Winner of the national elite woman’s road criterium Kimberley Wells, left, edges out Loren Rowney (2nd) and Gracie Elvin (3rd) in Ballarat yesterday. PICTURE: ADAM TRAFFORD
PHOTOS: People at the criterium cycling
CANBERRA doctor Kimberley Wells is suddenly having to re-assess her cycling goals for the year.
She began with three objectives.
A gold medal in the Cycling Australia Road National Championships’ elite women’s criterium in Ballarat last night means she has already exceeded them.
Wells wanted to make the top 10 overall in the Bay Classic. She did it.
She wanted to podium in a Bay Classic stage. She did it with a win.
And she wanted to stand on the podium in the criterium in Sturt Street.
The 27-year-old, who undertook her medical in Northern Queensland before moving to Canberra, not only took a spot on the podium at the nations – she stood on top with a green and gold jersey.
Wells outsprinted Queenslander Loren Rowney in a photo finish to get gold in the 33km event.
Gracie Elvin, also of the ACT, claimed third.
Wells will now sit down with her coach, Olympic gold medallist and former national road time trial champion Sara Carrigan, to set new goals.
Wells was almost overwhelmed by her success.
“I’m over the moon.
“I am just amazingly happy.”
She said while doing a lot of work at the front of the race and using a fair bit of energy was not ideal, that was where she wanted to be.
“I felt I’d still be able to fight on (at the finish).”
In form in the lead-up, Wells said she felt she had a big target on her back, with rival not wanting her in a sprint finish.
“I had to go late. It was tight, but I held on.”
Wells said having only dabbled in the sport up to the past few years, now was the right time in her life to make a real go of it.
National women’s road coach Martin Barras said Wells was definitely attracting attention with her form.
“We started paying a lot of attention not just to her results, but the way she was racing,” he said.
“There’s obviously a lot of bridges to be crossed before we talk about national team, Europe, anything of that nature.
“But the one thing is a winner is a winner.”
Queenslander Emily Roper took out under-23 women’s title ahead of Jessica Munday (SA) and Jenelle Crooks (Queensland).
Bradley Linfield continued West Australia’s domination of the men’s championships by winning under-23 criterium title ahead of Joshua Taylor (NSW) and Andrew Martin (WA).
