mmg.com.au

Macedon Ranges’ Lauretta Hanson flew home to claim the Shepparton Cycling Club’s women’s wheelrace by the faintest of margins at Shepparton Velodrome on Saturday night.

The 18-year-old, off a 90m handicap, had a dream ride and surged at the final turn to reel in Carnegie-Caulfield rising star Grace Fryer, who was off 120m.

Hanson, who was the women’s Scott People’s Race winner earlier in the year, described it as a career highlight.

‘‘It is my biggest win at a carnival, that is for sure,’’ an elated Hanson said after the race.

‘‘It is probably my biggest win ever.’’

Fry had looked home on the back straight and it wasn’t until the photo had been examined that Hanson was declared the winner.

The final time was 2:34.85.

Hanson said she had confidence rounding the final corner that she could overtake Fryer.

‘‘When they rang the bell and I was still sitting out of the wind and I was quite comfortable, I thought I might actually have a chance in this,’’ she said.

‘‘On the bank, I thought I could probably come around Grace, but it was far from a certainty.

‘‘But it all worked out perfectly.’’

She said pre-race, she had given herself little chance.

‘‘I didn’t give myself any chance, actually,’’ she said.

‘‘I was quite surprised and I am still quite surprised.’’

Hanson has been cycling for eight years and is a regular on the Cycling Victoria Christmas Carnival scene.

Saturday’s Shepparton event was the third-leg of the four-event carnival.

It finished yesterday at Wangaratta, having had legs at Horsham on Thursday and Bendigo on Saturday.

Hanson said she was a big fan of the Christmas Carnival series.

‘‘I love them,’’ she said.

‘‘Carnivals are the best.

‘‘It is a great atmosphere and it is very social, it is good fun.’’