Lauren Kitchen turns focus to Tour Downunder after disappointment in Ballarat

The Port Macquarie cyclist finished the race in 18th place and admitted the result was not what she was hoping for.

However, she is taking a few positives away from the championship while she builds for the start of the European season at the end of February.

“My result wasn’t pleasing to me; I didn’t have the legs to follow Katrin and Spratty on the climb and full credit to them they were the strongest and deserved the results they got,” she said.

“I am building towards the Spring Classics and while I would have liked to have been more of a contender, this race ultimately is a stepping stone to bigger goals later in the season.”

With a long season ahead, Kitchen has chosen to focus on the Spring Classics and saw Sunday’s race as great preparation.

“I want to be a bigger player in the classics this year,” she said.

“I proved to myself last year I can be there in the biggest races and now with a strong WM3 team I hope to play a big role through the Spring period.”

Kitchen will now travel to Adelaide where she will race the Tour Downunder with the NSWIS squad as a guest rider.

“Tour Downunder is a great race for the Aussies and I am looking forward to mentoring some of the NSWIS girls and getting some good intensity in before another good training block and heading over to Europe for the final preparations,” she said.

“While I would love to win a stage, I’m not sure what to expect with a dynamic field and a mixed course.”

The Tour Downunder starts on January 14 and concludes with a Criterium in Adelaide on January 17.