A bold attack paid dividends for Steve McMahon as he powered his way to the State Masters Track Championships points race title.
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The Tamworth cyclist won gold in the MM4 (men's masters 45-49 years) category after lapping the field twice.
"It wasn't planned that way, it was just the way the race panned out. I took an opportunity there," he said.
He launched his initial attack about 20 laps into the 60 lap race.
"I caught them napping I think. I looked back and saw I had a bit of a gap and thought I'd go," he said.
A battle of tactics as much as endurance, he said there is "a lot that goes through your head" in a points race.
Doing the maths in his head and with the rider that finished second picking up good points in the sprints, McMahon said he decided it was "easier to have another go again".
He succeeded again to pick up another 20 bonus points, a third in the final sprint securing the gold.
It kick-started a successful weekend.
Having earlier on Friday finished fourth in the individual pursuit, McMahon backed up on Saturday to win silver in the individual pursuit before claiming bronze in the scratch race on Sunday.
"The pursuit was the main event I was going down there for. I was beaten by the current Australian champion which was a pretty decent result," McMahon said.
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"He was on a very fast schedule, he was setting himself up for the nationals in a couple of weeks time."
He was probably guilty of starting "a bit too quick" but managed to hold him off until three laps to go.
A previous state champion as a junior, McMahon went into the championships hoping to do well but unsure how his form stacked up.
"When you don't do that many competitions, it is a bit of a lottery," he said.
It wasn't planned that way, it was just the way the race panned out. I took an opportunity there
- Steve McMahon
Where you think you are and where you actually are can be very different, he said.
"Ambitions and capabilities I call it. There a distinct line between the two some times," he said.
He credited his strong showing to some solid training and the guidance of coaches Kevin and Jeremy Bartlett. In the lead-up he was putting in 10-15 hours a week on the bike, fitting in training around his work as a train driver for Pacific National.
Previously working as an interstate truck driver, McMahon had about 20 years off the bike.
"Interstate truck driving and bike riding don't mix," he explained.
He got back into it about four years ago, and was thankful for the support of wife Jodie in allowing him the time to train.
[Jeremy] Bartlett was also among the medals sprinting his way to silver in the MM2 sprint and placing fourth in the individual time trial.
His main target for the season, Bartlett, who won double bronze last year, said he was "pretty happy" with how he performed although he didn't ride the time he was hoping to in the time trial.
"I ended up getting the pacing a bit wrong," he said.
"I went out a little too hard for a little too long and died. The last lap was a bit of a struggle."
He was the second fastest through the sprint preliminaries and faced off against long-time rival Jim Lewis in the final.
"He and I have met in semi-finals or finals of every championship now for the last five years," he said.
Lewis got the better of him on this occasion winning the first two races of the best-of-three final, his acceleration proving a bit too much.
