ALEX Manly made a triumphant return to competitive riding by taking out the 2000m women’s wheel final in decisive fashion.
The backmarkers were always favourite to succeed once they caught the leaders on the penultimate lap, with Manly (scratch) swooping down the outside on the run home to win from Queensland duo Lilliana McLennan (140m) and Alexandra Martin-Wallace (20m).
The result was Manly’s first-ever wheel win in Tasmania and comes after an injury lay-off.
“Three months ago I fractured my shoulder in a crash, so this is the first real block of racing I have had since then,” the 22-year-old from South Australia said.