Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ) is hoping that her early season success in Australia will help her secure a spot on the Italian national team for the Paris Olympics and build form for the spring classics.

A result in the Geelong Classic criterium on Wednesday would put Bertizolo in good shape for Saturday's women's Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and the rest of the season.

Bertizzolo started her sprint in the closing stages of the 50km criterium and kept the pace so high that no one could challenge her in the sprint.

"It was good. The three weeks of racing and training were to conclude with the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race as the main goal in the block.

"I'm definitely happy that I proved today how good my training block is. It's always different to win, but I think we ran super strong in the race.

Bertizzolo was one of the riders to watch even before Wednesday's criterium, showing her strength with two third-place stage finishes in the Tour Down Under. And now that she has set foot on terrain that suits her, even more eyes are sure to be on her. When I came here yesterday, I scouted the whole race and was already happy with this slightly up-and-down course," she said.

"I'm looking forward to it. This local loop, like the Ardennes Classic, is perfect and right up my alley.

The 143-km women's Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race includes rolling hills, coastal windy roads, technical corners, and punchy climbs.

"This is the first time I've started in Australia and early in the year, so this was definitely a choice and something I wanted to do to perform well in the Spring Classic, I definitely chose this and wanted to do it in order to perform well in the spring classics," Bertizzolo said. Now that the last international race of the year in Australia will be held on Saturday, Bertizzolo is ready to do just that."