Ruby Roseman-Gannon of Liv AlUla Jayco delivered a masterclass in tactical racing to win the elite women’s road race at the Federation University Australian Road National Championships, while Neve Bradbury from Canyon-SRAM secured the Under-23 title. The race, marked by its aggressive nature and strategic nuances, saw Roseman-Gannon assertively leading her team’s efforts. In a gripping finale, she emerged victorious in a challenging sprint, navigating wet conditions and a competitive field to claim her first elite national road race title.
Roseman-Gannon’s victory was a testament to her resilience and strategic acumen. Caught twice in the final lap, she used the final kilometre to her advantage, leveraging a powerful leadout from teammate Amber Pate. This strategy enabled her to outpace rivals like Lauretta Hanson of Lidl-Trek and Alexandra Manly of Liv AlUla Jayco, securing a well-deserved win. Overwhelmed with emotion, Roseman-Gannon expressed her shock and immense gratitude for her team’s support, emphasizing the collective spirit and emotional investment that contributed to her triumph.
The race unfolded with an early breakaway by Courtney Sherwell, setting the tone for a day of aggressive riding. As the race progressed, key contenders, including Sarah Gigante of AG Insurance–Soudal and Amanda Spratt of Lidl-Trek, injected pace into the proceedings. This move led to the formation of an elite group, with Hanson, Roseman-Gannon, and Nicole Frain among those taking charge at the front. But that was caught and a fresh attack saw Gigante, Spratt and Roseman-Gannon go clear. Despite the impetus from Gigante to keep the move going, the reluctance from Spratt and Roseman-Gannon to join in killed the move with 3km to go.
Photo credit: Darren Francis
Throughout the race, Ruby Roseman-Gannon and her teammates were consistently at the forefront of the action, with each lap bringing new developments and reshuffling of positions. As the final lap commenced, a series of merges between various groups set up a nail-biting finish. In the end, it was a sprint finish from a lead group of 11, with Roseman-Gannon demonstrating exceptional timing and racing intelligence to make her decisive move in the last kilometre, backed by her team’s strategic support.
This victory, coupled with her earlier criterium title, highlighted Roseman-Gannon’s dominance and signalled an outstanding start to the 2024 season for Liv AlUla Jayco. The team’s performance, resulting in a double medal haul, including a bronze for Manly, was a clear indication of their collective strength and tactical nous. As the only U23 rider in the front group, the U23 title was borderline uncontested at the finish line with Neve Bradbury taking the honours and trying to double up the victory with the Elite title.
2024 Australian National Championships Women’s Road Race result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: AusCycling
