Gilmore making major inroads to full recovery

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2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Rochelle Gilmore will continue her inspirational comeback at the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic starting this Sunday, 1 January.

 

After suffering a broken pelvis, ribs, concussion and a fractured L5 spinous process from a horrific crash at the women’s Giro d’Italia in July, the 30-year-old is back on her bike and as motivated as ever.

 

A victory in 2012 would give Gilmore her third consecutive and fourth overall win at the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic to step ahead of Anna Wilson (’86, ’98 & ’99) as the event’s most successful female rider.

 

But despite strong support by a talented BikeExchange.com.au Dream Team outfit including 2008 world and Olympic champion Nicole Cooke (Great Britain), Gilmore will be up for her toughest challenge yet as she continues her comeback in what is shaping up to be a blistering race.

 

“I am pleased to have been back on the bike for just over three weeks without any pain, injuries, illnesses or setbacks. It was a strong, solid and progressive three week training block,” Gilmore said.

 

“It wasn’t until I had learnt to walk and ride again that I could reflect and understand how serious my injuries from the crashes were.

 

“There must be some truth in the saying ‘what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger’ as I’ve managed to produce my best ever power outputs during this training block.

 

“My preparation is structured around the European season starting on the 1st of February so I might not be at my best for the 1st of January.

 

“But the motivation stimulated by our team environment, the racing and competition will nearly always bring the best out of me.”

 

BikeExchange.com.au Dream Team – 2012 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic

Rochelle Gilmore (NSW, 30)

Nicole Cooke (Great Britain, 28)

Kirsty Broun (TAS, 32)

Peta Mullens (VIC, 23)

Myfanwy Galloway (ACT, 21)

 

Joining their male counterparts, the GreenEDGE-AIS women’s team will also make their world debut at the 2012 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic.

 

The five strong line up will be all Australian, including 2011 national time trial champion and stage winner at the women’s Giro d’Italia Shara Gillow, , 2011 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic stage winnerTiffany Cromwell, Tour de Feminin stage winner Amanda Spratt and track specialists Melissa Hoskins and Jessie MacLean.

 

GreenEDGE-AIS – 2012 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic

Melissa Hoskins (WA, 20)

Tiffany Cromwell (SA, 23)

Amanda Spratt (NSW, 24)

Jessie MacLean (ACT, 26)

Shara Gillow (QLD, 24)

 

The Jayco Bay Cycling Classic, the world’s fastest criterium series, will kick off the 2012 cycling calendar from Sunday 1 to Wednesday 4 of January and is the perfect opportunity for riders to polish up before the national championships in Ballarat and the Tour Down Under.

 

In its seventh consecutive year, Amy’s Ride, a fun ride promoting mutual awareness and understanding between cyclists and motorists, will feature on Monday before stage two at the Geelong Eastern Park race.  Thousands of cycling fans will band together with sporting stars and celebrities to raise money for the Amy Gillett Foundation.

 

In a first for the event, participants will be separated into waves and randomly allocated a team participating in the 2012 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic - including GreenEDGE - to ride with.

 

2012 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic
Date:	Sunday, 1 January to Wednesday, 4 January
Stages:	Stage 1 - Sunday, 1 January: Ritchie Boulevard, Geelong Eastern Beach 4:00pm Support individual, 5:00pm Support teams, 6:00pm Elite women,  7:00pm Elite men   Stage 2 - Monday, 2 January: Geelong Eastern Park  8:30am: Amy’s Ride, 11:15am U17 boys & girls, 12:00pm Support individual, 12:50pm Support teams, 1:40pm Elite women, 2:30pm Elite men   Stage 3 - Tuesday, 3 January: Portarlington 12:00pm Support individual, 12:50pm Support teams, 1:40pm Elite women,  2:30pm Elite men   Stage 4 – Wednesday, 4 January: Williamstown 12:00pm Support individual, 12:50pm Support teams, 1:40pm Elite women,  2:30pm Elite men
Who:	Elite national and international athletes – men and women 2,500+ recreational cyclists participating in Amy’s Ride