Edmondson rides into yellow in Gippsland.

London Olympian Alex Edmondson (Euride Racing) has taken out a thrilling third stage at the Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland, the sixth event in the Subaru National Road Series. Edmondson, a reigning track world champion, took out the 90 kilometre road race from Leongatha to Yinnar ahead of Budget Forklifts teammates Jack Anderson and Sam Horgan. “I’m pretty ecstatic, it’s a pretty cool feeling to finally get a stage win,” Edmondson said. “This is huge for me; it’s been all about the track for the last two years since I came out of the juniors, so to finally get a result on the road is great.

“I hope this can be the start of something big and it’s great to be able to continue the winning for Euride,” Edmondson said of teammate Russell Gill’s victory on Phillip Island yesterday. The South Australian found himself in a break of 11 riders with 30 kilometres to race and out-sprinted the group which included Alex Morgan (VIS). The win puts the 19-year-old into the tour lead, five seconds ahead of Anderson and a further seven seconds in front of Horgan.

“I didn’t come here thinking I was going to be in the yellow but I know we have a strong team here so bring it on,” Edmondson exclaimed. On a course made up of undulating and rolling hills, the winning break was initiated by Anderson and Huon-Genesys pair Nathan Earle and Jai Crawford.

The trio made their move after the first king of the mountain section at 43 kilometres and quickly gained an advantage of 33 seconds before a large chase group, including Edmondson, caught the breakaway following a long descent in the hills outside of Yinnar. A crash in the main peloton hampered the chasing efforts allowing the leaders to gain an unassailable lead on the peloton and turned on themselves with Horgan attacking the group solo. The New Zealander dangled in front for 10 kilometres before being swallowed with 10 kilometres remaining.

With five kilometres to go, Morgan tried his luck at a solo victory forcing Edmondson’s teammate Harry Carpenter to chase hard to ensure the team made it back-to-back stage wins. “I blew the sprint I think,” Anderson said. “I was on Edmondson’s wheel and I thought I’d have a good crack at rolling him, but I think I got a bit excited and went too early. “In these kinds of tours it’s always good to be leading rather than chasing, and aside from one person, we’re right up there.”

Stage four of the tour will see two stages including a criterium around Sale before a 98 kilometre road race from Sale to Licola.

Cycling Australia Media Release.

Photo: Mark Gunter
http://markgunter.com.au/