Pate dominates in Perth as Liv AlUla Jayco retain Australian Criterium crown

Friday, January 10, 2025

Amber Pate destroyed the field in the Australian Women’s Criterium Championships as she soloed to her second national title in the event and secured her second medal in two days in Perth.

Liv AlUla Jayco headed into the race as the team to watch, boasting a strong line-up that included two former winners in Amber Pate and defending champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon alongside the debuting Josie Talbot.
 
It was a typically cagey start to the action until Pate shook things up with an early counterattack aboard her team EnviLiv Advanced SL. Only U23 rider Keira Will reacted to the move with the pair quickly opening up a sizeable gap as they worked together to build their advantage.
 
The duo began to edge closer to lapping the field as the peloton failed to organise a significant chase with Pate’s teammates patrolling the attacks behind. Then with the rear of the bunch almost in her sights, Pate launched solo, accelerating away from Will to come within touching distance of the pack.
 
With the catch now inevitable the race organisers made the decision to shorten the race and as the peloton sprinted for the minor places, Pate was able to savour the moment on the final lap.
 
The victory means the criterium title stays within Liv AlUla Jayco for another year with Pate and Roseman-Gannon sharing the spoils over the last four seasons.
 
Amber Pate – 1st Place 🥇
“I’m really happy, honestly. I’m just glad to pull it off. I knew I could go long, but I didn’t know how long I could go for, I’m a bit tired from the time trial, but I knew I had a long attack in me and I just thought ‘let’s get fighting, corner well and recover in the corners’.
 
I’m really proud to pull it off for the team, the team were really awesome, we all went in with the right mindset, anyone of us could have won today. I thought let’s crack on early, it will help the team, it will help the pace.
 
It just worked out really well today, I decided to commit early and I had Keira with me, who is now the under 23 champ, she’s a fantastic rider and it worked out perfectly today. To keep this crit jersey with our team, I’m really stoked.”

Source:

https://www.liv-cycling.com/global/news/pate-dominates-in-perth-as-liv-alula-jayco-retain-australian-criterium-crown/29415