LEWIS Chapman spent little time reflecting on Sunday’s Tamworth A Grade criterium win, the teenager heading west for an 80km training ride!
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Not long after Chapman had won the 30min plus two lap race from a gallant Fraser Ashford and Mitch Carrington, he was back on his bike and heading west to Somerton with his JML racing teammate Darrell “DJ” Morrison.
Morrison, who hails from Gunnedah, is also in Year 11 at Carinya Christian School in Tamworth with Chapman.
They were cycling west, with Chapman turning around at Somerton and heading back to Tamworth and Morrison continuing on to Gunnedah.
In a few weeks the pair will be in Canberra riding in the Oceania Junior Road Race.
“We’re training for the Oceania titles in Canberra,” Chapman said.
“That’s in 24 days’ time.
“We’ve got a big week (of training) this week, then a medium week and then a lighter week before we go.
“They are making Junior World Championship selections down there.”
Lewis and Morrison aren’t thinking about selection but more about showcasing their talents to national selectors.
On Sunday Chapman was delighted to have reeled in Ashford after he had “gone solo” early in the race.
“I went after about 10 minutes,”Ashford said.
“They caught me two laps out.”
He’d done well to stay away for about 20 minutes.
“I didn’t plan on it,” he said.
“I had hoped someone would come across and we’d have the two of us to work together.”
Club president Ray Griffin said the peloton recognised that and “left Ashford out there”.
“We left him there as long as we could because we all know how quick a recovery time he has,” Griffin said.
“When we caught him Mitch had another attack before Lewis flashed home. Even then, Fraser was coming back.”
Chapman knew that.
“I was lucky the line was where it was. If it had been any further up the road Fraser would have got me,” he said.
In B Grade, John Saunders won from Brendan Hallford and Brad Roberts while Matt Carrington won C Grade from Matt Wilson and Josh Nash in a sprint finish.