Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ) launched the sprint early at the Geelong Classic and then there was no catching the Italian who claimed the mid-week criterium leading into Saturday’s Women’s WorldTour event at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
Georgia Baker made a valiant attempt at hunting her down, but the Liv-AlUla-Jayco rider was left to settle for her third visit to the second step of the podium in a season that is just weeks old. Francesca Barale (dsm-firmenich PostNL) took third.
“It was a strange finish because I felt the peloton was coming super fast and we were all in the gutter near the fences so it was a close finish," Bertizzolo said after heading to the podium. "Then I heard also in the back that there was some crash.
"I was not ready to start the sprint but then I thought somebody will overcome me so I just went super long and when I saw no shadow behind me then I thought, it’s done,” said Bertizzolo of the moment she knew she could get ready to celebrate victory.
