A LACK of experience in long distance races didn’t hamper Lauretta Hanson’s quest to become the innagral winner of the women’s Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
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The 20-year-old, from Fern Hill near Kyenton, put in an impressive performance to claim the women’s category in seven hours, 50 minutes and 57 seconds ahead of Miranda Griffiths and Chloe McIntosh.
“It’s a little surreal, I definitely was not expecting this,” Hanson said.
“I’ve had a pretty big season in America racing criteriums, so the longest race I’ve done this season is about 40 kilometres.
“This is definitely a lot longer than that. I’m stoked, it’s a tough race and a long day but I’m happy with the result.”
It was the first year a specific women’s category had been included in the race. Women have always been able to enter but rode in the men’s categories. Only 13 had ever completed the Classic before Saturday, where 19 lined up and 10 finished.
It was Hanson’s first attempt at the race and she said she tried to stay with the men for as along as possible.
“We got to about Camperdown, the 200-kilometre mark, and I got dropped on the hills,” she said.
“Miranda (Griffiths) and I were the only two girls left in that bunch.
“We then got into anther bunch, just the two of us with 20 or 30 other men.
“I just tried to sit in and hang on, and count down the kilometres.”
Hanson said she “just had enough left” to pull out a sprint in the final straight to get ahead of Griffiths.
She said it was wonderful to have a women’s category and thanked sponsor Anchor Point, Cycling Victoria executive board member Monique Hanly and the committee for their “phenomenal” support.
Hanson also thanked two-time classic winner Joel Pearson, who offered mentoring and in-race support.
“It feels like it’s your own race, you’re not just hanging in there with the men,” she said.
“It’s wonderful for the advancement of women’s cycling.”
Hanson said she was keen to defend her title in 2016, depending how she pulled up on Sunday.
“I’m just going to enjoy this one,” she said.
In other results, Queensland’s Ian Johnston took out the men’s B grade, Paul Scouller won the men’s C grade and wildcard entrant Wayne Hildred took D grade honours.
Edwart White took out the sprint championship and king of the mountain, while Samuel Hill won the Victorian 200km Championship.
