Published September 14, 2015 02:58AM
More than 5,750 cyclists swarmed over the Great Ocean Road on Sunday – all with the same cause in mind: cycling safety. The record field assembling for the fifth edition of the Wiggle Amy’s Gran Fondo, supporting the Amy Gillett Foundation, providing a once a year opportunity to ride on a fully closed Great Ocean Road.
The participants included some of Australia’s fastest amateur cyclists across all age groups from 16 to 65+s competing for a place on the start line at the UCI Amateur Road World Championships in Perth in 2016, along with Australia’s best female riders at the front of the peloton competing in Amy’s Otway Classic event. Kate Perry (Total Rush/Hyster) outfoxed her rivals to take the win in the road race, and Georgia Baker (High5 Dream Team) took out the criterium and came in third in the road race to secure the overall win of Amy’s Otway Tour.
Wiggle Amy’s Gran Fondo results
Wiggle Amy’s Gran Fondo is the opening race in the 2016 UCI World Cycling Tour series, the global amateur and masters’ series that culminates in the 2016 Amateur World Championships in Perth next October. The top 25% of riders in each age category today qualify to represent Australia in Perth.
Australian mountain bike representative Peta Mullens produced an amazing ride to take out the women’s field.
“I love to ride to honour Amy and to share the weekend with 6000 other cyclists,” Mullins said. “It’s just a special weekend for me.”
In the men’s it was last year’s runner up Brendan Canty who captured the 110km Amy’s Gran Fondo. Canty rides for the Budget Forklifts cycling team in the men’s national road series and was delighted with his first Gran Fondo win.
“It’s really special to come out on the Great Ocean Road with full road closures and support such a good cause,” Canty said.
“Amy’s tragic incident ten years ago is the main reason we are out here and to promote safe cycling.”
Mark Textor chairman of the Amy Gillett Foundation said, “It is a very important event, it’s one of our biggest fundraising events, and it’s not just about that, it’s about raising the profile of the organisation.”
2015 Wiggle Amy’s Gran Fondo (110km) – Category Placings
| Categories | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Individual Female | Peta Mullens | ||
| Individual Male | Brendan Canty | ||
| KOM Men | Brendan Canty | Rhys Gillett | Tom Leaper |
| KOM Women | Justine Barrow | Lisen Hockings | Victoria Veitch |
| Team Men | Peak Cycles | InFormRacing | Lococycling2015 |
| Team Women | TrekFondoPeakWomen | ||
| Team Mixed | BLOTTO |
| Age Category | Men’s | Women’s |
| 19-34 | Brendan Canty | Peta Mullens |
| 35-39 | Andrew Stalder | Justine Barrow |
| 40-44 | Tom Leaper | Deborah Hennessey |
| 45-49 | David Evans | Kathryn Woolston |
| 50-54 | Tim Jamieson | Anna Davis |
| 55-59 | David Clarke | Lesley Mouat |
| 60-64 | Peter Ritchie | Marg Noonan |
| 65+ | Peter Bertelsen | Gaye Lynn |