PORT Macquarie cyclist Lauren Kitchen finished stage five of the Aviva Women’s Tour in fourth spot after successfully making it into the race, winning the breakaway 25 kilometres into the 113km race.
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Mum, Robbi, said the performance would benefit her daughter as she prepares to qualify for Rio.
“It was the final race for the Olympic selection trials,” she said.
The race was one of only 16 throughout the year and Kitchen was pleased with her result.
“I’m really happy with this result, of course a win would have been nice but I was with some fast girls in the break and I tried to escape a few ties in the final 10 kilometres but it wasn’t to be,” she said.
“I’ve had quite a tough week with some bad luck in terrible moments so I’m really grateful to finish on a positive note and prove to myself what I’m capable of at the end of a big week.”
She currently sits in the top 30 cyclists in the world.
Her fourth place marks her 15th UCI top 10 result for 2016 and her fifth world tour top ten result.
She now has a fortnight to wait and see if she will be selected in the Australian team that will head to the Rio Olympics.
Seven cyclists will vie for just four spots in the national team with the course in Rio thought to be hilly which will suit the way Kitchen races.
“I’ve done all I can now, I believe I’ve proven myself in hilly races this season and towards the end of last season with my ride at the World Championships. Now it’s up to the selectors to decide," she said.
I’ve done all I can and now it’s up to the selectors to decide.
- Lauren Kitchen
