CYCLING
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GUS McClelland made sure he was always among the front runners as he finished with several podium finishes from Saturday’s NSW Under 19s and Elite Club Team Sprint Championships at Dunc Gray Velodrome.
McClelland picked up two silver medals and a bronze over the course of the day – his first race day experience at the velodrome.
He opened his account with a third place in the Open Men B Warm-up Scratch Race against a field of masters riders, finishing one place clear of fellow Bathurst rider Richard Hobson.
McClelland managed to go one better in the Open Men B Handicap Race and replicated the result in the Chariot Race for the same grade.
The biggest test came in the Elite Men’s Team Sprint where McClelland teamed up with Harry Carter and Harry Jones.
The trio’s time of 50.975 was good enough to see them contest the bronze medal.
That wasn’t to be, as they couldn’t improve on their qualifying time and went down to Randwick Botany Cycling Club.
Though McClelland had previously trained on the boards, he hadn’t raced on them and was fronting up for his first race day.
“It was good fun because I haven’t raced much on the boards before. I was racing at Dunc Gray Velodrome for the first time,” he said.
“I’ve been around before with Harry [Carter] during training. I really enjoyed it all and the fast paced racing was great. We didn’t take it all too seriously and just being up there with those two guys was a great experience.”
While McClelland has spent time away from the bike, he’s keen for more track experience.
“I was doing nothing aside from maybe some running for about three to four months,” he said.
“It was good to have that break, but it feels great to get back on the bike. I feel like my motivation is right up there now.”
Best results for the Bathurst club in the men’s races went to Carter, who produced some dominant displays for his three gold medals.
He took out his Warm-up Scratch Race in A grade, despite his start he had to give up to win the Men’s A Handicap.
In winning the Open Men A Snowball, Carter claimed eight out of the 10 sprints on offer for a comfortable victory.
Hobson also claimed a silver with his ride in the Open Men B Snowball, thanks to a win on the race’s final maximum-points sprint.