Lucinda Stewart's well-credentialled cycling rivals have paid dearly for cutting her too much slack.
Just a week after joining the Liv AlUla Jayco development team, and two days before she meets the rest of the squad at a European training camp, Stewart has won the Australian elite road title in a boilover result.
One of road cycling's most fundamental tactics is how big a time gap is too big between the breakaway and the peloton.
On Sunday, Stewart and four breakaway companions were given significant leeway at Kings Park in Perth, which raised the eyebrows of her team boss Gene Bates.
"We're probably a bit surprised, from the other teams, that they let it blow out that far," Bates told SBS.
"That played into our hands in the end and we couldn't be happier."
As always at the national championships, Liv AlUla Jayco had the advantage of numbers and firepower. They are the women's arm of the GreenEDGE team, Australia's only WorldTour squad.
But some well-credentialled rivals were left licking their wounds.
Stewart, Ella Simpson (St Michel), Cassia Boglio (Swan Drafting CC), Katelyn Nicholson (Butterfields) and Sophia Sammons (Praties) went clear on the second of eight laps in the 109km race.
Their lead blew out to six minutes with 60km left.
Eventually, three-time champion Amanda Spratt (Lidl Trek) and Stewart's senior teammate Amber Pate tried to bridge the gap, but they would finish two minutes down on the leaders.
Stewart sprinted past Simpson for the win, with Boglio third.
The 20-year-old from Melbourne is the youngest women's elite road race Australian champion since Sarah Gigante won in 2019 aged 18.
She also claimed the under-23 title and beat a class field, with Spratt among the previous five winners in the race.
Stewart's previous career highlight was winning the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic last year.
"It's so special. First race in new colours for the team and I've only really been in this team for one week, but it already feels like home to me," she said.
"The culture in the team is something really, really special and I'm honestly so proud to be a part of it. The girls in the team I've looked up to since I was little, so it feels pretty cool."
