Bendigo para-athlete Michael "Squizzy" Taylor locked in a second-place podium finish on Thursday at the AusCycling Road National Championships.
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Taylor, who is a Echuca/Moama Cycling Club member, finished the PARA-MH3 race with a final time of 53:07.8, around 7:27.3 behind winner Alexander Welsh.
Former Bendigo cyclist Scott McGrory said the RoadNats held significant importance for para-athletes.
"This is crucial, perhaps even more so than for the able-body riders," he said.
"Able-bodied athletes have a number of races throughout the year that they can work into and try to earn selection, but for many of the para-athletes, this is the event they are vying for selections in the Paralympics.
"These results are crucial for many of them."
McGrory said the incorporation of the para-athletes into the Road Nationals program had been nothing but positive.
"We've noticed just how important it is for them to be included in the national championships," he said.
"For the last couple of years they have been on the same courses as everyone else and from speaking to many of the athletes, they have enjoyed being included far more.
"This is cycling's premier event for the year, they love it and add so much value to the event."
Friday results
On Friday a team of Bendigo and District Cycling Club riders secured bronze in the Men's 150 Team Criterium race.
The experienced team which included Martin Banfield, Chris Eddy, John Flood and Kris Gill finished with 22 points, just behind Randwick Botany CC also on 22 and Harlequin Peloton Events in first with 39.
Fellow BDCC rider Jackson Hadden finished fourth in the sprint points standings in the Junior Men's Criterium and ninth overall.
Isaac Buckell also had an impressive finish in the Under-23 Men's Criterium.
Buckell finished on equal sprint points with race winner Matthew Rice and came home seventh in the overall standings.
There were several other BDCC riders in action throughout the day.
The action continued on Friday night with the Elite/U-23 Women's and Elite Men's Criterium.
During the weekend there are several big road race events to be held at Buninyong on Saturday.
On Sunday action will wrap up with Under-23/Elite Women and Men's Road Race.
The women commence at 8.50am and will cover 104.4km (nine laps) while the men will follow later in the day at 12:30pm over 185.6km (16 laps).
-with the Ballarat Courier
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