Peloton Cafe || 2015 Mersey Valley Tour Stage 1 – Bridie O’Donnell (image copyright Caniluna)
Victoria’s Bridie O’Donnell (Total Rush) once again proved she is the fastest against the clock, winning the opening stage time trial at Tasmania’s Mersey Valley Tour for the second year in a row.
A former Oceania and Australian time trial champion, O’Donnell blitzed the 16.8 kilometre out-and-back course to stop the clock in a time of 22 minutes, 55.75 seconds – 0.65 seconds faster than her time in 2014.
2015 Mersey Valley Tour: Women’s Stage 1 ITT Results
“I’m so happy, I really wanted to win this,” said O’Donnell who set out in perfect conditions, one minute behind reigning individual pursuit world champion Rebecca Wiasak (High5 Dream Team).
There is a better calibre field here than last year, and so I was really paying attention to [the time trial specialists] Felicity Wardlaw, Rebecca Wiasak and Lucy Coldwell who all ride well, even watching Anna-Leeza Hull (Specialized Securitor) who is doing some good work on the time trial bike.”
O’Donnell took out the stage five seconds ahead of Lucy Coldwell (23:00.27 / Holden Women’s Cycling) and 21 seconds faster than 2014 time trial national champion Felicity Wardlaw (23:16.94 / Bicycle Superstore).
“Going off about 10 minutes before the final riders meant it was very important to keep a very strong rhythm, and to keep Rebecca Wiasak in my sights – she is a world champion after all,” remarked O’Donnell.
“I was actually really nervous, as [Wiasak] is always really consistent even though this wouldn’t necessarily be her favourite distance. I knew it was important for me to start a little harder, and with about two kilometres to go, I could see she was close and that made me all the more desperate to catch her.”
O’Donnell will wear the leaders jersey in stage two’s 80km Sheffield road race with the 2014 Tour champion, Ruth Corset, now a teammate.
“It is really important for the team to keep the yellow jersey. We have come here with big expectations, we want Ruth to win the Tour again and want her to ride really aggressively over the next couple of days.”
The Tour will run from Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3 and also features an under 19 junior men’s event which doubles as a selection race for the UCI Junior Road World Championships.
Highlights from the Mersey Valley Tour will be broadcast on the Nine Network’s GEM channel on Sunday, May 10 at 12noon AEST and 11.00am AWST and on Fox Sports 5 on Tuesday May 12 at 6:00pm AEST (check local guides).
Text via Cycling Australia Media Release
