Brodie Chapman has embodied grit and determination to lead home the ARA Australian Cycling Team in a brutal elite women’s road race at the UCI World Championships.
The Queenslander, 34, finished 19th after fighting back from an untimely puncture, then counter-attacking to put herself back into contention.
Five riders from Australia – with notable absences from Neve Bradbury and Sarah Gigante due to illness and injury – lined up for the 164.6km race over 11 laps of a hilly circuit in Kigali, Rwanda.
Australia fielded a team of five riders. (Simon Wilkinson / SWpix.com)
The course was defined by two steep climbs, principally the 1.3-kilometre Cote de Kimihurura, a cobbled ascent with gradients of up to 11% that nominally peaked with 1km to go, but continued to rise all the way to the finish line.
The first half of the race was a slow burn, with the peloton staying largely intact behind a solo leader from Austria. From the halfway mark, however, the race began to ignite with attacks from the peloton.
With 45km and just over three laps to go, Chapman suffered a flat tyre near the foot of the cobbled climb. As she chased to close a minute deficit, Amanda Spratt attacked over the top, looking to keep Australia on the front foot.
After Spratt was reeled back in, Chapman and Lauretta Hanson – who had also been dropped – returned to the peloton. first Spratt, then Hanson immediately set to work to chase down a dangerous group of eight riders who had clipped away.
On the next ascent of the cobbled climb, Chapman and Spratt set their own pace and just about returned to the rear of the peloton over the top.
Spratt and Chapman both spent time on the attack. (Simon Wilkinson / SWpix.com)
With 28km remaining, and now a dangerous group of 10 riders up the road, Chapman went from the back of the peloton to the front, attacking with riders from New Zealand and Norway. The trio slowly began to close the gap to the leaders as behind, the peloton sat up.
While Chapman’s group was not able to reach the front of the race, she gave herself a headstart on the last ascent of the Kimihurura, ensuring that when the favourites attacked, Chapman tagged onto the back of them across the finish line with one lap remaining.
Not ready to give up, on the last lap Chapman counter-attacked one more time, trying to follow the move of Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser.
Although she was unable to make the junction, Chapman pushed all the way to the finish line, earning a top-20 place that belied her indefatigable attitude.
Chapman earned Australia's best result after a gritty race. (Chris Auld / SWpix.com)
From the front group, Canada’s Magdeleine Vallieries took a surprise victory as the pre-race favourites marked themselves out of contention.
More to come.
Results – Elite Women Road Race
🥇 Magdeleine Vallieries (CAN) 4:34:48
🥈 Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL) +23
🥉 Margarita Victo Garcia Canellas (ESP) +27
19. Brodie Chapman (AUS) +2:04
30. Amanda Spratt (AUS) +6:26
33. Lauretta Hanson (AUS) +9:13
52. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS) +16:21
DNF. Alexandra Manly (AUS)
Feature photo: Zac Williams / SWpix.com