SHE may not have been a threat in the battle for general classification honours or have a stage win to her credit, but Kirsten Howard did draw attention in the penultimate leg of the Women’s Tour Down Under.
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The Bathurst cyclist contested the third edition of the annual tour, which concluded on Tuesday night, as a member of the New South Wales Institute of Sport-Sydney Uni team.
Her job within the six-rider outfit was to work for team leader Lauren Kitchen, but in doing so Howard produced some impressive rides.
In Monday’s third stage, a 92.4 kilometre road race which took riders from Tanuda to Lyndoch in the Barossa Valley, Howard showed the confidence gained from a season in Europe when she attacked.
Honda Cycling’s Erin Kinnealy had earlier made a successful solo attack off the front of the peloton, but as her lead dwindled on the approach to the the first of two ascents of the category three Whispering Wall climb, Howard launched.
While it was a bold move, Howard and Kinnealy were soon brought back to the bunch as ORICA-Scott came to the front of the peloton and inspired a successful chase.
In the end the Bathurst talent crossed the line in 40th position, the third rider home in the chase bunch which was one minute, 26 seconds down on stage victor Chloe Hosking.
It meant Howard was 37th in the general classification heading into the final stage – an evening criterium at Victoria Park.
Hosking won the stage in a time of two hours, 21 minutes and 56 seconds, while Kitchen was given the same time for placing 15th.
"To start off with a win already this early in the season is really great," Hosking said.