Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Premier Tech) has claimed one of the biggest wins of his career to take out the Westbridge Funds Road National Championships elite men criterium title in a dramatic final lap.
Massive crowds lined the 1.2km circuit through the streets of Northbridge, Perth, with a party atmosphere engulfing the precinct as Plowright sprinted to victory ahead of defending champion Sam Welsford (INEOS Grenadiers) and Kurt Eather (CCACHE x BODYWRAP).
Plowright’s critical move came with two corners to go, where he sneaked past home favourite Welsford to get in the lead position. Entering the finishing straight in front, he was able to hold his speed in the sprint to the line.
“It feels amazing, I can’t believe it,” said Plowright, the 25-year-old from Melbourne. “It is always nice to race in front of my family. I put a lot of pressure on myself, so to win is incredible.
“There was a question mark on my fitness, but after tonight, I think I’m okay.”
The 60-minute race was characterised by an early breakaway of local and domestic competitors, including Perth riders Tristan Nash and Stephen Hall.
That breakaway was controlled by Olympic track gold medallist Conor Leahy (Team Brennan) for their sprinter Tom Cornish, until the latter crashed with just three laps remaining.
With the peloton thinning from the attritional, technical circuit, hometown hero Luke Durbridge attacked late into the race, drawing out an enormous roar from the partisan crowd, which was five-deep in some places.
Ultimately, the peloton came back together for a reduced bunch sprint, where the fearless Plowright would not be denied.
Although a Perth victory was not repeated in the elite criterium, the hometown crowd had their win earlier in the afternoon when Jack Dohler (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) took out the under-23 men’s title in a sprint finish ahead of Brayden Bloch (Bondi) and Noah Blannin (CCACHE x BODYWRAP).
“It feels so special on home soil, it is unreal,” Dohler said. “It was so special to have everyone cheering me on, all my family and all my friends, very special.”
Earlier in the day, the junior men's criterium was won by William Brown (Port Adelaide) in a two-up sprint with breakaway companion Maxx Nuspan.
Results - Elite Men
- Jensen PLOWRIGHT (Alpecin-Premier Tech) 1h04:38
- Samuel WELSFORD (INEOS Grenadiers) +0
- Kurt EATHER (CCACHE X BODYWRAP) +0
- Brady GILMORE (NSN Cycling Team) +0
- Blake AGNOLETTO (Groupama-FDJ Conti) +0
- Liam WALSH (CCACHE X BODYWRAP) +0
- Thomas CHESTER (Canberra) +0
- Max CAMPBELL (CCACHE X BODYWRAP) +0
- Nicholas THOMPSON (Falcons Pedal Mafia Racing) +4
- Kelland O'BRIEN (Team Jayco AlUla) +4
Results - Under-23 Men
- Jack DOHLER (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) 55:04
- Brayden BLOCH (Bondi) +0
- Noah BLANNIN (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) +0
- Jackson MEDWAY (Tudor Pro Cycling U23) +0
- Thomas WAITES (Balmoral) +0
Results - Junior Men
- William BROWN (Port Adelaide) 35:45
- Maxx NUSPAN (Butterfields Ziptrack Racing) +0
- Connor WRIGHT (ARA Skip Capital) +58
- Lucas SOEGAARD (ARA Skip Capital) +58
- Oscar SCHOFF (Gold Coast) +58
Photos: Zac Williams and Chris Auld