By Sarah Scopelianos and Nicola Gage
Australian Amanda Spratt has won the first stage of the Women’s Tour Down Under (TDU) in South Australia.
The 2012 and 2016 Australian road race champion who races for Team Orica Scott was 20 seconds in front of Janneke Ensing from Cipollini Team and 40 seconds ahead of Katharine Hall from UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team.
The 106-kilometre stage, in the Adelaide Hills, wind its way from Hahndorf through Echunga and Strathalbyn before the Meadows’ finish line.
The 2.2 UCI ranked tour event has attracted 11 international and six domestic teams.
Spratt also won the stage’s Queen of the Mountain climb.
Earlier in the day, women’s event director Kimberley Conte said it was a privilege for the girls to kick things off for the tour and it would be a high level competition.
“We’ve got athletes that have competed at the Olympics, world championships — those on the track and on the road — so a very strong field of riders here,” Ms Conte said.
“It’s the first race of the season so, it’s a bit of mystery for most of these riders they are not sure how fit they are or let alone how fit their competitors are.”
Spectator Sue Pager travelled from New South Wales to watch the race.
“It’s really good they are starting to take notice that the girls do have the talent that the boys have,” she said.
“I just wish cycling for girls was around when I was their age because it would have been a lot more fun than now trying to climb the hills at my age but we are going to give it a go in the BUPA Challenge.”
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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