Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Giorgia Bronzini took a dominant sprint victory in the third stage of the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic – the Bay Crits – on the tough Portarlington, Victoria, circuit and further tightened her overall lead in the four-day event. The former two-time World champion was by far the fastest rider on the uphill finishing straight, winning by several lengths over Annette Edmondson (Orica-AIS) and Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized-Securitor) at the end of a race that saw just 21 riders finish.
“Today was a hard day, because of the wind, it was a really windy day and the short climb was tough,” said Bronzini afterwards. “But the team was so good in the whole race.
“Because we had Peta [Mullens] in the break we could wait for the other teams to chase it down,” the Italian explained. “Then, when we had four or five laps to go we were all together again, some riders tried to get into another break, but we were able to follow.
“We finished in a small bunch sprint,” Bronzini continued. “In the final Peta and Linda Villumsen gave me a lead out. In the last corner Tiffany tried to go into first position but I followed her and sprinted off her wheel and it was really perfect.”
Her second victory so far means that Bronzini now has a big overall lead in the race’s general classification and looks set to become the first non-Australian rider to win the Bay Crits title. Having made the breakaway again, Mullens also took a big lead in the sprint jersey classification, while Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling increased its overall advantage in the team competition.
“We are really, really happy and proud of that,” Bronzini said. “Tomorrow we will look to keep my yellow jersey, and Peta’s green jersey, and we will look also to win the stage, maybe with someone else.
“We will look to be strong, and to be the perfect team on the finish line,” she added.
The tough 45 minute race saw Mullens break clear with Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling teammate Charlotte Becker, and Italian Valentina Scandolara (Orica-AIS), shortly before the first intermediate sprint, which the 25-year-old Victorian was able to win.
Having led Mullens to the line Becker then dropped out of the break, and Gracie Elvin (Jayco National Team) was able to bridge across. Mullens then took the second sprint, before the trio was eventually caught by the peloton with four laps to go.
There then followed several attacks, but Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling was able to cover everything and, having been able to keep relatively fresh in the break, defending Bronzini, Mullens was able to lead the Italian sprinter into the finishing straight.
“I loved being in the break, knowing that I had the fastest sprinter back in the bunch,” said Mullens afterwards. “Obviously it wasn’t my job to do the work because we were clearly racing for Giorgia. However, I felt really great and I was able to take both of the sprints, and kept my legs really fresh for tomorrow.
“It was a great feeling to be a part of the team that won everything today,” Mullens added. “We’re racing better and better as a team every day.”
With just tomorrow’s final Williamstown race to go, Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling is poised to take victory in the individual, sprint and team classifications, and has a third stage victory in its sights.
“We had a great day today!” said team manager Rochell Gilmore. “I couldn’t ask for any more from the girls. We had a plan today, everybody was pretty motivated to see if it would work, and it did. So everything went perfectly.”
Result stage 3
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
2. Annette Edmondson (Orica-AIS)
3. Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized-Securitor)
General Classification after three stages
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
2. Annette Edmondson (Orica-AIS)
3. Chloe Hosking (Roxsolt)