Lucinda Stewart claimed a sensational double victory at the 2025 AusCycling Road National Championships in Perth, taking both the elite and under-23 womenโs road race titles. Competing in her debut outing with the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team, the 20-year-old out-sprinted breakaway companion Ella Simpson on Fraser Avenue to seal her triumph.
Stewartโs achievement marks the first time since 2020 that a rider has claimed both titles in the same race, with Sarah Gigante being the last to do so. Reflecting on her success, Stewart said, โI still canโt believe it, honestly. Iโm just so happy and stoked and pleasantly surprised I was able to pull it off. As an Australian team, itโs so special to be able to take the jersey back to Europe.โ
Early Break and Tactical Moves
The race unfolded over eight laps of a 13.6km circuit, featuring punchy climbs through Kings Park, alongside the Swan River, and into the Perth city centre. The decisive moment came early, during the second lap, when a breakaway of five riders formed, including Stewart, Simpson, Cassia Boglio, Sophia Sammons, and Katelyn Nicholson. Lauren Thomas initially bridged to the group but couldnโt maintain the pace.
With no WorldTour riders in the break, the peloton hesitated, allowing the gap to extend beyond five minutes by the halfway mark. Despite attempts to organise a chase, the leading group worked cohesively to maintain their advantage, leaving the favourites struggling to make inroads.
Chase Efforts Come Too Late
As the laps ticked by, notable names such as Brodie Chapman, Amanda Spratt, and defending champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon launched multiple attacks from the bunch, but their efforts lacked coordination. By the penultimate lap, Spratt and Amber Pate broke away from the group in a last-ditch effort to bridge across. However, with the gap still at three minutes as the bell rang, the peloton was resigned to fighting for minor places.
At the front, the breakaway riders entered the final lap united. Simpson pushed the pace on the last climb up Malcolm Street, shedding Sammons and Nicholson. Stewart, however, timed her sprint perfectly, coming off Simpsonโs wheel and lunging across the line to secure victory.
Emotional Win for Stewart
After crossing the line, Stewart expressed her gratitude to her team and sports director Jess Allen, who had provided encouragement from the car throughout the race. โThose last three laps, I talked to Jess, and she said, โMate, we believe in you so much.โ I was so nervous, but it was great to hear that positivity. Iโm really proud to have pulled it off for them.โ
Stewart also spoke about her transition to the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team, which focuses on rider development. โIโve only been with the team for a week, but it already feels like home. Iโve looked up to the girls in this team since I was little, so itโs pretty cool to be part of it now.โ
This victory is a significant milestone for Stewart, whose cycling journey faced a major setback last year when a training crash forced her to miss the Australian summer racing season. She bounced back strongly, winning the Warrnambool Womenโs Cycling Classic and earning her first European contract. โWe knew there was a chance for a breakaway to stay away, and Iโm glad we played our cards right,โ said Liv AlUla Jayco manager Gene Bates. โLucindaโs performance today shows her potential.โ
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Main photo credit: Chris Auld/AusCycling