TWO of Tamworth's fastest rising cycling stars have shone at the under-19 NSW Criterium Championships in Sydney.
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Luke Deasey and Steve Roberts began the cycling season in fine style securing a top six finish at Randwick Cycling Club's Heffron Park.
The duo gave the event there all and finished with a flurry behind eventual winner, Dubbo Cycling Club's Kurt Eather.
Deasey said the field was full of top notch competitors.
"It was a really hard race," Deasey told the Leader.
"There was a lot of really good riders in the race including Rohan Hayden Smith who has been picked in sprinting for nationals.
"So to finish pretty high in a race featuring those kinds of guys is really good."
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Saturday's event was the beginning of a busy cycling season for the Tamworth duo, one that will see them travel right across the state.
"Finishing inside the top four was a good result for this early in the season," Deasey said.
"Given my main goal for the season is the state time-trial championships at the end of the season, this was a really pleasing result."
Deasey said Roberts' impressed during one of his first criterium competitions.
"I think Steve took a few of them by surprise given not many of them have seen him ride before," he said.
"For both of us to put in strong performances and finish inside the top six is a really great result for our club as a whole.
"At the moment, I'm a little way away from hitting top form, so hopefully this result will give me a fair bit of confidence going forward."
The duo will now turn their attention to a road race at Invergowrie on May 4.
"For me it will be about building up my form and my confidence as the season progresses," Deasey said.
"So we will start this weekend up near Armidale, then from there we will focus on the Tour of Canberra.
"This week will be about getting my preparation right, so I will likely have a couple of easy days before I get ready for the weekend.
"It will be a good chance to get into those good habits and hopefully build some form."
The fourth-placing was another top result for Deasey after he won the Blayney to Bathurst race in March.
The win came just months after the Tamworth native was signed by Dhuez Racing.
"It has been a good year so far but I have to say the state time-trial championships is still what I'm targeting this year," Deasey said.
"Results like these are really pleasing given it isn't my main focus, but I'll be sure to keep working hard throughout the season and push towards my goal."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
