Lifeplus-Wahoo round off Australian tour with Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

The Lifeplus-Wahoo squad rounded off their Australian campaign with the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Saturday, with top 30 finishes for the squad.

Taking on their second Women’s WorldTour race of the year after the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under, the team were determined to show their skill on the world stage once again. 

The tough 143km route saw the riders battle heat and wind in Geelong to make an attritional race, competing over a long lap before riding up the Challambra Crescent climb twice on a shorter circuit.

The peloton stayed together for the first 40km, with Lifeplus-Wahoo visible at the front of the race in their Maap kit, working well to control the speed, despite strong head and crosswinds.

A few attacks were made throughout the race, with the pace ebbing and flowing as the riders fought against the wind, slowing the pace and keeping the peloton together.

Coming into the first lap of the shorter circuit, Kate Richardson, Alicia Gonzalez, Kaja Rysz and Heidi Franz looked comfortable in the leading group. 

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez) attacked solo on the final ascent of the Challambra, with Rosita Reijnhout (Visma Lease a Bike) and Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) closing the gap.

The Lifeplus-Wahoo squad continued to work together to protect leader Franz, but having ridden incredibly well in our campaign of Australia on the road and gravel, the American was unable to find a good position in the final stages of the race.

The team rolled across the finish line with the main bunch to round out a fantastic opening campaign to the 2024 season in Australia. Rysz came in 25th, with Richardson and Gonzalez just behind in 27th and 31st, respectively. Franz finished 42nd after a tremendous effort, with teammates Karin Soderqvist in 61st and Kristyna Burlova in 66th.

The squad will now turn their attention to the spring classics over in Europe.