St George Cycling clubs Ashlee Ankudinoff, riding for the Specialized Women’s Racing team has won the Amy’s Otway Tour,one of Cycling Australia’s 2018 National Road Series races.
The two-day, two-stage tour featured an afternoon criterium on Saturday 15 September in Lorne followed by the Amy's Gran Fondo course around the Otway Ranges on Sunday.
A favourite going into the stage one criterium in Lorne, Commonwealth Games Gold medalist Ashlee Ankudinoff did not disappoint as the Australian Cycling Team member took the first stage win.
The peloton faced extremely harsh cold and wet conditions for their 25 laps of the one-kilometre circuit, and with the adverse weather affecting race safety, race organisers decided to give time bonuses to the top three finishers only.
“It was a tough and wet course, and I didn’t feel like I did too much – my team did an awesome job and it’s great to come away with the win” Ashlee said
Ashlee’s teammate Sharlotte Lucas and Sydney Uni-Staminade’s Georgia Whitehouse rounded out the podium.
On Sunday, Ashlee Ankudinoff sealed the Tour win with victory in the road race, with Sam Welsford (Australian Cycling Academy-Ride Sunshine Coast) taking the win in the men's stage.
In the 120-kilometre road race around the Otway region,and in similarly cold and wet conditions they faced in the criterium, the women shivered for the first 40-kilometres as they faced winding, sloping roads that opened up to the Great Ocean Road for the final run into Lorne.
As the group entered the final few kilometres, the Specialized Women’s Racing team were in total control, allowing a dominant Ashlee Ankudinoff to round off her successful tour with back-to-back stage wins.
“I’m feeling pretty happy and couldn’t ask for much more. It was a good day out for both Sharlotte Lucas and I and the team, and we’re over the moon.” Race winner Ankudinoff said
