BENDIGO cycling siblings Patrick and Jasmine Eddy have their sights set on state team selection following their domination of the Victorian Junior Road Series.
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The pair clinched championships in their respective men’s 17 A-grade and women’s 15 A-grade divisions with wins in the fifth and final series round at Eildon last weekend.
Their road series wins capped a commanding couple of months for the Bendigo and District Cycling Club pair in tours around Victoria, including Ararat, Bendigo, Eildon, Leongatha and Mount Buffalo.
Patrick’s win haul included the state hill-climb championship at Mount Buffalo and junior tours at Ararat, and Bendigo.
The quietly-spoken Girton Grammar year-10 student said he was now looking ahead to the Victorian Junior Road Championships in Wangaratta on August 4-5.
“I’ve been happy with how my year has gone,” Patrick said.
“I had a crash late last year, so I was just happy to make the state team for track for the nationals.
“I was rapt to win a couple of races there and then to be able to carry that form into the road events.”
Patrick was pushed all the way by a talented crop of riders, which included several of his Bendigo club-mates.
In last weekend’s round at Eildon Alex Allott won stage three, while Blake Agnoletto won stage four and finished second in two other stages.
Patrick is almost certain to ride at his fourth straight national road championships in Bunbury later this year.
He finished seventh in last years’ time-trial as a bottom-age rider and second in 2016.
His success in the road series was matched by sister Jasmine, who won four of the five tours in her division and finished third in the other.
The Girton Grammar year 8 student admitted some surprise with her performance during the series.
“I wasn’t very confident going into the series, but once I got a few wins the confidence grew,” she said.
Jasmine is set to contest the road nationals for the second time and hopes to better her top-20 finish from last year.
“Top-10 or maybe even a podium (finish) would be good this time,” she said.
The Eddys’ championship-winning road performances followed their success at this year’s Junior Track National Championships in Melbourne in February.
Patrick won dual gold in the under-17 men’s 50-lap point score and team pursuit, while Jasmine scored silver in the under-15 women’s individual pursuit.