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- Bendigo seven to contest 2018 Junior Track National Championships
- Bendigo pair win junior Austral Wheelrace features
- McCaig sprints to fourth gold at track nationals
- Patrick Eddy wins gold at track national championships
- Bendigo cyclists strike early gold at junior national track championships in Melbourne
A BUNCH of seven Bendigo young guns have helped create a slice of Australian cycling history.
Alessia McCaig, Jasmine Eddy, Ruby McLean, Blake Agnoletto, Patrick Eddy, Alex Allott and Jacob Henery comprised seven of the team of 20 Victorian cyclists which dominated last week’s 2018 Junior Track National Championships in Melbourne.
The Victorians dominated the championships like never before, ending the four-day championships at the Darebin International Sports Centre Velodrome with 21 of the available 28 gold medals.
They won 34 medals in total.
The Victorians also made it a clean-sweep of the four champion of champions awards, among them Bendigo’s McCaig, who claimed four gold and two silver medals.
The 14-year-old headed to the nationals in top form following a win in the Junior Women’s Austral Wheelrace in December and a strong National Junior Track Series (NJTS).
But despite the obvious strong form line, McCaig said there was no one more surprised than herself how things panned out.
“I was pretty shocked with how well I went – it’s still sinking in,” she said.
“The time trial on the first day was the event I gave myself the greatest chance in – if you looked at all the (qualifying) times from each state, I had the fastest one.
“Winning that gave me confidence for the rest of my events.”
McCaig’s amazing gold medal haul included wins in the women’s under-17 sprint, keirin and teams pursuit.
She was desperately unlucky not to add a fifth gold, having to settle for silver in the women’s sprint with team-mate Keely Bennett (Brunswick Cycling Club).
She also won silver in the 20-lap scratch race.
For McCaig, the thrill of winning four gold medals was matched by being able to share the moment with her Bendigo club-mates.
“Everyone did really well – I’m personally proud of everyone,” she said.
It was a memorable championships for Agnoletto and Patrick Eddy, who together with Melbourne riders Henry Dietze and Max Leiner, set a new Australian record in winning the under-17 men’s team pursuit.
They broke an existing record set in 2015 by a Victorian team that featured another Bendigo young gun Isaac Buckell.
Agnoletto said Buckell had been quick to wish him well after their gold medal ride.
“He owned a couple of Australian records, including the under-15 individual pursuit – that probably won’t be broken for a few more years,” he said.
“It was just a special day and great moment to break that record with all my friends,” he said.
“Two Bendigo boys in it, made it even better.”
Attention for Agnoletto – as it will for all Bendigo club riders – will now turn to the road season.
“I prefer the road – state hill climbs is the next race I am aiming for,” he said.
“That comes up in about a month.”
It was dual gold for Patrick Eddy, who added a win in the 50-lap point score to his team pursuit victory.
The youngster, who contested his second national track national championships, was quick to praise the role of team-mates in his individual win.
“I didn’t do the state point score because I was out with injury, but I went in feeling pretty confident,” he said.
“Blake and Alex helped me out a lot, which made things a lot easier.”
Eddy said his pair of gold medals hade more than made up for a disappointing first national championships in Launceston in 2016.
“I didn’t ride very well, so I was happy to get some good results this time around,” he said.
“Breaking the record in the team pursuit was a lot of fun, but the whole experience was great.
“There wouldn’t be any other state teams with seven riders from one club and for Victoria to win nearly every gold medal was amazing.”
There were more medals for Jasmine Eddy, who won silver in the under-15 individual pursuit, and Alex Allott (silver in the under-17 sprint, while Ruby McLean claimed bronze in the under-15 sprint.
The riders credited much of their success to a strong junior cycling program run by the Bendigo and District Cycling Club and the hard work of their coaches Noel Sens and Robert Burns.
Bendigo medal count
Alessia McCaig: Four gold (women’s under-17 time trial, sprint, keirin and team pursuit), two silver (20-lap scratch race, teams sprint);
Patrick Eddy: Two gold (under-17 men’s 50-lap point score and men’s team pursuit);
Blake Agnoletto: One gold (under-17 men’s team pursuit);
Jasmine Eddy: One silver (under-15 women’s individual pursuit);
Alex Allott: One silver (under-17 men’s sprint);
Ruby McLean: One bronze (under-15 women’s sprint).