Chapman new road race champion

BRODIE Chapman has celebrated her move to Trek-Segafredo in fine style, taking out the elite women’s race at the Australian road cycling championships.

The 31-year-old launched a solo attack early on the last of nine laps around the testing Buninyong circuit and stayed clear to the finish.

Pre-race fancy Grace Brown riding for FDJ won a sprint for silver 31 seconds later to finish runner-up for the third consecutive year.

In doing so, Brown denied Trek-Segafredo a one-two, with Chapman’s new teammate and three-time national champion Amanda Spratt finishing third.

Australian WorldTour team Jayco-AlUla’s strong seven-rider contingent had been favoured to provide the winner of the 104.4-kilometre race, but could only manage fourth, with Ruby Roseman-Gannon just off the podium for a second straight year.

Trek-Segafredo’s three-rider team nailed their tactics, with Lauretta Hanson doing plenty of grunt work to pave the way for Chapman and Spratt to reach the podium.

“It feels as good as I expected,” Chapman said. “I was so nervous. This race means so much and our team of three just played it perfectly.

“In our first race together, we just couldn’t be more stoked.

“I’m so stoked to be back here [in Australia] and be national champion.”

FDJ teammates last year, Chapman and Brown embraced after the finish and were quickly joined by Spratt.

Chapman’s bold move on the final lap of the 11.6-kilometre circuit paid huge dividends.

“I’ve been really working on my long efforts. That’s my strength and I used that today,” Chapman said.

“I had no worries because I knew Spratty was behind and Lauretta had been up the road all day forcing the chase, so it was just perfect.

“I didn’t look back too often. It’s not over until it’s over.

“I could’ve crashed, it’s not over until you cross the finish line… and I did it.”

Ella Simpson finished ninth to win the under-23 category.

Ruth Corset had been a threat on the climbs but crashed on lap eight with less than 17 kilometres to go, when her front wheel came out from under her leading into a right-hand turn.

Corset recovered to finish in 15th place.

– BY SHAYNE HOPE/ AAP