"Have you seen a faster Wombat, Welsford has won!" @sam_welsford is the new Australian Men's Criterium Champion after a sensational final sprint to victory.#Roadnats25 pic.twitter.com/uym1se8aJb
— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) January 10, 2025
Sam Welsford has given himself and his lead-out men, including Ireland's Ryan Mullen, a boost at the very start of the new season with victory in the Australian criterium championships.
Welsford, a gold medal winner in team pursuit with Australian at last year's Olympics, won the title very confidently; leading the front group through the last couple of turns and then powering in for victory.
Though not one of the biggest races of the year, Welsford's win will give him confidence and is hopefully a sign of things to come, especially in bigger races where he will have Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team mates Mullen and Danny van Poppel on lead-out duties.
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Welsford 12 months ago began his season on a high with three stage wins, and the points classification, at Tour Down Under; aided and abetted by Mullen.
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While that success immediately led to talk of Welsford going on to take Grand Tour stage wins, his sole victory on the road through the remainder of 2024 was a stage at Tour de Hongrie.
However, this season offers the chance of a re-set and, with track commitments put to one side, Welsford has the opportunity of major success on the biggest stages, which would be great news for Mullen.
They will get their pro season underway in Australia, where the Tour Down Under will again offer the chance for the sprinter and his lead-out men to combined for more wins.
In the Australian criterium championships in Perth earlier today, Welsford claimed victory from Cameron Scott (CCACHE x Bodywrap) and Blake Quick (Roojai Insurance).
