NOW living and studying in Bendigo, Mark Jamieson will be aiming to shine at this weekend's Victorian open road cycling titles in and around the city.
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The Tasmanian star will race the time trial, road race and criterium at the three-day titles.
There is more than just individual titles up for grabs when racing begins on Friday.
Cyclists will also be vying for the Bendigo Grand Prix, which is sponsored by Hume & Iser Home Hardware and Andy's Earthmovers.
Jamieson has lived in Bendigo the past 12 months and is studying an advanced diploma of building design at Bendigo TAFE.
The 29-year-old has racked up many wins throughout his cycling career.
He won the world junior individual pursuit championship in Melbourne in 2006,
was a member of Australia’s gold medal-winning pursuit team at the world titles in
Bordeaux, France, in 2006, and gained silver in the teams pursuit at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
An Olympic medal narrowly eluded him at the Beijing Games in 2008 when the
Australian team of Jamieson, Bradley McGee, Jack Bobridge and Luke Roberts
was beaten in the ride-off by New Zealand.
Jamieson maintains his passion for cycling but is no longer pressured by the intensity of competing
on the international stage.
“I am still a part-time bike rider, but I have changed focus and career and study are now highly important to me,” he said.
The Victorian open begins on Friday when cyclists contests the 30km individual time trial at Emu Creek.
Jamieson is from Devonport and has settled into life in Bendigo with his partner of five years, Jessica Parker, also from Tasmania.
“The training opportunities are terrific,” he said.
Jamesion has done a fair amount of riding on the Emu Creek circuit.
“Then you’ve got track racing on Thursday nights. Plenty of good people, plenty of opportunities.
“With my building design course, I hope to eventually find my place in the building industry, but I guess I’ll forever be a cyclist."
The six-event Bendigo Grand Prix starts at 10am on Friday with the 24.6km
women’s time trial at Emu Creek, sponsored by the City of Greater Bendigo.
Spring Gully will be the venue for the coveted road races on Saturday. The 79km Rising Sun Hotel women’s event is at 8.30am.
The Bendigo Advertiser-sponsored men's 142.2km road race starts at 12.30pm.
Grand finale criteriums are in Bendigo’s CBD on Sunday along Lyttleton Terrace. The 25.5km Coates Hire women’s race is at 12.45pm and the 34km Symes Motors Nissan men’s event begins at 2.30pm.
