OPENINGThe elite/U23 women's race ran 108 km — eight laps of the same punchy 13.6 km Kings Park / Perth CBD circuit used by the men, with the steep Malcolm Street pinch each lap. Pre-race favourites Liv AlUla Jayco controlled from the front, establishing Josie Talbot in an early three-rider breakaway that included Katelyn Nicholson (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing).

UNFOLDSLiv AlUla Jayco marked every dangerous move in the bunch while Talbot sat up the road, forcing rivals to chase and keeping numbers in reserve. The hard, repeated Malcolm Street efforts and the heat steadily thinned the field, setting up a finale that favoured the deepest team.

DECIDEDOn the final lap Coupland — unmarked thanks to her team's screen of attacks — was sent across the gap. She bridged to teammate Talbot, who waved her through; after a staff member confirmed the call about 500 m later, Coupland committed and rode away solo at her own tempo.

FINALECoupland held off a three-rider chase of Bradbury, Nicholson and her own teammate Roseman-Gannon to cross the line in just under three hours as the new local hero. Thirty-odd seconds back, Roseman-Gannon out-sprinted Bradbury for silver to complete a Liv AlUla Jayco 1-2. Coupland, who also claimed the U23 title, will wear the green-and-gold bands through 2026, starting at the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.