IT was four laps of hurt, but Tyler Puzicha's silver medal ride in the junior women's under 17s Sydney Cup on Wheels was one of the most impressive efforts seen at Dunc Gray Velodrome on Saturday.
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Coming off scratch in the handicapped 1000 metres wheelrace, the Western Region Academy of Sport cyclist had a massive task to try and reel in her rivals
But in the end she caught all but one of the six riders who started ahead of her.
"It was four laps of hurt," the Bathurst cyclist said.
"There was a girl about 15 metres in front of me and I got on her wheel pretty quickly and got a nice sit until there was two to go, then I just went and chased.
"I was pretty happy with it because I made up a lot of ground I didn't expect to. The winner did well, she just kicked again and got a bit more of a gap on me.
"She was off 100, so I made up 100 metres in four laps. I was pretty happy with that."
The wheelrace was one of three events Puzicha contested at the annual Sydney Cup on Wheels, the talented teenager also claiming gold in the scratch race and placing fourth in the tempo.
On her way to winning the 10-lap scratch race by around a wheel length, Puzicha had to contend a lap counter which was not working. But she kept her own tally, positioned herself well in the bunch then launched off the wheel of a rival in the final sprint.
"The race was good, I had really good positioning. Even though there were only six riders it was still a hard race, it wasn't easy," she said.
"I always keep the number of laps in my head anyway, so that helped a fair bit. When the bell rung, I don't think many people were prepared for it.
"I was about fourth wheel back and the girl in front of me started to go. I just followed her wheel and got a nice slingshot off her."
Puzicha was not the only Bathurst member of the Western Region Academy of Sport squad to impress, with both Cadel Lovett (junior men 15s) and Kalinda Robinson (junior women's 19s) enjoying podiums at Dunc Gray as well.
"Cadel rode a really good tempo, he got bronze and just got better as it went on. Kalinda did well as well, she won most of her races which was really good to see," Puzicha said.
As well as that trio, Bathurst Cycling Club members Paige Squire and Glen Carter medalled as well.
The Sydney Cup on Wheels meeting marks the start of a busy track season for Puzicha, who will spend the next five weeks travelling to different meets.
This coming weekend she will tackle the boards of Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome for the National Junior Track Series.
Her ultimate goal is to impress at February's state titles and earn New South Wales selection.
"I'd love to make the state team again, that's my goal and anything else is sort of a bonus," she said.
"I want to get more experience on the velodrome as well, I only have little goals at the moment, I want to get all the minor things right and keep progressing."
