After an initial breakaway of Emily Watts Subaru-Giant Racing Team and Bree Wilson of Roxsolt established themselves a handy advantage, the pace was driven hard by Sarah Gigante on the second lap.
Gigante shut down the breakaway's advantage and the race re-established with a group of 9 riders, including four Roxsolt-Attaquer riders. The team used their numbers well, launching Bradbury clear and marking the peloton to make sure Bradbury was given a clear run to the finish.
Bradbury soloed into Mooball to win comfortably, an over 2 minute gap the product of her hard work attacking the field.
"I don't really know what to think," said Bradbury, who hadn't won before at NRS level. "This is my first podium. I was just hoping to be up there this Tour. So to win is amazing."
Bradbury was a junior rider of top quality, and while has ridden with Roxsolt for almost two years the 18-year-old is just getting the chance to show her ability. Finishing fifth on the hardest day of the racing to date, the summit finish up the Tomewin climb, Bradbury surprised pre-race favourites like Jaime Gunning, Lizzie Stannard (both Specialized Women's Racing) and teammate Bree Wilson to finish ahead of them on the final climb.
She made the most of her opportunity when presented it in this race, slipping of the front in odd circumstances, but then flying away when she had the gap.
"Up that last hill it was pretty slow, I just went to the front, my teammate was behind me and let me go," said Bradbury. "I wasn't doing many watts. I thought 'well I'm here now' and just kept going. I thought go 110 per cent to the top of the hill and then if I can't see them, I'm good for the win."
"To win was just amazing! Team's first win for the tour - I can't thank them enough."
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (ARA-Pro Racing Sunshine Coast) led the peloton home in the bunch sprint over two minutes later, with Roxsolt-Attaquer road captain Peta Mullens in a dead heat with Josie Talbot (Casa-Dorada) for third. The accumulation of NRS points puts Roxsolt in a strong position in the standings 1456 to 1100.
They took over that classification after previous leaders Specialized Women's Racing opted not to start a team from Stage 5 onwards for the remaining days of racing. The reasons were cost, staffing and ability to get leave from work all impacting the team's ability to stay racing in the Tweed Valley.
