Rosita Reinhout (Visma – rent a bike) had an adventure on the other side of the world. The 19-year-old won the Deakin University Elite Women's Road Race, a World Tour race known as the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
In the final, the riders had to cross Chalambra Crescent twice, with a 1.1km climb averaging 8.5%. Cecilie Utrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez) attacked on the final climb. She was joined by Danish Rosetta Reinhout and Polish Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) five kilometers from the finish.
After a kilometer, Reinhout left her two companions behind. She just held on for the finish in Geelong and recorded her first win as a professional rider. At 19 years and 294 days old, she is also the youngest ever winner on the World Tour!
Disbelief
“I can't believe it,” Reinhout responded to her stunt afterward. “When I finished, I asked everyone: Did I win, did I really win? It's a big shock. I've never won a race like this. I'm very happy!”
(Continue reading below the video)
Firstly @UCI_WWT Win: ✅️
First win ever: ✅️Rosita Reinhout's performance today was amazing 👏 #Cuddle Road Race pic.twitter.com/NkhTtLs7eC
– Cadel Road Race (@CadelRoadRace) January 27, 2024
“When we were three in front, suddenly everyone stopped moving. I really thought: Why?! Because we still had the lead. That's why I went alone. I thought they were getting closer, but I really tried my best, because if I stopped pedaling they would come back.” “Absolutely. I said to myself: 'Go, go, go,' and in the end I won.”
Reijnhout has been in Australia for two weeks racing and will return home soon. He added: “Although these weeks have been beautiful, I am also happy to return to the Netherlands soon and celebrate my victory with my family.”
