Garfoot eyes more cycling team domination
Katrin Garfoot's cycling rivals only have to look at what happened last Sunday to know what she wants to bring to the Santos Women's Tour.
Garfoot is the defending champion in the four-day Adelaide race, run alongside the Tour Down Under.
The 35-year-old has also come to Adelaide brimming with confidence and form, after winning twice at the Australian road championships.
She successfully defended her time-trial crown and then, on Sunday, capped outstanding teamwork from Orica-Scott in the women's road race.
Orica-Scott dominated on Sunday, with Garfoot and teammate Amanda Spratt breaking away in the last 30km.
Garfoot outsprinted Spratt to win the road race title for the first time.
It came after Orica-Scott started the month by winning two of the three races in the Bay Classic criterium series.
"I want to see great teamwork, like we (showed) at Bay Crits and at nationals," Garfoot said.
"We had a plan and we rode very well to that plan.
"It's really good to see it work out that way - that gives us confidence.
"Everyone found their spot, what they can do for the team ... it's pretty exciting."
Last year, Garfoot finished equal on time at the women's tour with three other riders and won the overall classification because she took out the opening stage.
No one expects it to be so close this year.
The women's tour starts on Saturday with a tough 106.5km stage from Hahndorf to Meadows in the Adelaide Hills.
"The last 30km ... if it hasn't been ripped apart, then the race will be ripped apart there, definitely," Garfoot said.
After making her name as a strong time-trial rider, Garfoot is trying to expand her results and she hopes to be an overall contender this year at the women's Giro d'Italia.
Her win last year in the Santos women's tour and nationals road-race victory point to Garfoot's potential.
"For myself, I want to be able to hopefully finish the road stages with the top riders," she said of her own goals in Adelaide.
"I have more experience than last year - I'm not so sure if I have better condition or not ... I will figure that out."
SANTOS WOMEN'S TOUR STAGES:
* Saturday - Hahndorf to Meadows, 1100 (AEDT) start, 106.5km
* Sunday - East End Street Race, Adelaide, 1745, 32.2km
* Monday - Tanunda to Lyndoch (Barossa), 1100, 92.4km
* Tuesday - Victoria Park circuit race, 1830