Patrick Eddy confirmed his status as one of Australia's most promising cyclists with a gutsy performance in the junior men's road race at the World Championships in England.
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The 16-year-old, who still has another year in this age group, finished 21st in the 144km event.
"That was probably the craziest thing I've ever done," Eddy told australiancyclingteam.com
"It was on from the start, you had to be focused the entire time."
Eddy was the lone Australian to stay in touch with the leaders in a hectic first half of the race.
Eddy rode strongly with the peleton in wet conditions and made a push in the latter stages to reel in American race leader Quinn Simmons, but the effort took its toll.
"The first half I was pretty stressed, I am not going to lie, but being in the right spot at the right time was the most important thing," Eddy told australiancyclingteam.com.
"When I got over the first climb, I was just hating life, but after that, it was the funnest thing I've ever done.
"I was really relaxed that second half. There was a point where I knew there was a major climb coming up and I had to move up.
"And I got there and from there I just felt amazing."
Eddy's 21st placing in the road race came after a 19th place in the time-trial three days earlier.
Fellow Bendigo cyclist Jack Haig will represent Australia in Sunday's men's road race.
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