SHE claims that she will never get used to riding in headwinds or the burn that comes with climbing Rockley Mount, but Bathurst cyclist Kirsten Howard certainly knows how to cope with those factors.

As Bathurst staged three rounds of the inaugural Cycling NSW Women’s Commission Series on the weekend, Howard twice stood on top of the A grade podium.

On Saturday she took out the criterium and placed fourth behind 2014 Blayney to Bathurst female winner Lyn Clarke in the time trial.

Then on Sunday Howard again out performed a talented field to win the 65 kilometre road race, beating out Clarke for the honours.

“It was really windy in the crit, but it wasn’t as bad as the time trial. In true Bathurst spirit there was a headwind at the finish up the back where there is a hill,” Howard said.

“I have never raced there when there hasn’t been a headwind, but I’ll never get used to it.

“For the criterium there was quite a good bunch, a few girls attacked early, but because it was so windy everyone tried to hide in the pack and get some protection.”

The criterium saw competitors race for 20 minutes then cover an additional three laps of the course. Howard remained hidden in the peloton until one of her rivals exploded off the front with the finish line in sight.

That move from a Hunter cyclist was meant to be the lead out for former Olympian and Australian champion Oenone Wood. However, it was Howard who took advantage.

“A Hunter girl took off and I thought ‘great’ and hopped on her wheel. I later found out that she was meant to lead out some other woman, whoops, but it worked out well for me,” Howard said. “She delivered me right to the line.”

Howard beat out Wood and Angela Smith in the sprint to the line to claim the honours.

“I was worried about her [Wood] in the crit, I thought she was the one to watch. I know she has been out of it for a little while, but I don’t ever think you forget tactics or lose that muscle jump when you just say ‘go now’,” Howard said.

“The drive she has, she knows how to hurt herself and she’s okay with that, and just her experience – it was amazing to beat a rider like that.”

In the A grade road race on Sunday, weather conditions were a little kinder and again Howard showed why she has quickly risen through the ranks to become a respected rider in the peloton. She beat Clarke with Nick Western third.

Howard was not the only Bathurst rider to find success either.

In B grade Toireasa Gallagher won the time trial over Faye Goodyear. 

Goodyear then turned the tables to beat Gallagher in the criterium with Jasmine Lee third, while she also took out Sunday’s 52km road race, an event in which Bathurst riders Stacey Fish (third) and Laura Renshaw (fifth) rode well.

In C grade Donna Scott was fifth in the road race and second in the time trial, while in D grade Cathy Adams was third in the road race and Rachel Lovett second in the time trial.

“We did fantastic, not only did all the members of our club perform well in their races, but the volunteers really banded together to put on those races for us,” Howard said.

“Without those volunteers we wouldn’t be able to race. I show up, I race and then I go home, but their job is not over.”