Tom Bolton backs up Cycling NSW Under 23s Criterium title with more sprinting success

Bolton recently took out the Cycling NSW under 23s criterium title before taking out the Easts Cycling Club Tuesday Night Heffron, each one being a hard fought success for the Bathurst rider.

Shutdowns had limited Bolton's racing opportunities over the past few months but he entered the recent events feeling prepared to fight for the top spot.

"It's nice to do that after coming in off no racing in the last six months. I was a bit nervous but I knew I'd done the work and I'd just have to put it all together on the day. I'm just excited to be back racing," Bolton said.

"We've been fortunate out here to have our club racing going with some good riders out this way, and with the handicap racing it's going to be a good race no matter who turns up."

Those weekends of Bathurst Cycling Club racing put Bolton in good stead to compete for a state crown.

He made sure he got away early in his NSW crits bid and put himself in a position to outsprint his two rivals who came along for the ride.

"We had three guys from the team there and we knew an early move would probably win the day, so we were marking that. I got myself in the breakaway that got away only five minutes in and we worked well together for the next 45 minutes," Bolton said.

"They looked to me in the sprint so I ended up leading it out, so I backed myself. It was actually held on my local course in Sydney so I knew the track pretty well."

Bolton backed up that effort just a matter of days later, continuing a great run of success for the Oliver's team in the ECC event.

"Our team had the previous two winners in that race. I knew I had some decent form from the weekend before so everyone in the team backed me," he said.

"A guy from a different team ended up getting away in the last lap and all the guys committed towards getting it back for me and gave me the perfect run into the finish."

The Cycling NSW Under 23s Road Championships in Goulburn next weekend will be the next event on Bolton's to-do list.