Close finish in women's cycling race

THURSDAY, MAY 24: Just how close were the female cyclists in the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race?

So close that neither Nicole Mitchell nor Joanna Shillington knew who had won — even 10 minutes after they had crossed the finish line.

It was so close that the announcer at Bernard Park initially congratulated the wrong person for taking the title!

And so close that just 2/1000ths of a second separated first from second.

But the photo finish revealed that Team Madison’s Shillington beat Winner’s Edge Mitchell in what has to be the closest race in history.

Shillington was competing in her first Sinclair Packwood race after running the Half Marathon Derby for so many years.

She said: “It was unexpected. I feel quite chuffed. I know it was 2/100ths of a second so I feel quite lucky and quite fortunate.”

The women’s race started 50 seconds after the men’s this year, which changed the dynamics.

Shillington acknowledges Mitchell would have had an advantage of they had continued with tradition with one start time for both sexes.

“If we had started with the men, someone like Nicole, who is use to racing with Men A (Division), would have been able to draft behind very strong male riders. Her time would have been much faster.”

As it was, the race became a duel between the pair as neither got much team support to help them save their legs for the finish.

“I was trying to hang on all the way because she is an incredibly experienced rider.”

Because it was her first cycling race, Shillington admitted she was not sure where the finish line was on Cedar Avenue: “I only started cycling just six months ago so I had no idea where it was.”

Mitchell agreed the dynamics changed by having the separate start.

“A lot of us race with the men all year round so it makes it a big different because we’re not used to those kinds of tactics.

“Because I race in Male A, a lot of the tactics were left up to me so everybody was watching me and following my moves. That made it a bit tough.”

Mitchell isn’t used to having any women challenge her and dominated last year’s Sinclair Packwood race.

She said having a tight race was “good… I need that challenge. The women’s field is growing and it’s great to see more women coming out to that level. I want that challenge.”