In our final Year in Review, we take a look at how each of the four former champions of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race – Rachel Neylan, Gianni Meersman, Amanda Spratt and Peter Kennaugh – performed in 2016.
Rachel Neylan
After a breakthrough 2015, Neylan enjoyed her first full season with ORICA-AIS in 2016.
Once again Neylan showed good form during the Australian season, taking the bronze medal at the Australian championships and finishes second behind teammate Amanda Spratt in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
In May, Neylan took out the Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan Dames in France and her efforts in the last 12 months earned her a position in the Olympic Games team where she finished in 22nd position.
Rachel Neylan – Top 10 performances in 2016
1st Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan Dames
2nd Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
3rd National Championships Australia – Road Race
3rd Energiewacht Tour – Stage 1 (TTT)
4th Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der – Stage 7
5th La Classique Morbihan
6th Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der – Stage 5
10th Festival Elsy Jacobs – Stage 2
10th Auensteiner – Radsporttage – Stage 2a
Gianni Meersman
After a slower start to 2016, Gianni Meersman rode to his first podium in mid-March, finish third at the Handzame Classic.
After a series of podiums at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Tour de Wallonie and Vuelta a Burgos, Meersman finally stood on the top step of the podium at the final Grand Tour of the year, the Vuelta a Espana.
The Spanish tour was a breakthrough for the 30-year-old, taking his firt Grand Tour win on stage two and going on to take another on stage 5.
In 2017, Meersman will take a step down from the WorldTour to race for Pro Continental team Fortuneo – Vital Concept.
Gianni Meersman – Top 10 performances in 2016
1st Vuelta a Espana – Stage 2
1st Vuelta a Espana – Stage 5
2nd Volta Ciclista a Catalunya – Stage 2
2nd Tour de Wallonie – Stage 3
2nd Tour de Wallonie – General Classification
3rd Handzame Classic
3rd Tour de Wallonie – Stage 4
3rd Volta a Burgos – Stage 1
3rd Volta a Burgos – Stage 2 (TTT)
3rd Volta a Burgos – Stage 3
3rd Vuelta a Espana – Stage 21
4th Vuelta a Espana – Stage 16
5th Vuelta a Espana – Stage 1 (TTT)
7th Vuelta a Espana – Stage 7
8th Vueta a Espana – Stage 18
8th Sparkassen Munsterland Giro
Amanda Spratt
Amanda Spratt claimed her second national championship in Ballarat in January and went on to take her first victory in the colours at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race later in the month.
The 29-year-old was a consistent performer all season with her new-found confidence and leadership before taking her third victory for the year at the Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen in July.
Spratt also represented Australia at the Olympic Games in Rio, finishing as the top Australian in 15th position.
Amanda Spratt – Top 10 performances in 2016
1st Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
1st National Championship Australia – Road Race
1st Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen – Stage 6
2nd Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen – General Classification
4th Aviva Women’s Tour – Stage 4
5th Aviva Women’s Tour – General Classification
5th Esukal Emakumeen XXIX Bira – Stage 1
6th Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria
6th Boels Rental Ladies Tour – Stage 2 (TTT)
7th Santos Women’s Tour – General Classification
7th Santos Women’s Tour – Stage 3
7th Crescent Women’s World Cup Vargarda
8th Boels Rental Ladies Tour – Stage 6
10th Santos Women’s Tour – Stage 2
10th Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen – Stage 7
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky’s Peter Kennaugh started his 2016 in phenomenal form Down Under.
Following his victory at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, he went on to claim a stage of the Herald Sun Tour, leading the race for three days before teammate Chris Froome won the final queen stage to claim the overall.
In May, Kennaugh’s year took a turn for the worst when he broke his collarbone at the Tour of California, ruling him out of the Tour de France.
Despite returning to racing in July, he also withdrew from the Olympic Games in Rio because of the injury, not able to return to full fitness before the all-important race.
By the middle on August he was back on the podium, part of the Team Sky team that won the opening team time trial stage of the Vuelta a Espana. The team nominated the 27-year-old to cross the line first, seeing him wear the red leader’s jersey the following day.
Peter Kennaugh – Top 10 performances in 2016
1st Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
1st Jayco Herald Sun Tour – Stage 1
1st Vuelta a Espana – Stage 1 (TTT)
2nd Jayco Herald Sun Tour – General Classification
3rd Jayco Herald Sun Tour – Stage 2
4th Vuelta a Burgos – Stage 2 (TTT)
5th Vuelta a Burgos – General Classification
6th Vuelta a Burgos – Stage 5
7th Jayco Herald Sun Tour – Stage 4
8th Jayco Herald Sun Tour – Prologue
8th Tirreno – Adricatico – Stage 1 (TTT)