Hosking, Welsford claim Bay Crits titles

A pre-race crash involving Lexus team mate Amanda Spratt and much needed rain slightly dampened Chloe Hosking's overall victory on the final day of the 2020 Bay Crits while Sam Welsford finished third to claim the men's title.

Chloe Hoskings wins Day 3 of the 2020 Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits Source: Con Chronis

While Spratt was not seriously hurt, she and another Lexus colleague caught up in the crash, Lauren Kitchen could not take to the start. A bit of a game-changer, Hosking said, especially after losing Shannon Malseed in yesterday's final-lap crash.

"I just walked into the camper and poor Loz and Amanda are in there looking very shaken and I was like ‘what is going on here,’ the Canberran said. "And then they couldn’t start so we had to re-evaluate really quickly."

"Instead of having an aggressive race like what we wanted to have, we had to go into more crisis management.

"It was just one of those incidents that happened in training, someone ran into someone else. I think Spratty might of hit her head, she’s ok she’s just resting and I’m confident they’ll both be up and racing at the nationals.

Hosking was surprised at her overall victory after winning her second stage in as many days, finishing just ahead of Lotta Lepisto (Trek-Segafredo) and Peta Mullens (Roxsolt Attaquer). 

"I actually didn't come in with any expectation to win," the 2015 Bay Crits winner 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."

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 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.

Winner of the Damion Drapac Trophy, Graeme Frislie with Michael Drapac Source: Con Chronis

In the Bay Crits Damion Drapac Trophy, named in honour of Australian cycling benefactor Michael Drapac's son killed in a car crash while cycling in 2019, Julian Thomson won the stage but Graeme Frislie stayed in yellow.

Michael Drapac presented the trophy, saying he was "overwhelmed when contacted by organisers and told the trophy would be named for his son."

"The Drapac family were huge for the development of my cycling club in Brunswick so it’s a massive honour for what this race means and to start off the year like this is pretty special," Frislie said. 

For full results visit the Bay Crits site.