Garfoot gets going when the going gets tougher

AUSTRALIAN cycling star Katrin Garfoot has used Mengler Hill to mangle her rivals and take the lead in the women’s Tour Down Under.

Garfoot won Friday’s stage two, sprinting clear at the summit of the steep 2km climb in the Barossa.

Mitchelton-Scott recruit Lucy Kennedy was runner-up to trail Garfoot by four seconds overall with two stages left.

The front group predictably splintered on the final climb and stage-one winner Annette Edmondson lost the overall lead to Garfoot. Edmondson, a track specialist, rode impressively before finishing 24th.

Rain and crosswinds made for tough conditions in the 102km stage from Lyndoch. Macey Stewart, who crashed heavily at the end of stage one, led a group of five riders who did not start on Friday.

The stage came down to a group of about 30 at the base of the Mengler Hill climb. Kennedy’s teammate Amanda Spratt lost contact with the lead duo near the finish and came in eight seconds behind.

Garfoot, having left Mitchelton-Scott at the end of last season, is riding for the composite UniSA team at the women’s tour.

A trio of Mitchelton-Scott riders trails Garfoot on the overall standings, with Spratt third at 14 seconds and Dutch star Annamiek van Vleuten fourth at 25 seconds.