You can watch daily highlights from the Tour of Gippsland on SBS On Demand, with Stage 3 broadcast live on SBS On Demand and the SBS Cycling Central Facebook page from 11.40 AEDT on Tuesday February 15.
The picturesque backdrop of the Bass Coast will play host for the Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland continues the National Road Series after the premier domestic cycling competition kicked off in Adelaide at the Festival of Cycling. The race will take place over three days from February 13-15, with the final stage in Rhyll broadcast on SBS On Demand and the SBS Cycling Central Facebook page from 11.40am AEDT.
Stage 1 – Woolamai Race Course loop
Tour of Gippsland 2022 Stage 1 route Source: Tour of Gippsland
This looks to be the hardest stage of the Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland in terms of climbing, with the Dayleston-Glen Forbes Rd climb (3.1km at 6.0%) and the Mill Rd climb (3.7km at 3.7%) both tricky ascents. The Mill Rd climb in particular contains a lot of short and steep ramps, with some brief descents and flat portions thrown in which drag down the average gradient but should make for an attacking ascent.
The cumulative effect of the climbs (3 times each for the NRS women) should prove the hardest aspect of the three days of racing, but it is one of those parcours where how the race is approached tactically will decide the outcome more than the route.
Stage 2 – Inverloch Road Race
Tour of Gippsland 2022 Stage 2 route Source: Tour of Gippsland
The Mount Misery (3km, 6.6%) comes relatively early in the race, with the women still with 62 kilometres to race. It’s unlikely that the climb will decisive in the battle for the stage or overall win, but it could impact the situation surrounding the early breakaway formation and tactics.
After the feature ascent, there are a series of short power climbs that come in quick succession over the remaining loop around Kongwak. The final 15 kilometre run into Inverloch looks relatively straightforward as long as the wind doesn’t get up, which should mean that a group will contest the flat sprint finish.
Stage 3 - Rhyll Criterium
Tour of Gippsland 2022 Stage 3 route Source: Tour of Gippsland
The 1.4km circuit along the waterfront will be a picturesque finish to the tour. It should be a fast finish, with the battle into the final sweeping corner all important as it comes with just 250 metres to go. A breezy day is forecast, with the finishing straight open to the wind.
Contenders
Sarah Gigante (Movistar) makes her return from a long layoff with heart condition myopericarditis, and while it is a return from almost seven months off the bike, it’s hard to leave her off the list of favourites. In recent years, Gigante has been near unbeatable at NRS level, dominating in her recent races at the National Tour in the Tweed and last year’s Festival of Cycling.
She'll be riding as an individual and won’t be in top form, but a look at recent Strava and Zwift activity indicates that she’s putting in a lot of training at present, and you get a sense that she’s not going to be shy about attacking.
Outside Gigante, it should be a very even race, a lot of teams bring in squads with a few standout riders and good strength in depth.
Roxsolt Liv SRAM have the pressure and prestige of being the frontrunners but will be without Australian National Road Race champion Nicole Frain for the race. Justine Barrow and Peta Mullens are co-owners of the team, and will be in the mix, with Mullens a contender in the harder sprint finishes, with Barrow one of the strongest in the hills. They also have a number of riders that have developed significantly over recent years, so it may be a case that they’ll be happy to see a break containing someone like Saffron Button get a big lead.
ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast bring Festival of Cycling stage-winner and overall podium finisher, Maeve Plouffe, to the race. She looks to be the fastest sprinter here, while teammate Dani De Francesco is more of a time-triallist and climber who showed in her Tour de Brisbane win that she doesn’t mind a long-range attack.
Knights of Suburbia are in a similar boat with leading pair Emily Watts and Georgina Howe. Watts took out a surprise sprint win at the Festival of Cycling, showcasing an improved sprint to go with her already strong all-round abilities. Howe comes from a rowing background and in her first major foray into the road cycling scene, she’s already made a big impression with her attacking style and big power output.
Inform TMX Make have Melbourne to Warrnambool two-time winner Matilda Raynolds and Amber Pate as their trump pair. Both seem to benefit from longer, harder races, with Pate in particular impressing with her attacking riding across nationals and as a guest rider for BikeExchange-Jayco at the Festival of Cycling.
Sydney Uni-Staminade are just as strong as the above teams, with Josie Talbot a strong sprinter who has been close to a number of wins already this year. Alyssa Polites is one of the most exciting young racing talents around at present, with this course looking to suit her abilities well.
You can watch daily highlights from the Tour of Gippsland on SBS On Demand, with Stage 3 broadcast live on SBS On Demand and the SBS Cycling Central Facebook page from 11.40 AEDT on Tuesday February 15.
