“Kept Me Very Down and Out” – 36-Year-Old Australian Cyclist Withdrawn From Women’s Cadel Evans Race After Overnight Pain 

In an unforgiving twist of fate, Australian cycling professional Amanda Spratt was recently met with severe health battles. After suffering from prolonged hours of unbearable abdominal pain, the Lidl-Trek powerhouse was forced to abandon the Women’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. With horrifying details into her misery, the 36-year-old shared candid insights on her diagnosis. 

Renowned for her cycling prowess in audacious climbs, Amanda’s abrupt retraction left sporting fans wondering about her medical updates. With countless past victories on the routes of the Challambra, her dramatic withdrawal marked overnight battles against insufferable symptoms. Losing her chance at the podium spot, the seasoned rider attributed this disruption to her kidney issues. 

Cycling professional presented with severe medical disputes 

On the fateful night just before her cycling escapade, Spratt recalled facing severe pain in her abdomen until the morning hours. Diagnosed with kidney stones, her reports posed the struggles of a daunting recovery. Relegating her to the sidelines and subsequently on the hospital bed, the incident marked an array of consequences. 

On a candid note, the cycling icon took to her social media account to elaborate on her health updates. Hoping for a speedy comeback, Amanda claimed, “Last night kept me very down & out”, while adding, “Found myself watching the race from hospital instead of in it.” With further affirmation, she mentioned her body had been recovering well while remarking, “I will look ahead to the Euro season now.”

Significantly, this monumental cycling setback did not stop with Spratt, as another contender with impressive form also succumbed to illness recently. Despite starting the race, Lauretta Hanson highlighted her team’s challenges while withdrawing from the events. With players in trouble, the squad’s lessening count hinted at collective problems. 

Saddleback team struggles with member withdrawals

Already down to five before the illnesses, the cycling team was left with just three riders after these tragic removals came into action. Involving notable players Elynor Backstedt, Brodie Chapman, and Ilaria Sanguineti, the venue saw them battle the course with sheer perseverance. 

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As the race unfolded on January 27, the remaining trio was met with the 140.8km Women’s World Cycling Challenge. While Geelong’s waterfront marked the starting point, the course winded through rolling hills and coastal stretches. Featuring a pivotal climb, the venue’s history of solo victors or small groups vying for the win intensified its competition. 

Setting the stage for sporting support, the 2023 women’s cycling winner Loes Adegeest remembered her memorable duel with Spratt. With Nina Buijsman just four seconds behind, she was spotted claiming the final podium win while showcasing true zest in a group of 14 participants. 

Additionally, the Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race also provided thrills and spills while the elite men’s race prepared to close out the season ahead. In a fitting conclusion to the Australian Summer of Cycling events, these games followed the prestigious trajectories of the National Championships and Tour Down Under.

With the cycling hurdles of Amanda Spratt and Lauretta Hanson casting a shadow over the sport, a possibly dominant Lidl-Trek presence became ineffective. However, undeterred by her kidney stone setback, Spratt looked ahead to the 2024 season with optimism while emphasizing the unpredictable nature of such professional courses.

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