SOPHIE Mackay is re-assessing her cycling future after stunning her more fancied rivals to claim the national elite women’s criterium road title in Ballarat on Wednesday night.
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The little-known 30-year-old from Wagga provided a major upset to emerge from obscurity in the MARS Cycling Road National Championships.
The might of Orica-AIS was expected to dominate the 33km event.
And the powerhouse did just that until when it mattered most – on the line.
Victorian Lizzie Williams was left to fly the Orica-AIS flag in second position, with Laura Kirtchen (NSW) getting a bronze medal in the criterium for a third year in a row.
Mackay said the win was not something she had expected.
“It’s hard to believe. It’s a huge surprise.”
She said he had been working on her sprint over the past six months and this had paid off handsomely in what was a long sprint.
Mackay, who had only competed in the event once before three years ago, said it had just been a matter of “hanging in” to be in the finish after getting into the lead group.
“I was just hoping.”
With just the one victory behind her before this national title – the 2013 NSW road championship – Mackay said was probably going to have to lift her game now that she was Australian champion.
She said this was a huge step and hopefully would take her in the right direction with her cycling career.
Mackay said she had been relative late-comer to the sport, having only taken up road cycling about four years ago after moving across from triathlons.
She said it was initially a hobby while she was living in Western Australia before going to a more serious level.
Jessica Mundy (South Australia) claimed the women’s under-23 title, which was run in conjunction with the elite women.
She won from Shannon Malseed (Victoria), with Tayla Evans (Victoria) third.