VICTORIOUS in all four wheelraces at Tasmania’s lucrative cycling carnivals, Glenn O’Shea is in hot form as he warms up for this month’s national track championships.
Eaglehawk’s reigning world champion in the omnium flew from scratch to win the Latrobe, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie wheelrace finals.
No cyclist had won all four finals in a row.
“A few cyclists have won all four finals over the years, but never in succession,” said 23-year-old O’Shea, who capped an incredible run by winning the Burnie final on New Year’s Day. His run in Tassie included winning three Aces scratch races.
The focus has quickly switched to the nationals at Sydney’s Dunc Gray Velodrome from January 30 to February 2, and then the world titles campaign from February 20-24 in Minsk, Belarus.
After a couple of weeks rest, which included being a spectator at the Jayco Herald-Sun Tour, O’Shea is back on the Adelaide Superdrome track from next Monday for another training camp.
O’Shea mingled among fans at the end of the Sunbury-Bendigo stage at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.
He spent time chatting to SASI-Feelgood Fitness riders such as Horsham’s Sam Witmitz and Mark O’Brien.
O’Shea’s only start in the Tour was in the 2009, the year reigning Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins reigned supreme.
O’Shea has ridden for South Australia in its teams pursuit victories at the past two national track championships.
“Other races for the nationals are yet to be sorted out.”
The brilliant all-rounder will pursue consecutive world omnium title victories.
A dual winner of the bankmecu-backed Bendigo Advertiser-WIN Television Sports Star of the Year, O’Shea marked his first Olympics by winning silver in the teams pursuit and fifth in the omnium.
“The omnium in London was really tough, especially the scratch race. Every time I looked to make a move, there was an attack or counter-attack. It’s a race I have learnt a lot from.”
Because of his commitments to the world titles and then joining the An Post-Sean Kelly team on the road, O’Shea will not race in the Bendigo International Madison on the Labour Day holiday weekend in March.
“The madison is a race I really want to compete in, but it’s just too difficult in terms of travelling, as well as being in a new team for Europe’s road season,” said the dual winner of Bendigo’s track classic.