Last Saturday evening the Baiocchi Griffin Private Wealth Cycling rider won the annual Central Coast Cycling Club’s 1600m Beneld Wheel race at Gosford Velodrome.

Riding from the 80m mark, Bartlett took the lead with around 240m of the race remaining and managed to hold off a fast-charging group of back markers. Bartlett hit the race lead with around half a lap to go on the Gosford track and showed great strength to hold on for the win.

“It was extremely tough – that last half lap really is a long way from the finish line when your lungs and legs are already bursting,”  Bartlett said.

“But I’m thrilled to get my first big Wheel Race victory and thrilled to be able to open our team’s 2015 account.”

In winning the race, Bartlett was able to capitalise on some fantastic turns of pace from Jeff Morris, Andrew Giovanetti and Calvin Stewart  from the Central Coast Cycling Club.

“Those guys led the chase to catch the front markers and set me on my way with half a lap to go,” Bartlett said.

Team manager Ray Griffin was similarly delighted with  Bartlett’s win.

“Jeremy is our only specialist track rider and spends lots of hours at the gym with specific strength training routines that none of our other riders have to undertake,”  Griffin said.

“He’s getting both stronger and faster each track season and his dedication and focus is writ large in his Wheel Race win and we’re all extremely happy for him.”

Bartlett will now set his sights on the New South Wales and Australian Masters Championships which will be held in Sydney on the indoor board velodrome in March. 

He will concentrate on the sprint and time trial events at the championships and given his form in the current track season is likely to be watched closely by his key competitors.