Amanda Takes Silver In Tour Down Under

Three-time Tour Down Under champion and NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Amanda Spratt finished second at the 2023 women’s event, outsprinted by 10 seconds in the third and final stage by fellow Australian Grace Brown.

As expected, the stage – and the race – came down to the steep Corkscrew climb in the Adelaide Hills, just over 11km from the finish.

Amanda’s Trek-Segafredo team rode superbly, with first Lauretta Hanson and then newly crowned Australian champion Brodie Chapman setting a fierce tempo early on the climb.

A select front group formed and overnight leader Alex Manly (Jayco-AlUla) was quickly in trouble, with Brodie leading Amanda at the front.

Amanda, who boasts two podium finishes at the Giro d’Italia Donne and finished runner up at the road world championships in 2018 then went on the attack by herself and only Grace could respond.

Grace’s FDJ-Suez teammates had put her in a strong position and she was able to limit her losses to Amanda’s on Corkscrew.

At the top of the climb, with less than 8km left to the finish, Amanda led Grace by 19 seconds for the high-speed run to the line.

But Grace, who took silver in the time trial at last year’s world road championships, unleashed her formidable power to reel in her rival.

Once she caught Amanda, the stage and overall title were Grace’s to lose.

Grace was third overall, six seconds behind Manly, going into the final stage, while Amanda had started the day fifth at 14 seconds.

NSWIS