Victorian Sean Lake claimed the Oceania Road Championships elite men’s road race in Bendigo on Saturday after a mesmorising climb over the top of Mount Alexander.
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In stifling conditions, Lake won by eleven seconds ahead of Brendan Canty, while former Bendigo resident Mark O’Brien finished with bronze.
Barker’s Creek’s Lachlan Norris was fourth, while Bendigo’s Sam Crome was seventh.
“Absolutely stoked,” said Lake. “It was a good surprise coming out with the road race and it was a really tough race, which makes it even more special.”
Lake went solo halfway up the 746m Mt Alexander climb after dropping Nathan Elliot and was never seen again.
Lake and Elliot broke at the 100km mark from a group of 42 riders and got to a lead of one minute and thirty-five seconds.
O’Brien, Canty, under-23 winner Michael Storer and Norris maintained a 22 second deficit to Lake in the final kilometres, but couldn’t bridge the gap.
Lake who won the time-trial on Thursday, was ecstatic with his week.
“It was super special to get the double,” said Lake.
In the under-23, Storer won by two minutes and 43 seconds to Chris Harper in second and Cyrus Monk in third.
Victorian Shannon Malseed claimed overall honours in the elite and under-23 women’s road race.
Malseed was too strong in a sprint line finish at the end of the 109km course against Jessica Mundy and Lisen Hockings.
Bendigo’s Peta Mullens finished 13th, three minutes behind Malseed.
“I came in today pretty relaxed,” said Malseed.
“Didn’t have too much expectations, but knew I wanted to get a head start in front of Kat (Garfoot) and Ruth (Corset) and all those good climbers.”
Malseed was in an initial breakaway of 11 riders that formed at the 26km mark that also included second placed Mundy.
Malseed was one of three riders that went over Mt Alexander as leaders, including Louisa Lobigs and Loren Rowney.
With temperatures reaching the high 20’s, Malseed’s group of three was caught and the leaders grew to 12 with 20km to go.
Malseed broke away with Hockings and Mundy at the 15km to go point and they were never seen again.