Previously unheralded Sam Jenner rode through final lap cramp in both legs to enjoy a solo victory in the U23 Australian national road race 47 seconds ahead of Alex Porter (SASI) and last year's runner-up Lucas Hamilton (Jayco/VIS). The 19-year-old from Armidale in the north of New South Wales launched his race moving move with four of the 13 laps left in the 132.6km race after teammate Dan Fitter had been reeled in following his mid-race solo raid.
Jenner made his way into an early breakaway, from which he made the winning move, emerging from the race as another exciting young Australian prospect for the future and adding his name to a list of former winners that includes the likes of Simon Gerrans, Rohan Dennis, and Caleb Ewan.
Jenner collapsed with cramp in both legs after his victory salute through the finish line, calling to a close the 3:27:52 minute in hot conditions that whittled down the 120 strong peloton to just 28 finishers by day's end.
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"I made the move just before four laps to go on the back downhill on Fisken road. It wasn’t really the plan but there was a lull in the bunch and I thought why not go. I backed myself and that is all I could do really," Jenner said of his late move. "It was a bit touch and go there as I started to cramp up the last hill there but I just pushed through it.
"The whole last lap I was cramping up so I had to stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, all the way up the climb. As soon as I finished, I couldn’t stand. Every time I went to stand up, I would cramp and fall back down."
The aggressive nature of the race suited Jenner's characteristics and having chosen the right move to go with in the day, he timed his effort and squeezed out every last watt to ensure he could enjoy the final few hundred meters with his proud partents watching on.
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