Kimberley Wells turns the tables on friend Gracie Elvin to claim stage win in Bay Cycling Classic series

KIMBERLEY Wells ­delivered a timely reminder of claims to a third national criterium title with victory in the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic series at Geelong.

2016 Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic: Elite Women Stage 2 at Eastern Gardens Geelong, Stage winner Kimberley Wells celebrate's her win over Gracie Elvin. 2nd January 2016. Picture: Colleen Petch.

AVENGING two losses in 24 hours to rival and friend Gracie Elvin, Kimberley Wells ­delivered a timely reminder of claims to a third national criterium title with victory in the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic series at Geelong.

Frustrated after being crowded while finishing third behind Elvin at Ritchie Boulevard on Friday, Wells on Saturday atoned by accelerating early into a headwind on the final lap at Eastern Gardens.

The tactic worked superbly as Wells (High5Dream Team) held off Orica-AIS pair Elvin and Sarah Roy.

The victory moved Wells to within two points of Elvin’s series lead - and also ended Elvin’s dominance.

“The element of surprise was important,” Wells said.

“Gracie and I are great mates off the bike, but we both love to win.

“She beat me in Scrabble last night, too, so it was good to get the win today.”

A medical doctor, Wells is targeting another win at Portarlington on Sunday as she bids to reinforce status as the nation’s premier sprinter at the Australian titles at Ballarat.

“I’m definitely the fastest, these stripes (national championship hoops) denote that,” she said.

“It’s definitely a big target on my back and it makes it hard for me and my team-mates with that big onus on us.”

Stage winner Kimberley Wells has moved within two points of the series lead. Picture: Colleen Petch

Wells paid tribute to her teammates after their sacrifices on a windswept 1.9km circuit.

“It’s the kind of course that lends itself to a breakaway or it could come down to a bunch sprint,” she said.

“There’s a little bit of wind out there today, which changed the dynamic of the race.

“But I had these great girls from the High5Dream Team doing a lot of work, policing things, deciding whether to go or not to go.

“Ultimately, it paid off.

“Orica were trying to line it up for a lead out.

“Tessa (Fabry) had done a big job chasing down the two riders out the front.

“And then I had Jess Mundy just before the hill, just giving me a few moments of respite.

“I decided in my head to go early.

“I really hit the Orica squad hard because I didn’t want to get boxed in like yesterday through their sheer volume of numbers.

“Look it really hurt to go early and I could feel Gracie there behind me but I just dug it in, given the work the girls had done for me, and got the win.”

Elvin, who retains the yellow leader’s jersey, admitted Wells had caught her by surprise.

“She got the jump on us,” Elvin said. “She was too strong.”

Lauretta Hanson, who won both sprints on the opening day and finished first and third in the interval sprints, retains the green jersey.

The Bay series resumes from 11am today at Portalington before transferring to Williamstown tomorrow.

The summer of cycling includes the Herald Sun Tour from February 3-7.