Anaesthetist Lisen Hockings (High5 Dream Team) conquered Gunns Plains during a wet day of the 2016 Mersey Valley Tour, sprinting to victory on Saturday in only her second National Road Series stage.
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Regarded as one of the toughest climbs in Australia, and a regular fixture in the prestigious Tour of Tasmania, the Gunns Plains ascent provided the scene for a breakaway to distance themselves from the peloton in the final stanza of stage two. A small bunch sprint in Riana then determined the podium, with Hockings besting Miranda Griffiths (Holden Women’s Cycling) and Ruth Corset(Rush Women’s Team).
After making her NRS debut in Friday’s individual time trial, Hockings was ecstatic to have triumphed over several experienced riders on a tough Tasmanian stage.
“This is my first tour, so to get a win is just fantastic,” exclaimed Hockings. “I started cycling with a few fundraising rides, enjoyed doing it for exercise, and it keeps getting better!”
Hockings, a Melbourne-based intensive care consultant, paid tribute to her team-mates after the “crazy” shock of the stage win.
“Lucy Kennedy did lots of work for me, counter-attacking up the climb,” she continued. “I am doing a guest ride with the High5 girls, and it has been very fun.”
A fourth place for Kate Perry secured the Specialized Women's Racing rider the yellow jersey heading into Sunday’s final stage. Perry holds a two second general classification lead over Griffiths, with Hockings in overall third after her victory.