Down Under Diaries.

Women's Tour Down Under 2020. Photo Essay

By Black Sheep Cycling

January 19^th, 2020

STAGE 1. HANHDORF-MACCLESFIELD. 116.3KM

"As the first race of the professional UCI season it was always going to be a nervous bunch, but at times it felt terrifying. The pace was steady but after a number of crashes, I couldn’t wait for the race to be over. The final few corners I felt at my best and just let it unfold in front of me. I was shocked to be sitting 3rd wheel and to see the finish just ahead. I knew I was exposed but I just had to keep driving and I still can’t believe no one came around me. After not feeling great all day, I’m stoked with the result and the team had a faultless day." – Matilda Raynolds

STAGE 2. MURRAY-BIRDWOOD. 114.9KM

A stage that was expected to come down to a select group and that’s exactly what played out. With 20km to go the big teams were driving it on the front and a selection made a break. SWR young gun was in the chase group and managed to bring herself into a very respectable 5th place, 6th on GC, among some of the world's best.

STAGE 3. NAIRNE-STIRLING. 109.1KM

With SWR young 'un Jaime Gunning sitting in 2nd on the Young Rider Classification – a jersey she won last year – Stage 3 was always going to be hard. It turned out to be harder than expected. But bike racing doesn't always go the way you planned. A mechanical ultimately ended Jamie's hunt for the white jersey. But the team didn't surrender, working hard all day against adversity.

Our goal in supporting SWR is to give Australia’s best female riders the opportunity to race again some of the worlds best – on our shores and overseas. On home turf, in the always sweltering South Australia the women proved they can more than hold their own. They may have relinquished the white jersey (for best young rider) they won last year. But there was certainly no surrender. The team fought against adversity, rallied as a unit and, as always, displayed immense teamwork and camaraderie, riding away with a second on Teams Classification. Bike racing doesn’t always go your way but this domestic team can dream big.