Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Peta Mullens once again proved that she is one of the fastest sprinters in Australia, as she took a closely fought Melbourne Kermesse Championships, on the roads of the Victorian capital’s Caribbean Park on Sunday. Despite having won a mountainbike gravity race in the morning, the 26-year-old from nearby Bendigo managed to just edge out Kimberley Wells (Roxsolt) in a close photo-finish. Rebecca Wiasak (Jayco-AIS), who will soon be riding in the black and orange jersey of Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling, finished in third place, just behind the winning sprint.
“Lucky the race start was delayed due to a crash in an earlier grade because I was commuting from a morning MTB race and arrived after the advertised start time!” Mullens laughed after the race. “Bec was showing strong form early on taking out the first two primes despite suffering jetlag after returning from the track World Cup in Mexico last week.
Despite numerous attacks on the rolling course, including a late solo move from Taryn Heather (Roxsolt), nobody was able to make anything stick. With many of Australia’s fastest in the line up, a final sprint was almost inevitable, but a late move from Wiasak threatened to deny them at the last.
As they hit the line, Mullens just managed to throw her front wheel ahead of Wells’ to take the victory by little more than the width of her Campagnolo Bora rim.
“I tested the legs a few times and tried to initiate a breakaway but there was always a team out of the mix to bring it back,” explained Mullens, who was the only rider in the colours of Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling in the race. “We were quite outnumbered.
“I felt better as the race went on but still wanted to back Bec in the sprint,” Mullens explained. “The planned changed in the final kilometre though, when she saw an opportunity and went for it. The move was covered but I was wide awake and jumped on the chase to get a free ride into the finish. When Bec pulled off I took a deep breath then timed my sprint and throw to perfection it seems.”
“Bec will be a great asset for the summer team,” Mullens added. “The only asset more valuable than her talent is her personality!”
Result
1. Peta Mullens (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
2. Kimberley Wells (Roxsolt)
3. Rebecca Wiasak (Jayco-AIS)
