NCS Finale Recap – Trek Night Riders

The 2019-20 Cycling Australia National Criterium Series wrapped up with the Trek Night Riders in the Adelaide CBD with over 100 riders taking on the technical Flinders St circuit.

First up was the Elite Men, and unfortunately, the race was marred with crashes, with three consecutive first-corner pile-ups within the first 10 minutes.

Perhaps looking to stay out of trouble, Team BridgeLane and the Australian Cycling Team took control of the front of the race, stretching out the peloton making it safer for everyone. Nero Continental and Team BridgeLane took turns sending riders up the road, as Luke Plapp controlled the ever-thinning front group.

Alastair Christie-Johnston (Team BridgeLane) was the race’s main animator trying countless moves. By the race’s finalé there were only ten riders left in the front group. Tom Chapman lead the riders under the Flamme Rouge, with NCS leader and Australia’s most in-form rider Jensen Plowright in tow.

With a perfect lead-out from Chapman, Plowright rounded the final corner, opening up his sprint and was never in doubt, winning the men’s elite Trek Night Riders comfortably from David Randall (Butterfields- Insurance Advisernet p/b VDR team) and Cooper Sayers (Nero Continental). With that victory, Plowright seals his overall in the 19-20 Men’s NCS.

Next up was the Elite Women’s race with a stellar field as many of the WorldTour peloton remained in Adelaide following the TDU to compete in the Trek Night Riders.

CANYON//SRAM and Trek Segafredo were early aggressors, attacking the peloton relentlessly. Sarah Gigante (Tibco Silicon Valley Bank) opened up a gap on the field but was shortly bought back by the charging field.

Leigh Ann Ganzar (Rally Cycling) was the next to go, spending a sizable proportion of the race either on the front or off the front solo. With three laps to go, the race was all back together, however, it didn’t take long for Ganzar to go again.

As the bell rang for one lap to go Ganzar held a five-second lead over a very reduced peloton. With Trek Segafredo and CANYON//SRAM riding the front, it looked like she would be brought back before the finish.

Rounding the final corner it was still Ganzar solo with a slim lead. Impressively she held it to the line, going one-two with teammate and reigning Australian criterium champion Chloe Hosking, with Alexis Ryan (CANYON//SRAM) in third. Capping off a consistent season, Peta Mullens sealed the overall Women’s NCS victory.

Men’s Results
Jensen Plowright (Team BridgeLane)
David Randall (Butterfields- Insurance Advisernet p/b VDR team)
Cooper Sayers (Nero Continental)

Women’s Results

Leigh Ann Ganzar (Rally Cycling)
Chloe Hosking (Rally Cycling)
Alexis Ryan (CANYON//SRAM)

Overall NCS results
Women’s – Peta Mullens (ROXSOLT Attaquer)
Jensen Plowright (Team BridgeLane)