Lara Allen wins 14th edition of Toireasa Gallagher Women's Handicap

Contested across 18 kilometres, Allen took out the win in a time of 40 minutes and 22 seconds, breaking away from her co-markers in the final kilometres to win ahead of Jette McKellar and Brigette Evans in second and third respectively.

Kirsten Howard rode strong to take out the fastest time of the day in 33 minutes and six seconds.

Gallagher, the race's namesake, was on hand to present the trophy to Allen on what was a sunny but windy and cool Sunday morning.

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Gallagher said Allen raced well, being the 13-year-old's first ever time competing in the women's handicap race.

"She's been around for a long time now and last year she wasn't quite old enough to race, but this year it was her first," Gallagher said.

"She worked well with her group, which is the most important thing in a handicap, not going out on your own. Her group stayed together for most of the race, but she did split off to the top three.

"By the halfway mark, the top three were together and, experience on her behalf, it come down to the last few kilometres in the finish. She has that extra power now to ride away on her own to get the win."

Bathurst had been battered by wet weather in the leadup to race day but fortunately for riders, the sun was out, even though clouds were scattered across the sky.

Unfortunately for cyclists, windy conditions made riding a little bit tricky.

"It was sunny but windy. It wasn't perfect conditions," Gallagher said.

"The really windy days makes the handicapping hard. On a calm day you can probably predict how everyone can ride, but the wind just changes it. It's unpredictable and you give it your best shot.

"There was probably a two kilometre section where we had a tailwind or the rest you were riding into the wind or across wind, so we had to work hard for most of the way."

Riders started the women's handicap at the Bathurst Cycling Club's headquarters on the Vale Road, taking them through Georges Plains, turning around at the turn-off to Newbridge and taking them back to the club house.

Sunday's running of the Toireasa Gallagher Women's Handicap was the 14^th edition of the race, the first being held in 2008, the same year Allen was born.

The Bathurst Cycling Club also held a men's screamer scratch race on Sunday.

There were four classes, with class one honours going to Xavier Bland, ahead of Mark Windsor and Ray Thorn in second and respectively.

Rod Lovett won class two, Nathan Pearce won class three and Nev Krahe won class four.

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