] and Lucy [Garner] and they did a really really great job,’ Hosking explained. “Coming into the last lap Peta was just jumping on everything. Then we got two Orica-AIS girls – Chloe McConville and Lizzie Williams – tried to jump us on the last corner so I told Lucy to go, and she went, so she took Nettie and I through that top corner.
“I had faith Nettie was on my wheel, I put her in position, and when I thought it was time to go I went and Nettie came over for the win. The last 400 metres was exactly how we wanted it”
Wiggle high5 Pro Cycling’s Dani King, who finished third on yesterday’s first stage, crossed the line safely in ninth place. Although she slipped down to fourth overall, she stays on the same time as race leader Katrin Garfoot (Orica-AIS) at the race’s midway point, and continues to lead the mountains competition.
Result
1. Annette Edmondson (Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling)
2. Chloe Hosking (Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling)
3. Lizzie Williams (Orica-AIS)
Photo Credit: Jarrod Partridge/JXP Photography