A YEAR full of promise is off to the best start possible for these talented youngsters from the Bendigo and District Cycling Club.
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The team of Belinda Bailey, Jasmine Eddy, Alessia McCaig, Angus Gill and Jackson and Nate Hadden – competing as Bendigo Gold - capped a dominant eighth edition of the National Junior Track Series by winning the teams classification honours ahead of nearly 60 teams, with the New South Wales Western Region Academy of Sport, and Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club Blue filling second and third placings.
The four-round series, which took Australia’s best 17-and-under and 15-and-under, to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, wrapped up in South Australia earlier this month.
It featured a string of impressive results from Bendigo club riders, headed by Belinda Bailey, who finished second overall in the junior women’s 15-and-under division, and Alessia McCaig, who was third in the women’s 17-and-under.
The bright performances continued when Nate (15-and-under) and Jackson Hadden (17-and-under) narrowly missed a podium finish with fourths in their respective divisions.
Nate finished just 11 points off a bronze medal, with Angus Gill two places back in sixth and Marcus Walker, who rode for Bendigo Red, in 11th place.
Attention for the Bendigo riders will now turn to the state championships at the Darebin International Sports Centre velodrome on March 2 and 3.
This will be followed by the national championships in Brisbane from March 28-31.
Seven Bendigo riders represented Victoria at last year’s nationals, staged in Melbourne, with the group combining for 10 medals.
Alessia McCaig led the way with four gold in her 17-and-under division, with Patrick Eddy (two) and Blake Agnoletto (one) also emerging with gold.
Jasmine Eddy and Alex Allott both earned silver, while Ruby McLean scored bronze.
Bendigo NJTS series placings
Women’s 17-and-under: Alessia McCaig (third); Jasmine Eddy (16th); Ruby McLean (24th).
Women’s 15-and-under: Belinda Bailey (2nd); Milana Freer (eighth); Lilyth Jones (19th); Haylee Jack (26th).
Men’s 17-and-under: Jackson Hadden (fourth); Jacob Henery (38th); Joshua Doherty (42nd); Eddie Worrall (48th); Harry Knight and Oscar Jones (equal 58th); Tom Nicholson (80th); Harry Willen (92nd); Murray Culling (92nd).
Men’s 15-and-under: Nate Hadden (fourth); Angus Gill (sixth); Marcus Walker (11th); Jamie Coles (23rd); Sam Pinder (38th).