Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Eileen Roe took her third podium finish of the Australian summer as she sprinted to second place in the Shimano Supercrit, in St Kilda, the suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. Just as the previous races in Launceston, Tasmania, had been, the aggressive hour-long event saw a battle between Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling and the Roxsolt team, with Kimberley Wells just hitting the line first. Roxsolt’s Chloe Hosking, who will be joining the black and orange team in 2015, took third.
Despite several attacks involving Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s riders, with Australians Georgia Baker, Peta Mullens, Jess Mundy and Rebecca Wiasak, along with New Zealander Emily Collins, nobody was able to decisively break clear of the peloton. As the Roxsolt team guided Wells into the final straight, British Criterium Champion Roe came within less than a bike length of presenting Managing Director Rochelle Gilmore with the gift of a victory for the team on her birthday.
“I’m happy with the result, for sure,” said Roe afterwards. “I think it was always going to be a sprint finish, and Kimberley Wells is going so well at the moment that it would take something really special to beat her. Her team did ride for a sprint finish; they chased everything down, and didn’t work in any breaks that went, so it went down to a sprint finish and second was really the best we could have come away with today.”
Having signed for Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling in October, Roe is spending the Australian summer in the southern hemisphere for the first time; something that is very different to her usual winters in Scotland.
“It’s been a blast. I’m really, really enjoying myself,” she said. “I think everybody’s really looking forward to the big hitters coming down here for the Bay Crits [in January].
“I’m getting snapchats and being called to say that it’s snowing back home, so I think if there’s a little bit of rain here in Sydney I really shouldn’t complain!” Roe laughed. “I’d rather have rain than snow, that’s for sure!”
Since travelling to Australia, Roe has taken three podium finishes in three races and, while her first win has eluded her so far, she is both happy and surprised with her form after the long European season.
“I’m actually a bit surprised about how well I’m going,” Roe said. “Considering I’m just coming from the UK, and a miles base, to come out here and be thrown straight in at the deep end; to be on the podium of every race I’ve done.”
“I think Rochelle’s really happy, because it shows that, when you’re not on form, you can still have the drive and be tactically switched on. I think she’s pleased with how the results have gone, and I think the team’s going to be really, really good for the Bay Crits.”
Result
1. Kimberley Wells (Roxsolt)
2. Eileen Roe (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
3. Chloe Hosking (Roxsolt)
