Australian cyclist Sam Welsford and Italian Martina Fidanza emerged victorious in their respective races at the inaugural Cadel’s Criteriums held in Geelong’s Eastern Gardens on January 29, 2024. These events provided a valuable opportunity for both men’s and women’s teams to showcase their talent following the cancellation of the Surf Coast Classics due to community impact.
In a collective gesture of support, all participating teams agreed to donate their prize money to communities affected by the Surf Coast incident. The compact 2-kilometre circuit featured a challenging climb 500 metres before the finish line, delivering the high-speed, technical racing that fans anticipated.
Fidanza, racing for Team Visma-Lease A Bike, capitalised on her team’s strategy during the 20-lap women’s race, culminating in a dramatic bunch sprint. Her victory came after her teammates executed early breakaway attempts, allowing Fidanza to conserve energy for the final sprint. She finished ahead of fellow competitors, Marta Lach and Barbara Guarischi from SD Worx-Protime.
After the race, Fidanza praised her team’s effort. “Our plan was to focus on my sprint, while the others aimed for breakaways. It was perfect teamwork,” she stated. She expressed excitement about her improving form after a late start to the season and highlighted the importance of the race for the affected community. “I was really excited to race, and I think it was a good decision to honour the Surf Coast Classic with this criterium,” she added.
The results of the women’s Cadel’s Criterium featured the following top five finishers:
1. Martina Fidanza (TVL) [Italy] 00:53:06
2. Marta Lach (SDW) [Poland] +0
3. Barbara Guarischi (SDW) [Italy] +0
4. Georgia Baker (LIV) [Australia] +0
5. Josie Nelson (TPP) [Great Britain] +0
The men’s race followed immediately, with Welsford leading a surprising breakaway of eight riders to clinch victory. He completed the 25-lap, 50-kilometre race against strong competition, including Australian Jenson Plowright and Italian Matteo Sobrero.
Welsford remarked that the race proved to be more challenging than he anticipated, especially given the dynamics of the breakaway. “It was a hard race, but I didn’t expect to win in a breakaway. In these criteriums, anything can happen,” he explained. Welsford and his breakaway group managed to establish a lead of over 30 seconds before the peloton began to chase in the last five laps.
As the race neared its conclusion, Welsford demonstrated tactical finesse, ensuring he had enough energy left for the final sprint. “There were a few games being played in the last couple of laps, but we are super happy to get the win today,” he noted. His victory sets a positive tone for his team, INEOS Grenadiers, ahead of the Elite Men’s Race scheduled for January 31.
The top five finishers in the men’s Cadel’s Criterium were:
1. Sam Welsford (IGD) [Australia] 00:59:09
2. Jensen Plowright (APT) [Australia] +0
3. Matteo Sobrero (LTK) [Italy] +0
4. Laurence Pithie (RBH) [New Zealand] +0
5. Kelland O’Brien (JAY) [Australia] +0
The weekend’s events, supported by partners including Mapei, reflect both local and global backing for the broader Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race festival, fostering a sense of community and competition in the face of recent challenges.
