A MONTH after turning 18, cycling superstar Braeden Dean has received the best belated birthday present he could have wished for.
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The Kangaroo Flat young gun was named on Wednesday in Cycling Australia's national team for the 2014 junior world track championships.
Dean - who dominated the sprint events at the national titles this month with three gold medals and one silver - will race against the best under-19 men on the planet when he heads to Seoul in August.
Speaking to the Bendigo Advertiser just minutes after the team was announced online, Dean said the news was still sinking in.
But it was a dream come true after spending the past 18 months aiming to earn a guernsey at the junior world carnival.
"It doesn't feel any different yet - but there's a bit of relief (to see it made official)," he said.
"Now my focus will be on doing the best I possibly can and enjoying the experience."
Dean is part of a strong 14-rider Australian squad that features four reigning world junior champions.
The four-member sprint team also includes fellow Victorians Jay Castles and Courtney Field.
His feats on the bike saw Dean named a joint winner for January of the Bendigo Advertiser-WIN Television Sports Star of the Year award.
He will complete a sprint training camp in Australia in April, before a full-team camp in July and departure to Korea in August.
