SIMONE Grounds has created history by becoming the first female cyclist to win the Cootamundra Annual Classic Handicap on Saturday.
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The Dubbo Cycling Club member held off Sydney's Anna Booth by a second in a tense sprint finish to the 116km event.
Grounds and Booth both began in bunch seven off a 29 minute handicap and were among five women to finish in the top six, with Grounds' club mate Graeme Peadon just behind in third.
Grounds, 43, holds all Australian track and road titles in the masters three category, but was unsure if she would last the distance given she rarely races more than 100km.
"It was a pretty big surprise to be honest. I've been doing a lot of hard training recently but handicaps are always really hard, you have to catch up to the riders in front and keep those behind at bay.
"I wasn't sure where my legs would be at, but we had a really good bunch that worked well with each other.
"Masters racing is a lot shorter and I was worried I'd really struggle in those final 16km."
The NSW Open Club Road Race Championships were also held at Cootamundra on Sunday, with St George edging Illawarra for the title.
Tolland Cycling Club's Myles Stewart finished second in the division one men's race behind New Zealander Tom Hubbard, Wagga Cycling Club youngster Zac Barnhill won the division two men's title and Tolland's Paul Millynn took out division four men.
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