Ruby Roseman-Gannon made it a dream start to the 2024 season for Liv AlUla Jayco, keeping her cool to win the Australian Road Race Championship in a tense sprint finale in Ballarat as teammate Alexandra Manly took home the bronze medal.
 
After taking the criterium title in stunning style on Friday evening, Roseman-Gannon lined-up for Sunday’s road race as a clear race favourite, and the 25-year-old demonstrated why with a calculated and aggressive performance.
 
It was a typically attacking race with Liv AlUla Jayco never far from the action as every rider headed up the road at some point during the nine-lap battle. As the bell rang for the final lap a leading trio of Roseman-Gannon, teammate Georgia Baker and Lauretta Hanson held a sizeable advantage over a select chasing group following a series of breakaway attempts.
 
However, things eventually came back together over the crest of Mount Buninyong as a number of chasing groups made their way back to the head of the race to set up a thrilling finish.
 
As the leading group raced through the final kilometre Amber Pate pulled a huge turn to tee up her teammates, with Roseman-Gannon proving to be the fast in the dash for the line with Manly charging through for third place and the bronze medal.

The double medal haul makes it six medals in total for Liv AlUla Jayco at the Australian National Championships in 2024 – a dream start to the season.
 
Ruby Roseman-Gannon:
“I’m in shock. The last couple of years I’ve wanted this so bad and every year I finished just a bit disappointed. I had amazing legs, I mean it helped I was always up the road on the climb, but I can’t thank my team enough, like really, really this is the best group and I’m just in shock. The last time Ballarat, it means a lot, I think it just doesn’t feel real.
 
I think everyone was just on another level, we had the team meeting before and everyone was 100% in. we really wanted this, you know we had tears in the meeting about how much it meant to us. It’s an Australian team and it means so much to bring it back to the Europe, so I can’t thank the girls enough. I can’t thank the team enough, it feels like a dream, I’ve done a lot of work for this moment.”

2024 Australian Road Race Championships – Women:
1. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Liv AlUla Jayco) 3:04:52
2. Lauretta Hanson ST
3. Alexandra Manly (Liv AlUla Jayco) ST

Photo: Con Chronis