Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist CHLOE HOSKING has secured her second overall Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits title with a powerful display on the streets of Williamstown, while World Champion Team Pursuit member SAM WELSFORD has claimed the men's event.

An early shower of much needed rain in the port suburb delayed the start of the third stage, but once the track dried the racing was on in earnest, with the top three in both the men's and women's races separated by just a few points

A crash on the final lap of the women's Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits has likely ended 2018 National Road Race Champion SHANNON MALSEED's summer campaign, after she was transported to hospital via ambulance. The Lexus team rider was involved in a crash with Brit MOLLY PATCH (Appselec) and EMMA CHILTON (Roxsolt Attaquer). Both of those riders were treated on site, and will be further assessed.

Malseed was conscious on the back straight, but in clear distress with medical diagnosis still underway at hospital to establish the full extent of her injuries - early reports indicator a suspected shoulder injury.

The 2020 Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits began under a hazy sky with smoke from the Victorian bush fires descending upon the Geelong foreshore earlier today.

But conditions cleared just in time for the elite women’s and men’s races on the tight Ritchie Boulevard circuit, with thousands of holiday makers enjoying a picturesque evening at the event.

In the men's it was Austrian Marco HALLER (Katusha Sport) who held onto the Lexus of Blackburn Yellow leaders jersey, finishing in fourth position behind stage winner Caleb EWAN (Lotto Soudal). Haller also took out the Gatorade sprint green jersey and Katusha won the teams title. Haller is the third international to take the crown.

Haller - "I'm relieved. It was a hard series. Happy to have it done, thanks to my team, thanks to Katusha Sport and Pushy’s. Super cool week, absolutely brilliant. To kick the new year off in style."
"We obviously didn’t want to take any risks, we were expecting Caleb to strike again so I wanted to make sure I finished within the ranks. I kept an eye on Raphael, I also had one eye on the green. I tried to cover everything a little bit but in the end I think it worked out."
"It’s super cool [to be on the honour roll], next year my name will also be there, people will think about me. Maybe I’ll be back next year to defend – you never know. Definitely proud I did it. I wasn’t even expecting to win one. As I said I had no idea where my shape was so maybe this was an advantage on the first day because I wasn’t on the radar for some guys."

The pace was forced early with Luke DURBRIDGE (Lexus of Blackburn) and Alex DOWSETT (Katusha Sport) relentless at the front, decimating the peloton and denying attacks. Roger KLUGE (Lotto Soudal) again did the heavy lifting for team mate Ewan and chased down all the breaks.

Brenton JONES (Lexus of Blackburn) finished second on the stage. The 2014 champion surprised Ewan by jumping on the penultimate corner, but Ewan had the firepower to get past again and claim the stage win. Heinrich Haussler (MS All Stars) was third on the day. 

​Australian based women's cycling team ROXOLT ATTAQUER has taken a clean sweep on the final day of the Lexus Blackburn Bay Crits - claiming the stage win, the general classification and the teams title - and all on team manager Kelvin Rundles birthday.

Defending champion, Italy's Valentina SCANDOLARA, outwitted overnight leader Chloe HOSKING on the final lap - beginning her sprint on the back straight to take out the bunch sprint and win the Lexus of Blackburn yellow jersey in Williamstown for the second time. 

Scandolara - "I’m especially happy to win the Bay Crits GC, because last time [2017] I won the first stage and I kept the jersey. To get it on the last day against riders like Wiasak, Hosking and Spratt – it’s special. And then for Peta to finish it off with the win, and today is our Team Managers birthday so it’s perfect – Roxsolt’s day!"

"I pride myself on that.. to be an adopted Aussie. I’m still half Italian as well so if I can beat some Aussies – I’m happy. I’m more and more in love with Australia. Peta was going to be my lead-out so I had to do a bit by myself because she was going for the win but I think I managed to stay calm to do what I really wanted to do, to counter attack but it turned out well."
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The versatile Peta MULLENS, a previous national champion on road, mountain bike and cyclo-cross, took the stage win after her team made an aggressive resolution to really mix it up in the race. Mullens was part of a small breakaway group that lapped the field mid race, meaning the peloton including Scandolara had to sprint for GC honours with 3 laps to go.

Commonwealth Games road race champion Hosking had some consolation with the Gatorade Sprint Ace jersey

Sprint King Caleb Ewan storms home for Debut Win with New Team in the New Year.
After a well documented tumultuous 2018, and a disappointing stage one at the Lexus Blackburn Bay Crits, Caleb EWAN has put it all behind him to claim his debut win in the colours of his new team Lotto Soudal.

His teammate Roger KLUGE, who also departed Mitchelton-Scott at the end of 2018, contributed a mountain of work to put Ewan in a wonderful position late in the race. Rival Brenton JONES (Lexus of Blackburn) suffered a late mechanical in the closing corners and was out of contention, paving the way for Heinrich HAUSSLER (MS All-Stars) and Marco HALLER (Katusha-Sport) to round out the podium.

"It feels good to get the year off to a great start and a win for my new team, Roger made it a little easier for me. He didn't even want to start today but I made him do it and I'm glad he did. This is the only race of the year that I can really ride aggressively and I think it makes it entertaining racing for all the fans".

"It's good to make up for yesterday and terrific to have that winning feeling again. It's a lot of change obviously this year ... it's probably the biggest change in my career so far. Last year was disappointing for me, so I really wanted to get this year off to a good start."
"It's so important to get that winning feeling back and hopefully it can continue on from here."

Superb conditions and tight racing at Ritchie Boulevard in Geelong saw the men's event become a war of attrition with the big name WorldTour riders forcing the pace early, and by the halfway mark the peloton consisted of just 19 riders.

Amongst the remnants Jay MCCARTHY (Novotel Geelong- City of Greater Geelong) Luke DURBRIDGE (Lexus of Blackburn), and HAUSSLER (MS All-Stars) all attacked consistently, before EWAN jumped off the front at the 41 minute mark of the hour long race. It took a few laps with Nathan HAAS (Katusha Sports) on the front of the chasers, for the race to come back together with riders legs burning.

HALLER (Katusha-Sport) maintains the Lexus Blackburn leaders jersey and the Gatorade Sprint ace title heading into the third and final day at Williamstown tomorrow.

In the women's event, CHLOE HOSKING (Lexus of Blackburn) claimed the honours on day two, setting up a three way battle for the overall title on the final day.

The Lexus Blackburn General Classification is now led by Hosking on 17 points, although defending champion Valentina SCANDOLARA (Roxsolt Attaquer) and individual rider and National Criterium Champion Rebecca WIASAK are both also on 17 points but without a stage win.

The 45 minute race saw early attacks from the Italian Scandolara and Wiasak, but the power of the Lexus Blackburn All-Stars ensured a win for the reigning Commonwealth Games champion.

"Ideally I wanted to go into the last corner at second wheel, so I stayed on the right and as soon as I saw her jump underneath me I knew it was on and it turned into a 200 metre sprint to the line. I really love racing at Geelong and the Bay Crits are a great way to start the season."

The Gatorade Sprint Ace title also belongs to Hosking who took key points on the technical 'hot-dog' criterium course.

Australian superstar Amanda Spratt (Lexus of Blackburn) has wasted no time in notching up her first victory of 2019, hammering her opponents with a solo win on day one of the Lexus Blackburn Bay Crits. It's the 31 year old's thirteenth appearance at the season opener, and sets her up superbly for the FedUni Road Nationals later this week.
“I’m really, really happy, it’s always the first race of the season and you’re not really sure how you’re going to go, but I was pleasantly surprised. I had a really good, uninterrupted pre-season of training and I’m very happy with where I’m at.”
“I was suffering out there, it wasn’t easy. I actually thought this course might be easier than the other way, but it’s harder. When I got away with Peta I know she’s a faster sprinter, so I didn’t want to take her to the line. I just had to keep attacking her on the climb.”

The Mitchelton-Scott rider's result also gives her ownership today of the Lexus Blackburn General Classification and the Gatorade Sprint Ace. While Spratt is part of the high-calibre LEXUS OF BLACKBURN All-Stars line-up for this event, it was individual riders who made up the podium, with reigning Australian Criterium champion REBECCA WIASAK (ACT) second and SHANNON MCCURLEY (VIC) third.

There are plenty of big names poised to pounce at tomorrow fast and furious tight track at Ritchie Boulevard.

In the men's race it was an international shoot-out with Austrian MARCO HALLER (Katusha Sport) getting the better of a five man breakaway that included German RAPHAEL FREIENSTEIN (Lexus of Blackburn), and Australian's MILES SCOTSON (SA), MICHAEL FREIBERG (WA) and REECE TUCKNOTT (WA).
 
The Austrian, who has battled back from a career-threatening knee injury that kept him out for almost 200 days, is also holding the Lexus Blackburn General Classification and Gatorade Sprint Ace.
"I was really excited to get it going, it’s obviously nice to have a test before the Tour Down Under. Awesome weather, awesome roads, awesome people – I really enjoy it."
"I didn’t really know where I was at, since I missed pretty much the whole last season due a severe injury. This basically was my first competitive race since my injury so therefore I’m very very happy to start it in this way. I had an incident with a car in training so I had a fracture of the left patella, it took me two surgeries and 190 days to come back on the bike. My career was in danger so I’m very happy to be back"

Hot favourite CALEB EWAN found himself a lap down after his seat post shifted and he was forced to have it adjusted, but it was deemed an 'unrecognised mechanical' and meant his race was all but over.