GEELONG cyclist William Key answered many challenges on the final lap to win Saturday night's Lindsay Harrington Memorial Wheelrace (2000m) in Bendigo.
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Racing in the Ballarat-Sebastapol colours, Key led the charge as the bell sounded at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.
Rivals upped the pace markedly, but so did Key, who had started off the 175m mark.
The 17-year-old sprinted to a great victory ahead of Sam Johnson (140), Mathias Kiernan (140) and Bendigo's Braeden Dean (90).
Key won the Rockhampton Cup (1500m) earlier in the year .
"The competition in both puts these finals on a par,'' he said shortly after being presented with the sash and prizes by Elaine Harrington.
"This final was always going to be a tough race," said Key.
"There was a great tailwind, but also a strong headwind up the finishing straight," he said of conditions after a sweltering afternoon.