Belgium’s Kristoff Allegaert has seized back control of the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, leading Great Britain’s Mike Hall by 168 kilometres as he heads towards the finish line at Sydney Opera House.
Allegaert’s re-establishment of the lead he has held for almost the entire race followed a day when followers of the race were abuzz on social media about the battle taking place between the two men.
This time yesterday, the pair were almost inseparable, trading the race lead along the Murray River ahead of the tough climb up to Cabrumurra.
But while Allegaert pressed on up the ascent, Hall stopped for rest that was much-needed following his exertions to catch and briefly pass his rival.
By the time the Briton got back on the bike more than five hours later, the leader was over the top of the ascent and well on his way to Canberra.
Hall reached the checkpoint at Cooma at 7.48pm local time on Thursday evening – that’s 9.48am in the UK – but Allegaert had made it there a little more than eight hours earlier.
He’s kept on riding and is now across the border and into New South Wales and heading towards a rather rainy Sydney, which he should hit sometime tomorrow.
As the main picture above shows, there are cyclists spread out all along the southern Australian coast – so even once Allegaert and Hall hit the finish, there will be plenty of racing, and plenty of stories, still to come.
You can follow the progress of the two leaders, and the rest of the riders in the race, using the online tracker here.
Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.