Chloe Hosking and Sam Welsford take Bay Crits titles

Chloe Hosking and Sam Welsford claimed overall honours after a thrilling final stage of cycling’s Bay Crits in Melbourne.

Chloe Hosking sprays champagne off the podium at the Bay Crits in Geelong. Picture: Stephen Harman

Chloe Hosking and Sam Welsford claimed overall honours after a thrilling final stage of cycling’s Bay Crits in Melbourne.

Hosking won her second stage in as many days, finishing just ahead of Lotta Lepisto and Peta Mullen, to secure the women’s title, which she also won in 2015.

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“I actually didn’t come in with any expectation to win,” Hosking said. “I came into the week feeling a bit flat and just haven’t been thrilled with my pre-season preparation.

I feel like I’ve ridden into it and I’m starting to feel more fresh, more explosive, more powerful.”

Sunday’s final sprint was less dramatic than Saturday evening, when Hosking’s teammate Shannon Malseed ended up in hospital following a crash in windy conditions.

Former national champion Malseed broke her scapula in the incident and is awaiting advice from a surgeon.

In the men’s race, Welsford came third in the final stage, and was even lapped by Kaden Groves and Michael Freiberg, but did enough to take out the overall event.

“There’s a lot of history in this race,” Welsford said.

“I used to watch this race at home as a kid so for me to be on the top step and wearing this yellow jersey at the final stage is pretty special for me.”

Groves and Freiberg got clear after 10 minutes of the one-hour criterium and worked well together to build a massive advantage.

The summer of cycling continues in Ballarat on Wednesday when the Australian road championships get underway with the time trials.

AAP