A momentous start in Australia
In their first team race of the year, Heidi Franz, Leigh Ann Ganzar, Sara Poidevin, and Krista Doebel-Hickok, banned together to look after and deliver Chloe Hosking into the stage 1 finale of the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under. Hosking unleashed her sprint to win stage 1 convincingly and move into the overall race lead.
- Kristabel Doebel-Hickok arrived in Australia looking to improve on last year’s fourth place overall.
- Leigh Ann Ganzar suiting up for her first race with the team.
- Sara Poidevin laser-focused during the pre-race meeting led by team director Joanne Kiesanowski.
- Hosking giving a local television interview.
- Opening kilometers of stage 1.
- Santa took time out from his holiday to watch the race.
- Poidevin at the head of the bunch.
- Ganzar took a massive pull inside the final 3 km to reel in the solo leader and help set up the field sprint for Hosking.
- A few locals tried keeping up with the ladies. It didn’t work out.
- A powerful sprint for a resounding victory. Hosking wins the first UCI stage of the season.
- Plenty of time to post up for the home crowd favorite.
- What good is a victory if you can’t share it with your friends.
- All the feels.
- When everyone is commited to the same goal, everyone wins.
- There is truly nothing like it. The joy of victory.
- This is a pretty standard face for Heidi Franz.
- Blue sprinter’s looks great but not as good as the leader’s ochre jersey!
- Hosking now leads the overall by 4 seconds.