The 17-year-old Tamworth cycling star beat former Australian road racing champion Peter McDonald to add further gloss to the win in a race run as a lead-in to Saturday night’s launch of the Inverell-based Racing Kangaroos junior cycling team.

Spokes, a member of the Port Macquarie-based Real Aussies Kids, was delighted with Saturday’s win in the Sapphire City.

Yesterday morning he followed it up by winning his Tamworth A and B Grade criterium at Goddard’s Lane from Peter Schultz and Kierin Lewis.

“Winning at Inverell was pretty good – it was a tough race,” Spokes said after yesterday’s Tamworth success.

“There were plenty of attacks.”

The teenager had planned to attack as much as possible and hope McDonald, who has moved to Armidale, would join him.

However it didn’t quite go as he had hoped, with Geoff Straub “and a Coffs rider” starting a breakaway 15 minutes from the finish.

He joined in and then a lap later McDonald and young Inverell rider, Ethan Kimmence, tacked on.

The race intensified in the back straight when, with about 600m to go, Straub attacked with Spokes on his wheel.

Spokes was able to pass Straub but McDonald re-emerged and the two duelled it out.

“I was lucky – I kicked again and just got him on the line,” Spokes said.

“I was pretty happy with that.

“It’s good that Peter McDonald has moved to Armidale.

“Hopefully I’ll get to race him a bit more.”

Spokes was also happy to be back racing his Tamworth clubmates yesterday morning as he prepares to head to Toowoomba this weekend for a weekend of racing.

“I’ve been invited up there with Ethan (Kimmence).

“Then from there I’ve got the Australian team selections

trials.

“They start in Tasmania on March 28 and then go to Murwillumbah on May 1.”

o Belinda Goss kept the future on hold for the second time at the Australian track cycling titles in Adelaide, outlasting rising star Megan Dunn to claim the women’s 10km scratch race at the Superdrome on Saturday night.