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Caleb Ewan was denied an historic clean sweep and Chloe Hosking’s team had a double win on a dramatic last day of the Bay Classic cycling series.
A five-rider break nearly lapped the field in a chaotic men’s race on Monday at suburban Williamstown.
Ewan had to settle for fifth place behind New Zealand winner Greg Henderson, but the 20-year-old phenomenon already had an unassailable series lead after taking out the first three races.
Two years ago, Ewan was also the youngest series winner in the Mitchelton Classic’s 26-year history.
Hosking finished third in the women’s race to protect her narrow lead over Lauren Kitchen and win the series for the first time.
But their teammates were involved in a protest over who won the Williamstown race.
Hosking’s Wiggle Down Under colleague Georgia Bronzini crossed the line first ahead of Kimberley Wells, who rode alongside Kitchen in the Roxsolt team.
Wells protested, saying Bronzini had pushed her as they jockeyed for position going into the last corner.
Race commissaire Laurie Noonan ruled in favour of the Italian star after watching video footage.
“It was a protective move, it certainly wasn’t a dangerous move and it’s one that I’ve done and many other riders have done a million times in a bike race to stop being pushed too far off your own line,” Noonan said.
His verdict confirmed Wiggle’s second win of the series, after Hosking took out round one.
It is a major result for Hosking, who won bronze in the road race at the Delhi Commonwealth Games and also competed at the London Olympics and last year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
She admitted to not sleeping well on Sunday night, given she only led Kitchen by two points.
Hosking finished on 34 points, with Kitchen five points behind after she finished sixth at Williamstown.
Orica-AIS animated the race with a succession of attacks, but Wiggle were able to keep control and ensure Hosking would be near the front at the finish.
“When you have a team around you and you see they’re burying themselves for you, it gives you that little bit extra,” Hosking said.
“It’s one of the major races in Australia … to win it is special.”
Ewan had hoped to become the first rider to win all races in a Bay Classic series.
But the peloton inexplicably let the Henderson group gain too big an advantage.
“It didn’t really matter – it’s a little bit disappointing, but … we came here to win two races and the yellow jersey,” Ewan said.
“We’re happy.”
Henderson was clearly angry near the end of the race and later confirmed he was unimpressed with the tactics of some other riders in the break.
“I was a bit baffled – it just got me a little bit frustrated,” he said.
“(But) it was a nice victory.”
Young New Zealander Sam Dobbs finished fifth, but he was disqualified for joining the break illegally.
Ewan was given fifth place and finished the series on 42 points, a whopping 17 ahead of Henderson.
Ewan and Hosking will be among the favourites on Wednesday when the Australian road championships open with the criterium races in Ballarat.
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