In just her second event, SUVelo Racing’s Lauren Fitzgerald claimed her maiden Subaru National Road Series stage win after beating Lucy Bechtel (Bicycle Superstore) and Justine Barrow (Building Champions Squad) in a sprint finish in stage two of the National Capital Tour.

On a cloudy Canberra day, the former basketballer and triathlete vindicated her decision to take up cycling by staying with a large break and then powering to the finish at Corin Forest.

“I have never felt like this before,” exclaimed Fitzgerald post-race. “I can’t believe it – I am so stoked! Last week at Amy’s Otway Tour was my first NRS race.”

“My background is basketball, and then I switched to triathlon about 10 years ago. The bike was always my strongest leg, I did some climbing while on holidays in Europe earlier this year, and just decided that I would turn my attention to racing.”

A nervy start saw the women roll out slowly from Rond Terrace in the heart of Canberra, before attacks began as the peloton rounded Lake Burley Griffin. In an ominous sign of her climbing prowess, Tour leader Ruth Corset won the first, second and third Queen of the Mountain sections.

“Two riders went off the front early, but we caught them,” said Corset. “There were quite a few attacks during the race, and I ended up getting some time bonuses on the climbs.”

The peloton split on the third Queen of the Mountain as they neared the finish, with a group of nine riders establishing a two minute gap from the chasers as they began the final climb. After cresting the mountain, a diminished group drove towards the Subaru arch with Fitzgerald finishing victorious.

“I was talking to Lucy Kennedy (QAS/CQ Emerging Talent Squad) and trying to get her to keep the pace on,” explained second-placed Bechtel. “She had a team-mate in there on second overall, so I was saying we really need to keep pushing. We came over the final hill, saw the big banner and then I gave everything – going as hard as I could to the finish.”

General classifications leader Ruth Corset finished in the bunch sprint just behind Fitzgerald and Bechtel to retain her jersey ahead of the final two stages on Sunday, further building her lead atop the Subaru National Road Series aggregate rankings.

“I’m still in yellow and have increased my lead,” said the Queenslander. “Tomorrow is a flat road race and then a criterium – I just have to make sure I go with the breaks and finish at the front.”

The Women’s National Capital Tour concludes on Sunday with two exciting stages. Canberra’s scenic highlights will be showcased with the 74.9 kilometre Service One Alliance Banking Road Race around Lake Burley Griffin from 8.00am, before the Tour wraps up with the Fitness First Criterium at Stromlo Forest Park.

Text via Cycling Australia Media Release

Images copyright Con Chronis