Amanda Spratt's outstanding Portarlington win might play into the hands of Italian cyclist Valentina Scandolara at the Bay Classic.
Spratt nearly lapped the field on Monday with a devastating solo attack.
Amanda Spratt.Credit: John Veage
That brought the two-time Australian road champion to within two points of Scandolara on the overall series standings, ahead of Tuesday's final round at Williamstown.
While five riders could win the overall title, Scandolara and Spratt ride for the two strongest teams and it is effectively down to them.
What could help Scandolara is that for all Spratt's undoubted ability, she is not the top sprinter in the Orica-Scott lineup.
The Williamstown stage usually comes down to a bunch sprint, where Scandolara should have Spratt's measure.
Sarah Roy and Annamiek van Vleuten are the main Orica-Scott sprinters.
Barring a major surprise, Scandolara will win her first Bay Classic title if she beats Spratt on Tuesday.
But Scandolara noted it would not be beyond Spratt, who is in strong form ahead of next Sunday's Australian road race championships, to launch another big attack before the end of the Williamstown race.
"When Amanda attacked, it was fine for me - she's not the fastest in Orica ... I can still manage it," Scandolara said after her sixth place at Portarlington.
"I'm happy I kept the jersey and, hopefully tomorrow, it will be a better race for Ale (her team).
"Amanda is a great, great rider - she doesn't have a big punch, but she's always dangerous.
"It will be hard, I'm not denying it, but I'm always fighting and I will get dropped before I stop trying."
While the women's series is tight, British rider Ian Bibby has a comfortable six-point buffer.
He should become the first international rider to win the men's title since the Mitchelton Bay Classic became a series in 1992.
While Bibby has undoubtedly benefited from Caleb Ewan's crash in race one and then Jesse Kerrison taking a tumble at Portarlington, the 30-year-old has earned his series lead.
The JLT Condor rider did well on Monday to finish second and protect his overall advantage.
AAP