EVERY time the Bathurst Cycling Club B grade pack hit the off-road section in Saturday's Hurt On The Dirt it was Cadel Lovett's time to shine.
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The club junior looked more like former Australian Tour de France winner Cadel Evans in the race as he made the field pay every time the uphill section of the circuit was reached.
And eventually that pressure became too much for the pack to take as Lovett claimed top prize in his grade in the highly-prized annual event, which also doubled as the third round of the Renshaw's Pedal Project Bathurst Cycling Club Road Series.
Lovett beat home first overall women's finisher Hollee Simons and Will Lesh for the B grade title.
Previous years of mountain bike experience came in handy for Lovett as he continually broke the hearts of the B grade bunch during the three separate stints on the dirt.
Lovett said he wanted to go into the race with an attacking mentality.
"It was my first time doing the Hurt on the Dirt and I thought it would be great if I could get in a few attacks," he said.
"I've raced mountain bikes a few times, and it ended up being a time trial with Ray Thorn. He helped me out a lot."
Thorn would keep pace with Lovett for much of the event, reeling back the 14-year-old at the end of the dirt section, but the young rider had plenty pof energy to burn.
"Every time we hit the dirt I'd be out by myself but then he'd work to get everyone back together," Lovett said.
"They'd get back to me off the dirt but on the last time around it ended up working out for me."
The win is a great confidence boost for Lovett ahead of next month's state championships.
Meanwhile, in A grade Will Hodges continued his great run of club results by taking out overall honours ahead of Tom Bolton and Luke Tuckwell.
Nick Barrett won the C grade fight ahead of Rob Stephen and Phil Stapleton while David Hyland claimed D grade honours with Ben Hamer and Rosemary Hastings rounding out the podium.