[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.93″]

With four kilometres to go, it seemed like Katrin Garfoot would pull of the TT/road race double (again). But in the final metres, Shannon Malseed sprint into the lead and into the green and gold jersey in the elite women’s road race.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.93″]

A script? In cycling? Are you kidding. Nothing goes according to plan. This is racing. Anything can happen and even if it seems that the win has been sealed by a solid attack in the dying kilometres that doesn’t mean that it will end that way.

Katrin Garfoot didn’t want to sprint against the young guns. But she did want to defend her title in the road race at the nationals. She is a class act who can put minutes into her rivals in a TT – as she did on Friday when she won another gold medals – and it was going well at the end of the road race.

But then she ran out of puff.

It happens. Even champions the calibre of ‘Kat’ can fade in the final metres.

She would be passed. She wouldn’t finish on the podium. She would be part of the talking points of an interesting race. But the champion is 23-year-old local Shannon Malseed.

In fine style, and as part of a quality international team (although she was the only representative in Buninyong) she burst past Garfoot in the final 50 metres and onward to a fine victory.

Shannon, we salute you!

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”on” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cervelo_rd.jpg” url=”www.cervelo.com” show_bottom_space=”on” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.93″]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.93″]

There’s a new Australian champion. The defending champion still has a gold medal from this year. Women’s cycling earned live TV coverage and the peloton put on a good show.

The sport is, evidently, evolving and although Shannon Malseed is a new name to many it seems likely that we will see a lot more of her in the years to come.

Below is the top 10 from the penultimate event of the national championships of 2018. And underneath that, you’ll find out second-last gallery from Ballarat/Buninyong from this year.

Big thanks to Jean-Pierre Ronco for providing the images promptly, professionally and, of course, with an eye on all competitors, not just the winners. And, finally, thanks to Cervélo Australia for sponsoring this series of features on RIDE Media this week.

 

* * * * *

 

Visit the Cervélo booth at the Tour Down Under (13-21 January) and test ride one of the bikes… and go in the draw to win an S3 Disc frameset.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”on” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Results-womenRR.jpg” url=”https://www.roadnationals.org.au/road-race-results.html#2_1902B9″ show_bottom_space=”on” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.0.93″]

Shannon Malseed admitted that she’d “only started following cycling five or six years ago” but she is now on the honour roll for the national championships: winner in 2018.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.0.93″]

This is the final instalment of the National Galleries, presented by Cervélo. Big thanks to Jean-Pierre Ronco for providing such a great collection of images and delivering them so promptly that they could be shared on social media within minutes of the races finishing.

To see more from the FedUni RoadNats, here is the list of galleries published on RIDE Media:

 

* * * * *

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” animation_direction=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-026.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” animation_direction=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-001.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” animation_direction=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-003.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” animation_direction=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-002.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” animation_direction=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-004.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” animation_direction=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-006.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” animation_direction=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.93″ src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-007.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-008.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-009.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-010.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-011.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-012.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-013.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-014.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-015.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-016.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-017.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-018.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-019.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-020.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-021.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-022.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-023.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-024.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.93″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https://www.ridemedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Elite-Women-Road-Race-025.jpg” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]